As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse one of Chapter 5. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle wrote:
“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having 5 porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind , lame, paralyzed, waiting for the movement of the water. 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. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” John 5:1-9
There were three festivals in the year at that time that required all Jewish males to come to Jerusalem. The Passover, Pentecost. and the Festival of Tabernacles. The Scripture does not specify which one is being referred to here, but the Lord Jesus as always had a lesson to teach, and He used every opportunity.
The Lord Jesus is our Christ. He is our Healer. He wants us to know that. He WANTS us to be healed. Therefore, He came to take our infirmities upon Himself, and to give us His perfect health in exchange. His Word tells us so. (Isaiah 53:5) says “By His wounds we are healed.” (Matthew 8:16-17) says, “When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: ‘He took up our infirmities and bore our diseases.” (1 Peter 2:24 )says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; ‘by His wounds you have been healed.”
The man at the pool had no idea that the Messiah Himself, our Healer, was the man he was speaking to. He just knew he wanted to be made well. He was doing everything he could do make that happen.by going for the pool every time he saw the water stirred, but he could not do it on his own. So it is with us. We cannot do it on our own. Jesus is our Man (Son of Man, Son of God) that gets us there. Sometimes the Lord uses angels in the form of Doctors and Nurses, sometimes He uses Medicines, sometimes He heals us through the faith of others as they pray, sometimes He heals us through our faith as we pray to Him. Sometimes it is instant, sometimes it is gradual. The most important thing for us to remember is that HE IS OUR HEALER. It is one of our benefits, (Psalm 103:3), when we believe.
You have heard my testimony several times as to how the Lord Healed me. He used all of the things listed above, but it was Him who brought them -It was Him who healed me. I praise Him for it every day. I pray it be so for you if you have a need. Never give in to it. Just keep telling the Lord, “I want to be made well.”, and be open to whatever He uses.
May you prosper in all things, and walk in perfect health, God’s Beloveds. You are greatly loved, and highly favored.
Poppa B.