Have you got excuses? Have you become weary in waiting? Are you wanting others to do the work of raising you up? Or will YOU answer His command?
John 5:1-9, Fascinating Story of the man lame for 38 years, healed by Jesus. Here at the Pool of Bethesda (House of Mercy) Man's impotence meets Omnipotence. Here God's commands become His enabling. 'Get up, take your mat- Rise up and walk'. It's where Pardon, and power make impact. It's Where excuses finally cease and obedience in faith begins. It's where even someone with hope deferred and countless disappointments meets the source of all Hope and Help.
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.[b] 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.