At the pool of Bethesda

‘One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 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?" (John 5:5-6)

The scene introduced in this part of the chapter before us is indeed very sad. The background is the pool of Bethesda (which stands for mercy), around which lied a great multitude of impotent folk, and not one of them recognized the Great Physician who walked in among them. Here they lie before the pool of mercy and they did not recognize the Author (or we'll say the source) where mercy was to be obtained.

How many people today are waiting for God to show mercy yet are not willing to surrender to His will? How many people today have a religion? They are willing to be saved in their own way, but are not willing to conform to God's way.

As our text reveals, Jesus addressed one of the most helpless ones, asking if he was willing to be made whole. Has it ever entered your mind where the true malady of sin lies? It lies in the rebellion of the human heart. The greatest separation that could ever take place, that took place in the Garden of Eden, is on account of rebellion. The question was whether he was willing to be made whole or not. The question comes to each one of us: Are we willing to be made whole? Are we willing to come back into unconditional surrender to the will of God? Are we willing to have the disease and the malady of rebellion broken? Are we willing?

By Bro. Luaha Renthlei
(Cell Group Leader)