June 29: Enjoying His Peace.
HIS CURE.
He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"--John 5:6
I have two distinct memories from the archaeological site that is believed to be the Pool of Bethesda (also called Bethzatha). First, the impressive ruins of the pools, much larger than I had anticipated. The second recollection is precious, and I have a video recording of it. Our tour group got together inside the church right next to the twin pools, and we sang "Amazing Grace" a cappella. The sound filled the church, and the words filled my heart because it was such an appropriate song for the location: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...." *
The pool, as described by John, had five porticoes or colonnades. It was an impressive structure. In contrast, its dwellers were most wretched: lame, paralyzed, blind, and suffering from other types of sicknesses (see John 5:3). There was a belief that the waters were stirred supernaturally, and that the first person to get into the pool after the disturbance would get healed. Among the sick there was an extreme case: a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. That's a very long time! Jesus went to that man, desiring to heal him but not wanting to impose His way. He asked him: "Do you wish to get well?" (verse 6). It seems like a strange question...who wouldn't want to get well? But since the man was probably lame, by being well he would have had a hard time adjusting to a new lifestyle after thirty-eight years of total dependence on others. Instead of simply responding affirmatively, the man presents his own understanding of the remedy needed: "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool" (verse 7). Perhaps Jesus could help him to get to it on time....However, Jesus had something better in mind. He doesn't do things the way we do, and He has a thousand resources where we see none. Jesus simply commanded the man to get up and walk, and he did! (verse 8). Many of us have been suffering with emotional and spiritual diseases for decades; trying the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Today Jesus comes to us with the ultimate cure. Do you wish to be made well?
My Response:________________________________________________________
* John Newton, "Amazing Grace," 1779, public domain.
HIS CURE.
He said to him, "Do you wish to get well?"--John 5:6
I have two distinct memories from the archaeological site that is believed to be the Pool of Bethesda (also called Bethzatha). First, the impressive ruins of the pools, much larger than I had anticipated. The second recollection is precious, and I have a video recording of it. Our tour group got together inside the church right next to the twin pools, and we sang "Amazing Grace" a cappella. The sound filled the church, and the words filled my heart because it was such an appropriate song for the location: "Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me...." *
The pool, as described by John, had five porticoes or colonnades. It was an impressive structure. In contrast, its dwellers were most wretched: lame, paralyzed, blind, and suffering from other types of sicknesses (see John 5:3). There was a belief that the waters were stirred supernaturally, and that the first person to get into the pool after the disturbance would get healed. Among the sick there was an extreme case: a man who had been ill for thirty-eight years. That's a very long time! Jesus went to that man, desiring to heal him but not wanting to impose His way. He asked him: "Do you wish to get well?" (verse 6). It seems like a strange question...who wouldn't want to get well? But since the man was probably lame, by being well he would have had a hard time adjusting to a new lifestyle after thirty-eight years of total dependence on others. Instead of simply responding affirmatively, the man presents his own understanding of the remedy needed: "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool" (verse 7). Perhaps Jesus could help him to get to it on time....However, Jesus had something better in mind. He doesn't do things the way we do, and He has a thousand resources where we see none. Jesus simply commanded the man to get up and walk, and he did! (verse 8). Many of us have been suffering with emotional and spiritual diseases for decades; trying the same thing over and over again, expecting a different result. Today Jesus comes to us with the ultimate cure. Do you wish to be made well?
My Response:________________________________________________________
* John Newton, "Amazing Grace," 1779, public domain.
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