“When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” 7 “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” 8 Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, 10 so the Jewish leaders objected” John 5:6-10.
Wherever Jesus went two sets of parties are provoked for different reasons. One is healing, peace, joy, deliverance, celebration and liberty to name a few for those who believe in him as Lord and saviour. The other is hate, anger, frustration, jealousy and sadness to name a few for those who hate him with a passion for doing good and more so on the Sabbath! They prefer humanity to suffer than get healed on the Sabbath? Wait a minute does Sabbath not symbolize rest? What could be better rest than to get out of pain and misery that had held someone for over 38 years!
Today Jesus is in the house, what do you need and what do you want? The Yorubas call him- Oba to nso oloriburuku di oloriire. (The King who turns the unfortunate to the most fortunate person) The one that cares for the needs of people and is a generous giver.
Sickness, disease , bondage, captivity are sometimes part of life whether we like it or not. Nations that value human health and dignity spend the bulk of their annual budget on healthcare. Jesus was always concerned about the health issues of man. When he was physically present on earth many followed him either to be fed with bread according to John 6 or to be healed from what the lack of bread and their lifestyles of sin had put in them.”As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one.”Lk 4:40
The lame man was oblivious of Jesus’ personality as the creator of the universe. 38 years by the pool side of Bethesda had made him a frustrated story teller . With numerous people with various diseases presently waiting for the stirring of the pool once a year, the possibility of him getting healed as a lame man was next to nothing unless only lame people were there, and he would be the best runner. Even if he saw the angel first, before he got to the pool someone whose challenge wasn’t his legs would beat him to it. I guess that was why he was there for that long and would have been there as long as he lived without healing if Jesus did not intervene. I pray Jesus will intervene in your matter today!
Another category of people there that wouldn’t get healed like him would have been the blind. He will not see when the water stirring angel came. Even if he was told, before he is led or figured it out with a walking stick, someone who could see and run would be there earlier!
That is why Jesus in the house matters. Let’s consider a few lessons:
Jesus asked a simple question – “do you want to be healed?” Instead of a- “Yes , by all means”…After all that was what he needed for 38 ugly, emotionally distressing and depressing, highly frustrating, obviously challenging years; his response was an unnecessary, story telling and blame game .
Imagine his reply – I can’t sir! No one to help me sir! Someone always gets there before me sir! Wait a minute, what was he expecting? Others to abandon why they were there and focus on him? The world is not wired like that. Humans are ruled by – me first syndrome!
Before you blame the lame guy, think about our approach to our Christian lives even when we go to church. Why are you still on that sick bed irrespective of messages of faith, encouragement to receive your healing and deliverance? Are you not always saying “I can’t. You don’t understand. I wanted brother so so , to help me. I opened up to sister so so , she told me she cannot.” I do not defend those who don’t help brethren in church. But all the impotent folks by the pool were there because of their own challenges, to get healed by the same way he was expecting to get well. Correspondingly people in church are not there primarily for you but for themselves just like you!Their focus is on themselves not on you. That argument no one visited me, no one supported me, will not go far. Leaving the church on that basis will likely make you to wander around. In your impotent position how many have you put in the pool? May I suggest to you, that brother/ sister you are expecting to put you in the pool (help you) may be going through more devastating issues than yourself!
This is the Holy Spirit’s counsel, stop waiting for that Brother/Sister to help you, develop your own faith. Stop blaming everyone for your issues. Jesus is asking you -Do you want to be made whole? Say yes, not I can’t.
Go to church with optimism, faith not fear and blame game mentality. Be like the elders of old: “They (Elder’s) came to Philip, who was from Bethesda in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” John 12:20-24. If Jesus was like many of us, he probably would have walked right past the lame man saying “when you are ready you know what to say and do”But because Jesus was compassionate, full of love and mercy he bypassed his answers and mannerism and said ‘take up your bed and walk.’ – Meaning Jesus healed him. I see you being healed right now. Take your healing now!
What the Holy Spirit is teaching us today is that when Jesus is in the house, sometimes He bypasses faith which we pastors always make a prerequisite before Jesus is called to action. Jesus cannot be limited to a format. What is important is His Presence. So what happens when Jesus is in the house?
1. Healing is in the house
2. Salvation is in the house .
3. Freedom from all manner of lameness, blindness, oppression, diseases, sickness, lack, frustration, limitations, stagnation, instability, depression just to mention a few, is available in the house.
4. Wasted years is suddenly terminated. Hopeful years spring up.
5. Restoration is guaranteed. Ability to do what you have never been able to do is possible. 6. You can breath a new air of joy ,peace and righteousness in the Holy Ghost.
7. A new era of fresh possibilities is released. Bright future is a possibility.
Can you imagine what the man by the pool of Bethesda can do now? He may choose to become the legendary soccer sensation- Pele of Brazil, or Haruna Ilerika, or Segun Odegbami, or Jay,Jay Okocha of Nigeria, or Usain Bolt- of Jamaica
8. You are no more a lability but an asset. No more frustration of nobody to help you.
9. You don’t only give testimonies, you become the testimony. You go from Mr. Forgotten to Mr. Celebrity. You are the new poster or face of what Jesus can do!
10. Power to reproduce is released. He may get a wife and now father a child. Your challenges had been the reason for failure to win souls or reproduce new souls. With Jesus in your life you can give birth to other new believers.
11. You are at Liberty to do as the Spirt demands . 2 Cor 3:17
Conclusion: My prayer is that Jesus will walk to your side today and take note of your situation and bypass all protocols, heal you and give you a fresh start, a new beginning. I pray that the high towers of long years of sorrow and frustration , diseases and sickness shall come down. Today God will heal you of both physical and spiritual lameness in Jesus’ name.
Shalom–
O taste and see that the Lord is good.(Psalm 34:8). I have tasted and found that the Lord is good. I do testify that the Lord is good.Join me to taste him.
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