The Healing of the Sick Man at the Pool of Bethesda

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. John 5:1-9

Steps: 1, 2, 3, 11, 12

Jesus went to Jerusalem and found a man who was one of a group of people who were blind, sick, and weak, who gathered around a pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda. They were all there because they had a belief that when they saw the water move in the pool that the first one in would be healed. The problem was that this particular fellow was so weak that he could not get into the pool first and remained sick, and remained near the pool as his only hope was there. He was the weakest of the weak at that moment in time. When Jesus saw him and felt pity for him and offered to heal him. The man somehow grasped the inspiration of the moment and was willing to trust Jesus by faith, and was healed immediately. This healing took place on the Sabbath day.

Prayer for Today: You know that some of us have had addictive behaviors since we were children. You know that we have struggled just like the man in our story today. We know that our efforts have not produced the results that we have been looking for. Help us to look for Jesus in our lives and to know that He wants to heal us. Help us that when our time of opportunity comes that we will not be so preoccupied that we miss the boat. Help us to have a spiritual awakening and to seize the moment of healing that You have promised us by telling us this story. Thank You Lord for not giving up on us.