Woke up in the morning to fetch some wisdom and inspiration from the bible, which I believe should be a normal practice for all.
I was stationed at the book of John chapter 5 where I travelled through verse 1 and made my first stop at verse 5. I later continued my journey from verse 5-9 and made a final stop at verse 10-12.
John 5:1-5 “After this, a Jewish festival took place, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. By the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool, called Bethesda in Hebrew, which has five colonnades. Within these lay a large number of the sick — blind, lame, and paralyzed [ — waiting for the moving of the water, because an angel would go down into the pool from time to time and stir up the water. Then the first one who got in after the water was stirred up recovered from whatever ailment he had] One man was there who had been sick for 38 years.”
These verses give us knowledge of how GOD’S clinic used to function on earth.
My interest today is not in the ways of healing in the clinic but in a patient whose healing brought brouhaha amongst top officials.
John 5:6-9, “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well? “Sir,”” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk!” Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat, and started to walk. Now that day was the Sabbath.
I believe this man was not the only person at the pool of Bethesda as at the time JESUS was there.
As far as the bible is concerned, there was no other purpose stated apart from what CHRIST did to this man at the pool. Come to think of it, JESUS CHRIST was not sick to be at the pool of Bethesda seeking for healing like the others, neither was any of HIS disciples.
Scripture says in verse 6, when HE saw him and knew that he had been there for long. The greek word for saw and know here are eido and ginosko respectively. EIDO means to see or to be aware, and GINOSKO means to know absolutely.
So the scripture thus read: when JESUS was aware of Him and knew absolutely that he had been there for long.
This man exhibited some traits which I believe warranted his healing away from the normal procedure at the pool clinic. His faith, patience and tendency towards the plan of GOD for his healing was just remarkable. It had being 38 years and he still had hope that one day someday his star would shine.
Notice that he had no one to drag or push him into the pool meaning other sick persons had people to push them into the pool and should this continue, the man was bound to spend the rest of his life by the pool watching others smile away with healing and testimonies; this alone could add to his sickness.
He still kept the faith and was glued to the healing plan of GOD even though he stood no chance of enjoying it since the competition was beyond him. Little did he know that his tendencies and faith were speaking volumes for him in the court of healing.
So JESUS CHRIST walks into the pool clinic and by default was aware of just that man and knew absolutely his plight.
In other words his tendencies and faith in GOD’s plan for him had made an indelible mark in the realms of the spirit that by default CHRIST was made aware. Thus, if HE was going anywhere or doing anything, HIS route had to change to the pool clinic; there was a feast and you could tell from HIS first miracle that JESUS had always been a party man. Typically, HE should have been enjoying HIMSELF under the festivities.
John 5:10-12 ‘’so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “This is the Sabbath! It’s illegal for you to pick up your mat.” He replied, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” Who is this man who told you, ‘Pick up your mat and walk?’ they asked.’’
Also note that the high officials were against this practice because per the law, it was Sabbath and this shouldn’t be done. But the man had beckoned on the spirit of CHRIST with HIS actions so much that the LORD had to defy all odds for his sake.
It took this man 38 years at the pool clinic, but he never looked down on the plan of GOD for his life. The problem is not with GOD but with us, if we could trust GOD’S plan for our lives and hold on firmly unto HIS will, we might not wait for the troubling of the water to get our breakthrough; the breakthrough HIMSELF will visit us. Stay true to your calling and keep trusting, make your mark in the spirit with your actions and be ready for the visit.