At The Pool Of Bethesda

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."  John 5:7

We too are waiting for the stirring up of the water. We cry to Jesus to put us into the pool. For we too have no one else. We have leaned on other people but they have let us down before the healing waters. We tried resting on our accomplishments but they cracked and shattered without granting us legitimate support. Beginning to realize our hopelessness we stare at the water as it begins to move.

Christ’s image is seen in the water. As we grow closer it is obscured by our own reflection. We know what we should do but in our own flesh we find it impossible. So we cry again for God to carry us to the pool.

We have lived in our own infirmity for so long. Seeing the beauty of Him who is most beautiful stuns us. We can not understand how we can be healed or safe when we have been sick so long. The water stirs and we are paralyzed and unable to move.

“Do you wish to get well,” He asks. Why would He ask us that? Doesn’t He know we are broken? “This wretched body will not make it to the water,” we say again. Still He forces the issue and requests, nay, commands us to, “Get up.”

We are at a crossroads. If we could get up then we would have no need for the water. Yet He commands with authority that stirs the hope within. Giving answer to a will stronger than our own we rise to our feet. Startled we realize what has happened.

We seek the presence of God. We jump for joy. We know not who this man was only that He said to walk and by God we did.

The water moves again and a voice cries to be carried to the pool. A hand reaches out to touch them. “I once was as you were,” he says.