The man at the Pool of Bethesda had been crippled for at least 38 years, and during those 38 years he lived a life of "self-pity", doubt and unbelief.   This man was not only sick physically, he was sick emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially.  38 years = 13,870 days.   

The word Bethesda means "House of Mercy".  Right there at the House of Mercy this man lived, yet never knew how to grab hold of what was provided for him.  At this Pool of Bethesda, verse 3 of John, Chapter 5, tells us, "In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the water."   How many are a multitude?  A lot!  A lot of people who had no peace...no joy...no rest.  But then, along came Jesus!  Out of all these people, one man stood out to Jesus.  I wonder, what was it about this man that got Jesus' attention? 

One thing we do know, Jesus looked  at the man's heart and knew what was going on.  He asked the man a question, "Do you want to get well?" (verse 6).  The man began to defend himself, justifing his actions, and he gave excuses.  His defense was self-pity. Jesus told the man "Rise, take up your mat and walk" (verse 9).  This poor, pitiful man had to make a choice.  Dare he get up?  Dare he believe that healing had come upon him?  Dare he believe his life could be changed forever?  Dare he give up his 13,870 days of feeling sorry for himself?  He had to make a choice of 1) continue to lay there, and continue his life of self-pity, or 2) make the choice to get up, believe he was healed, and walk.  He made the decision to believe Jesus was the Healer.  He made the choice to "get up and walk."  He made the choice to receive "Life" in every area of his life.  The word "sick" in verse 7 is translated in the King James Version as "impotent", and means in the Greek, "

1) to be weak, feeble, to be without strength, powerless;

2) to be weak means, needy, poor;

Jesus told him in verse 14, "...Behold, you have become well; sin no more so that nothing worse happens to you."  Probably sin was the cause of his sickness. But  I personally believe that Jesus was also addressing the sin of self-pity, the sin of doubt and unbelief.  .

The man left Jesus that day, and began giving his testimony of the One (Jesus) who made him well.  His life was changed forever.  I wonder how many days after that he lived.  Did he get to live another 13,870 days, or a few hundred days?  What did he do with his life?  Did he walk in faith, or did he fall back into self-pity?

What in each of our lives bring fear, doubt, unbelief?  What brings that ugly spirit of self-pity?  We all have something we are struggling with.  What do we struggle with that makes us feel powerless, feeble, without strength? 

Jesus is looking into each of our hearts, knowing exactly where we are physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and financially.  Do we want to be well?  Do we want to get up and walk?  Our choice.  May we rise up, allow the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) to "stir up" the Living Water (Holy Spirit) within us, and may we step into "Life".  May we get up and walk, be energized in faith, and may we walk in peace.  May there be no more "wasted" days.

Shalom,

Gayle

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