Bethesda

(House of Mercy)

(John 5:1-18)

"See you have been made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you" (John 5:14).

Bethesda (which translates as "House of Mercy") was a pool by the Sheep Gate, in Jerusalem, and was entered from one of five porches (John 5:2).  It was a place much like the modern Lourdes, in France, because people believed that the waters could heal the sick.

Jesus went there during a feast of the Jews, and as He came to the pool, He saw a "great multitude" of the sick, blind, lame, and paralytics, who were expectantly waiting next to the pool of water (John 5:3).  They thought that an angel would enter the pool at a certain time and stir up the water.  Whoever would enter the water first at that point, it was said, would be cured of whatever disease afflicted them.

The Lord approached a man who had some kind of infirmity for 38-years.  Jesus, when He approached him, knew about his infirmity, and completely understood the amount of time involved for the man.

Jesus asked him a very interesting question:  "Do you WANT to be made well?" (see verse 6).  The man did not answer the question but instead started complaining that he had no one to put him into the pool, and when the water stirred, someone always beat him to the water (verse 7).

The same question could be posed to you and to any one of us:  "Do you WANT to be made well?"  In each of our lives there is some problem, ranging from the difficult to the humanly impossible.  People share these kinds of concern with me, and sometimes, as I listen, I have wondered, do they WANT to have this problem taken from their life?  For the problem itself can become a familiar constant in a changing world, and a source of SYMPATHY from others.  We need to ask ourselves about that problem which has beset us for so long – Do we really WANT to be delivered from it?

Why is there so little of the miraculous in the world today?  In the Church?    Perhaps we secretly LIKE things the way they are.

Jesus did not respond to his complaint but instead said "Rise, take up your bed and walk."  And he suddenly WAS able to walk, and he lifted up his bed and walked away.  It was the Sabbath, which of course would infuriate the Jewish religious leaders – God seems to delight in brushing aside our little religious sand castles.  He does not want our outward observances. He wants our hearts.

As you read further in John Chapter 5, we see that the man was questioned by the religious leaders.  The man did not know the Name of the One who had healed him, and so he revealed nothing.  But then Jesus found him in the Temple and said, "See, you have been made well; sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you."

There were three contacts from the Lord extended to this man - a question, a touch, and a command:  1) "Do you WANT to be made well?" was the question.  2) He was healed, which was the Touch of God, and 3) He was commanded to "sin no more."  We all have some kind of infirmity and these three contacts are being extended in OUR lives, as well.

Take a look at the most difficult areas of your life.  Think about them.  Do you really WANT to be delivered from them?  You may well have complained about these problems many, many times.  Keep in mind that if you no longer have these problems, you no longer will have a complaint against God, as to who and what you are.  You will have to face the REAL problem in your life, which is sin in you.

When I visit the paralyzed veterans at the Long Beach VA Hospital, I am reminded that my problems have been small by comparison.  I have met some quadriplegics who are content beyond human reason – they have taken Christ at His word that our problems are but for a moment.  In eternity, we will all leap and praise God for the wonders He has done.  Wonders that often made us sad in this life.

The question remains:  Do you WANT to be healed?  It can actually be comforting and familiar to remain in a depressed state.  People feel sorry for you.   But do you want to be happy? Do you want to be delivered from sin?  To go and sin no more?  It is much more than our limitations in life that cause us unhappiness. Do you want to be free?

Father, we come to You right now, and we understand that it has not been our problems that have brought us to a place of bitterness.  It is the sin in our hearts that has made us sad.  To KNOW You is to find JOY and we claim that JOY right now.  Lord Jesus, come into that place of bitterness and deliver us from sin.  Grant us peace.   Fill us, Holy Spirit.  In Jesus Name. Amen.