Verse of the Day 5/18

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 23-24, John 7:37-52

 

Good morning,

One of the things that you'll notice in reading through John is the recurring themes and words.  Today, let's consider water, it's different uses, forms, and symbol-isms.  In chapter one there was baptism, in chapter 2 common water was transformed into wine, in chapter 3 we learned that we are born of water and spirit, chapter 4 someone who thirsted found "living" water, and now in chapter 5 we see water as a source of healing.

 

The location is Bethesda, which in Hebrew means, house of outpouring.  The waters in the pools were known to be stirred at times.  When this happened, the first person in would be healed of what was ailing them.  The "trouble waters" would heal the "troubled soul".

 

The image of troubled waters is often physical but it can be, or carry with it emotional distress.  The man in the story is frustrated because he could not bring himself into the water, somebody would have to carry him.  He would end up missing his opportunity and someone else would enter first.

 

The word used for paralyzed here is xeron, which means all dried up, withered.  Long term illnesses, whether physical or emotional, can wither us, dry us up.

For today's verse we go Jesus' encounter with the man.

 

John 5:6 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, Do you want to become well? [Are you really in earnest about getting well?]

 The invalid answered, Sir, I have nobody when the water is moving to put me into the pool; but while I am trying to come [into it] myself, somebody else steps down ahead of me.

    ⁸Jesus said to him, Get up! Pick up your bed (sleeping pad) and walk!  - Amplified Bible

 

There is so much we can take from this event.  The man had been putting his hope in an event, the stirring of the waters.  What he thought he needed was another person to bring him into the water.  What he really needed was The Person, Jesus who could cure him with a word.  He is healed, but along with the healing he carries along with him something of the waters of Jesus' new life which we have seen in the previous chapters.

 

Think of some of the other instances of water being used, the raging see and Jesus calming it with His word, His calling Peter out of the boat and into troubled waters that He would reach out and save him.

 

There are many songs and even poems that come to mind, like "Bridge over Troubled Waters" and "God Works in Mysterious Ways".   We have a "special needs" son, and we have several friends in similar circumstances that have longed for a miracle of healing.  At the same time, through these troubled waters we've seen blessings.  In Jeff's case he has been blessed by an indomitable spirit that brings joy to us and others, just about everyone that comes to know him.  Sometimes He calms the storm and other times He calms His child.

 

Sometimes He calms the storm
With a whispered peace be still
He can settle any sea
But it doesn't mean He will
Sometimes He holds us close
And lets the wind and waves go wild
Sometimes He calms the storm

And other times He calms His child

 

May you seek His outpouring in the way that you need it today.
 

Blessings,
Mike

mikevw@bellsouth.net
mikesvotd.blogspot.com

John 5:1-15
5:1 A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 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.  

5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

6 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?" 

7 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."

8 Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." 

9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, "It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed."

11 He answered them, "He who made me well said to me, 'Take up your bed and walk.'"

12 Then they asked him, "Who is the Man who said to you, 'Take up your bed and walk'?"

13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, "See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." 

15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
NKJV