Today we will look at another miracle that Jesus performed, a “sign” pointing to the fact that He is not only the Messiah, but also the Son of the Living God. Following a time of ministry in Galilee, including the healing of the nobleman’s son, Jesus headed south to Jerusalem to attend one of the many Jewish Festivals.
One of the gates leading into the Temple complex was a gate called the “Sheep Gate.” Obviously, just outside the gate were sheep pens where sheep were chosen from among the flock to be sacrificed on the altar, which was just inside the Sheep Gate. Consequently, the sheep chosen by the priest outside the gate would have just a short walk through the gate and to the altar of sacrifice.
Near the Sheep Gate was a pool called “Bethesda” (meaning “House of Mercy”), and this pool had five covered porches to help protect those with physical infirmities laying around the pool from the intense heat in Israel, particularly during the summer months. Jesus knew that the Father had a divine appointment for Him at this pool, and so when Jesus entered, He noticed a man laying alone, with no relatives or friends to help him get into the pool at just the right time. You see, there was a superstition floating around that when the waters in the pool began to be agitated, angels had come to stir up the water and the first one in the pool would receive healing (this was actually a pool fed by underground super-heated water, much like our mineral hot springs today). This invalid knew that he could never be first in the pool when the bubbles were seen, and had lost all hope of being the first one in the pool.
When Jesus came into the pool area, He noticed a man laying alone on his mat, and later discovered that he had been paralyzed for 38 years, maybe due to an accident in childhood. His parents and other family members tried to care for him in their homes, but eventually, they had to take him to the pool and “hope for the best.” Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, and the man replied that he had no friend to help him into the pool. In essence, Jesus said, “I’m your friend, and you don’t need to get into the pool to be healed.”
Jesus told him plainly:
“Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk” (John 5:8).
The order of Jesus command is instructive for all of us. “Stand up” (you can do this); “pick up your mat” (you will not be needing it any longer); and “walk” (because you have been healed). If I were the lame man, I would have probably asked Jesus to change the order of His commands, as after I stood up, I would want to try walking first, keeping the mat on the ground just in case I wasn’t able to walk, in which case I would have a mat to fall back on. Nope – Pick up your mat first (Jesus said) because you will not be needing it to fall back on. For the lame man, this was a lesson in faith. He obeyed, and was healed.
And it is for us too. Faith is leaving the past behind, and stepping out in faith toward the calling that God has for us. If you are not a Christian, then it begins by stepping out in faith, believing that He died for your sins (that’s basic Bible theology) and then asking Him to forgive your sins (that’s faith). If you are already a Christian, then this act of faith may be anything that God has been speaking to you about. Maybe it’s about a change in your thinking, your behavior, your attitudes, or maybe in a change of direction in your life. Whatever it may be, let’s remember the words of the writer of Hebrews,
“Without faith, it is impossible to please God” (Hebrews 11:6).
Well, if that’s the case, and if you really want to please Him, then just step out in faith and do whatever He is calling you to do. Blessings to you.
