October 22, 2019

BIBLE READING JOHN 5

John 5:2,5-6
[2] Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. [5] And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case , he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Can you imagine the scene? Hundreds if not thousands of sick people gathered around a pool. The lame, diseased, blind, deaf all gathered there hoping to be the first to enter the water should the angel trouble the waters. We’re told about, by John, a man that had been at that very spot for 38 years. He probably came to the pool thinking “I’ll be healed in no time.” After all he was younger, probably in a little better health, maybe he had more energy, he certainly had more hope. But 38 years had past and day after day, water troubling after water troubling and this man finds himself only getting worse. But now he is a man with no hope, not a single person who cares for him (vs 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir I have no man, when the water is troubled to put me into the pool:) What a sad and heartbreaking scene.
What may be even more heartbreaking is that when I was researching the location of the pool of Bethesda that the location of this place is literally just a few steps from the wall of the Temple Mount. The place where the “religious” would go and worship. What an opportunity to minister to people who are hurting, to people who have on one, to people who have no hope. What a “field that is ripe for harvesting.” Yet for 38 years not once had the religious ministered to this man. Not once had they tried to help him. Religion had done this man no good, but in the matter of just a few seconds Jesus had done everything for him. Verse 8 Jesus said “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” Jesus did what religion couldn’t do, gave him healing, gave him hope, gave him a future.
Right outside the walls of our church, and our homes is a world that is “sick” broken, living with no hope. And religion is going to do them no good. Our church services, our standards for living those things won’t help. But Jesus? Jesus can help. He can give hope, He can restore, He can save.
What a sad story. So many people needing help, needing hope, and the “religious” did nothing. Let’s no repeat history. Give someone Jesus today.

Frank Newsome