John 5:1-15
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[a] 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. [4] [b] 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.
Monday 24th October
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[a] 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.
This week we are following Jesus to Jerusalem where he encounters a disabled man by a pool. What do you think led Jesus to the pool? The scripture does not tell us why. However, we learn that the pool was a common place for people who were disabled. They believed that if they could get into the pool first, when the natural spring stirs up the water, they might be healed. Imagine the sight Jesus would have seen as he approached the pool, a great number of people lying beside it just hoping they will get their chance to be healed. I wonder if the people felt hopeless as they waited. Do you ever find yourself feeling hopeless? Do you ever wonder when it will be your turn to reach the pool and be healed? As we go through the week, look out for the Holy Spirit turning up in unexpected places.
Tuesday 25th October
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?”
Imagine waiting for thirty-eight years for something to happen having been stuck in a place that feels hopeless. Have you ever felt that there is no way forward? A time where you felt frustrated and that no one else was helping? Have you ever felt bound by something? Thirty-eight years is a long time to feel like this.
But then, we see Jesus come along and he changes everything! Who knows if the man had even heard of Jesus? Or maybe he simply wondered why this random man decided to stop and talk to him. Jesus saw him and asked the question, “Do you want to get well?” Take a moment and reflect upon what it must have felt like to be asked this question having been disabled for thirty-eight years? Would you have felt frustrated, exhausted, or even fed-up?
Wednesday 26th October
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.
So how would you have responded? Would you have pointed out the obvious that you wanted to get well or would you have made excuses as to why it had not happened yet? We see the man responded to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?”, with excuses. No one is there to help him and someone always gets in ahead of him. It is easy to come up with excuses when asked a question like this. I can almost hear the frustration in his voice! When facing challenges alone it can be tough. It can feel like the whole world is against you. However, it is important to remember that in the midst of the challenge, Jesus still sees you.
As soon as Jesus told the man to get up and pick up his mat and walk, the man was healed! Try and imagine that moment? It must have been incredible after thirty-eight years of waiting. Have you ever experienced a moment like this? Maybe it was a moment of breakthrough in your situation. If Jesus was to tell you to get up today out of your situation, would you do it? The man followed Jesus’ command. Following Jesus can be scary for some people – it results in a complete change of life.
Thursday 27th October
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?”
Have you ever had a mountaintop moment where you feel great and then someone comes up to you and tries to knock you down? This man had just been healed after thirty-eight years and the Jewish leaders try to ruin the moment. You would think it would have been a moment to celebrate. However, the Jewish leaders were annoyed because the healing took place on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a day of rest for the people. It was one of the Ten Commandments and it came with many rules. We learn here that the people could not even carry a mat on the Sabbath and this is what the man was doing. He obeyed Jesus’ order to pick up his mat and walk, knowing that he would break the law! He appeared to understand that Jesus’ words meant more. How confident in are you in Jesus? Do you find it easy to trust him and follow his instructions? Pray that he gives you the courage to follow Him well.
Friday 28th October
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.
It is interesting to note that the child’s father is said to have believed when the man realised exactly when his son was healed. What difference do you think this makes? There were many healers going about Galilee at the time, and perhaps he simply saw Jesus as one of them. The official may simply have been trying all the avenues, and Jesus as just another option. Do you know anyone who simply sees Jesus as one amongst many religious figures, as nothing special? Or perhaps you know someone who has become disillusioned when they haven’t received what they wanted from him? Pray that people will see Jesus for who he is.
When the man gets home he learns that the boy recovered at the very time that Jesus had spoken. That is when he believes that Jesus is more than simply an average healer. Not only that his whole household believes – Jesus’ word is true. Jesus becomes the life giver not only to the boy who had been so near to death, but to the whole household. Their lives were transformed as they became members of Jesus’ “household”. As people whose livelihood was reliant on the man’s work for the king, how might the becoming part of Jesus’ kingdom have affected their everyday lives? The impact would be profound – they have an entirely new allegiance. What difference does being a member of the “household of God” mean for you? Take some time today to think and pray about how your life as a believer impacts those around you.
