dennis j adams

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. (John 5:2-9 ESV)

When the time comes for your introduction to the miraculous, do you wait for someone to pick you up and put you in? This man spent his life waiting for someone to pick him up and place him in the pool for a miracle to happen to him. Each time he was left alone or not able to get to the pool. This day was going to be different for him. This day Jesus came by to heal and bring health to the man’s heart and soul.

This man’s life changed drastically and he took up his bed and walked off on his own. It was the Sabbath, the day when the Jewish law forbid such actions. When I look at this story, this absolute truth, I am amazed at how it fits into our society today and even the church.

Today, we are all going somewhere to get something. Hopefully, but a bit foolish to believe, everyone is searching for a miracle from the Lord. How many times have we walked by the opportunity to receive. Maybe because emotionally we decide that we were not ready. Could it be that someone just has given up and made that “faith killing” statement: “It just cannot happen”. The man in the story did not have that attitude, he went every time, expecting! His expectation was that someone would help him get in the pool as the waters were being stirred or that he would have the strength to make it in himself. That is what faith “speaks”, even though the odds are against me, I will never stop trying to reach for my miracle. Just think of the widow woman who had the issue of blood for twelve years, weak and rejected, yet she pressed through the crowd and touched the hem of Jesus’ garment. She was completely healed! (Matthew 9:20)

Jesus confronted this man and asked him if he wanted to be healed. I believe that man screamed out, “Yes”! How true it is though, that so many times, the reaching out of the hand or the invitation to speak out what your real desire is and there is a silence. A withdrawal, from the absolute life changing experience that is needed.

The man’s response, like anyone today, is to try to explain why he has not been healed. We give so many excuses to the Lord when He reaches to us with His love and care. We want to go into so much detail and give so many excuses. The Lord does not want to hear all that. He wants to hear you say yes, I want to be healed! Yes, I want my miracle! Yes, I need a miracle that only you, Lord can give! Jesus healed him and he went on his way! The spectacle of the day was not the waters being stirred, but a man, named Jesus, came by the pool and healed the man who never gave up trying. Now that is hope that we all need to have. I loved what Habakkuk stated when the trial was heavy and ongoing….

Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. (Habakkuk 3:17-19 ESV)

What the Lord did for the man at the pool was to give him feet like a deer’s and the power to tread on high places. That is just what the Lord desires to do for you. Even when man has built precepts that would try to stop you from being touched by the Lord. Keep trusting for your miracle and look to Jesus to heal you and strengthen you!

This week make every effort to focus on what the Word declares for you and your healing. Also, make every effort to stop looking for help in the wrong places. You can be in the right place looking for help in the wrong place.

Dennis