Healing at the pool

Hey Yielded Family 🩷

“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.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,”
‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭7‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Many of us are familiar with this story. This man suffered from a paralytic condition for a long time, and was sitting at the Pool of Bethesda in hope of healing. It was a hope that had been long disappointed because the bible records that he had been in this situation for 38 years. That’s a long time to be sick. I don’t know about you but just an hour of not feeling completely fine is unbearable, what more, a month, a year, 2 years , 10 years , 20 years, and now 38 years! What about his career? Did he get a chance to marry? Did he have children? Come to think of it, did he even have friends? No. He didn’t. Imagine that! Paralysed, most probably broke, lonely and alone! That’s hake-tick!

The place was full of sick people but Jesus was drawn to this man. Maybe because others were too focused on the water but he didn’t even look there anymore for fear of disappointment. Maybe he’s the only one who looked to Jesus not because of healing but that there was nowhere else to look. The water situation was a hopeless plan but then quite naturally, the man couldn’t think of any other way for his need to be met. Jesus does not carry the man to the pool, He starts a conversation with him which turns out so interesting.

Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well. I wonder why He asked that. Do l want gold and diamonds right now? Oh yes Lord. You don’t have to ask, l want them now as I’m typing! So Jesus saw that the man was paralysed, he was on a mat, he obviously needed healing. That’s not true. Many people are sitting on mats but they’re okay with the situation. They have accepted the sickness as part of them. Poverty. Childlessness. Unemployment. Stagnation. They have settled in with the reality that they don’t even think of a breakthrough. Do you really want to get married? Do you really want to run your business again? Hmmmm.

Let’s read his response. It says , Sir l have no one to help me. The reason why he sat there 38 years is because he had no one to assist him when he needed it the most. This means his eye was always on “who can help me” could that be the reason why he conversed with Jesus? “Oh here’s a man who will finally help me get into the pool.” Being at the pool for a long time , l bet people didn’t help him because they thought he didn’t want it that bad. Or maybe he never asked for help. In any case, his response to reveals a side of many of us. If someone doesn’t help me, I will not prosper. If my uncle doesn’t give me the job, if my aunt doesn’t pay my fees. We have fixated our eyes and faith on man so much so that we don’t realise, God is our ever present help in times of trouble. You don’t choose your destiny helper , God does and you’ll be shocked, it’s not even your own sister.

He had hope, or would never have come to the Pool of Bethesda. Yet once there, he had little hope to be the favoured one to win the healing that day. I totally understand him. I mean, daily he was there and daily he remained paralysed. When Jesus comes into the picture, He doesn’t offer the natural or usual solution . He doesn’t even say, I will take you to the pool, I’m that man you’ve been waiting for. No. He says do what you cannot do. Being paralyzed, it was impossible for him to rise or to take up his bed-mat or to walk. At this moment, Jesus challenged the man to believe Him for the impossible. And the man did- a whole miracle.

The miracle could be in doing what you’ve never done before. Shall we serve water at a wedding feast? We have never done this before. Shall we believe that 5000 people can be fed by just one lunchtin? We have never done this before. Shall l arise and take my mat when l know I’m paralysed? It’s not thought or an assumption, l am sure I am paralysed. I have never done this before. The miracles are embedded in what has never been done before. It’s not in the pool. It’s in the person of The Christ. So what if it’s been 38 years? Our God restores. So what if you’ve waited so long? In a moment the wait could be over. We are talking Miracles.

He wasn’t only healed, his strength was restored else how would he carry his bed? Complete restoration. I don’t know what you are believing God for, I don’t know how long it has been. You may have no one to help you. You literally can’t find someone who is willing to assist you. You may have seen others get what you wanted so bad and they didn’t hustle much for it. They get into the pool after being there for 5 mins but you who has struggled for yeaaaars are still struggling. There remains a hope for Gods people – his Name is Jesus. He performs miracles! He won’t need to carry you to the pool, He Himself is the pool.

I hope you’re expectant. Soon you’ll see your own miracle. Stop checking the clock. Stop blaming people for this and that. Keep your eyes on Jesus and receive your breakthrough! 🩷