Daily Bread 2011 - John 5
Daily Bread 2011 – John 5
The Healing at the Pool: 1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
What Does This Mean?
This is another encounter with Jesus with a person in need. This time an invalid who has been waiting by a pool to be healed. These pools were thought to have magical healing powers, especially evident when the water was stirred up. Unfortunately due to the man’s fragile condition, he couldn’t get to the pool in time after it was stirred.
This time Jesus simply says to the man, “Do you want to get well?” The man hems and haws about not getting to the pool, his way of saying, “Yes I am trying!” Jesus says, “Get up pick up your mat and walk!” When the man did get up and walk, the Jewish leaders accused him of violating Sabbath Laws by picking up his mat and walking (can you believe that?).
Later the man was found in the temple, showing that he had come to worship God. But apparently Jesus still need to exhort him to stop sinning. After this the man told the Jewish leaders it was Jesus who made him well.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Of course this was another passage to reveal Jesus’ true authority and power in which he could simply say, “Get up pick up your mat and walk.” And John uses this as another sign to reveal the true identity of Jesus. But what is our take away.
Often we go to great lengths for healing but often forget to simply ask Jesus for healing. Of course this does not minimize the many ways God heals as through doctors, hospitals, taking care of ourselves; but we still should not forget the amazing power of God to heal. Maybe not as quickly as in this story, but eventually we are healed; even if that means going to our eternal home.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your healing power that most importantly shows u the power of Your Son, through whom all true healing occurs. God helps us to go to you when we are frustrated and feel alone and that no one can help us. Amen.
The Healing at the Pool: 1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” 8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.
What Does This Mean?
This is another encounter with Jesus with a person in need. This time an invalid who has been waiting by a pool to be healed. These pools were thought to have magical healing powers, especially evident when the water was stirred up. Unfortunately due to the man’s fragile condition, he couldn’t get to the pool in time after it was stirred.
This time Jesus simply says to the man, “Do you want to get well?” The man hems and haws about not getting to the pool, his way of saying, “Yes I am trying!” Jesus says, “Get up pick up your mat and walk!” When the man did get up and walk, the Jewish leaders accused him of violating Sabbath Laws by picking up his mat and walking (can you believe that?).
Later the man was found in the temple, showing that he had come to worship God. But apparently Jesus still need to exhort him to stop sinning. After this the man told the Jewish leaders it was Jesus who made him well.
What Does This Mean For Us?
Of course this was another passage to reveal Jesus’ true authority and power in which he could simply say, “Get up pick up your mat and walk.” And John uses this as another sign to reveal the true identity of Jesus. But what is our take away.
Often we go to great lengths for healing but often forget to simply ask Jesus for healing. Of course this does not minimize the many ways God heals as through doctors, hospitals, taking care of ourselves; but we still should not forget the amazing power of God to heal. Maybe not as quickly as in this story, but eventually we are healed; even if that means going to our eternal home.
Heavenly Father we thank you for your healing power that most importantly shows u the power of Your Son, through whom all true healing occurs. God helps us to go to you when we are frustrated and feel alone and that no one can help us. Amen.
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