Throughout the world today different religions claim to have places that have special healing powers. Many sick people travel to such places in search of healing.
Here is the true story about a man who had faith in a miraculous water pool at a place called Bethesda. From his story you will find out how you can be helped just as surely as he was.
Some Jews believed this pool had healing powers, but only for the first person to get into the waters when they became choppy. Although very few were healed there, the five porches around the pool were filled with hopeful people - the blind, the lame and the paralysed. (verses 3-4.)
"One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'
"'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.'" (verses 5-7.)
This man had fixed his only hope on the doubtful powers of this pool. But Jesus wanted to see if he would put his faith and trust in God, instead of the superstitious pool. Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." Would he still think his only hope was to get into the pool at the right time? Would he ignore Jesus command?
Today, most people ignore the clear commands of the Lord Jesus Christ. I wish many more people in Ireland today would take the excellent advice Jesus' mother, Mary, once gave. Her advice was, "Do whatever Jesus tells you." (John 2:5.)
Jesus wants you and me to have faith in His power alone to heal us from our sins. But many still prefer to hope they will find forgiveness through other people, or places, or things. Turn from such superstitions today and believe in Jesus as your only hope - your only Priest and Saviour. (Acts 4:12. John 3:16-19.)
That day the lame man at Bethesda turned from his superstitious beliefs, and responded to Jesus' command. "At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked." (verse 9.) That man certainly had no regrets at having trusted in the Lord Jesus Christ instead of holding on to his superstitious beliefs - and neither will you if you will trust in Jesus to save you from your sins, and give you peace with God. (Romans 5:1-11.)
It would seem that the crowds of sick people in the five porches continued to wait, and to hope, for healing from the waters. We don't read of any others turning to Jesus that day - and it was not because Jesus hadn't the power or the concern. The only limit Jesus puts on His power is the lack of faith people have in Him - their unwillingness to believe in Him and trust Him. (Matthew 13:58.)
Don't YOU limit or doubt Jesus' love and power to forgive and save you.
Read of the faith of the lame man in John's Gospel chapter 5, verses 1-9.
John Nixon, Cork, Ireland. P31HD98. Contact: jnixonj@gmail.com
For the next
reading from John's Gospel go to NEXT
In order to browse
further "Good News Compage" prompts and commentaries for John's
Gospel go to
---------------oOo---------------
