DAY 2: AMONG US - (John 5:1-9): The Chosen 40 Days with Jesus - BOOK 2 …
Good evening... Great is His faithfulness...
DAY 2: AMONG US
A Man Healed at the Pool of Bethesda
5 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, [a]Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, [b]paralyzed, [c]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.
(John 5:1-9)
This double basin pool, to some in these times believed it to have curing powers, located around 100 yards north of the temple area, near the SHEEP GATE ... THE WATER from this high ground pool came from underground springs and was also used to wash down the sacrificial lambs before their slaying... The pool also functions as a type of Christian baptism ... Under the old covenant, A GREAT MULTITUDE - (v. 3) waited to enter the water for physical healing after an ANGEL touched it - (v. 4) ...
According to St. John Chrysostom, for v. 5, Jesus, singled out the MAN WHO WAITED FOR THIRTY - EIGHT YEARS in order to teach us to have perseverance, and as judgement against those who lose hope or patience in much lesser troubles lasting a far shorter time ...
According to the Orthodox Study Bible Commentary
See (vv .6-7): THE LORD'S QUESTION HERE: is relevant for many reasons: (1): it was made public that THE SICK MAN kept his faith even in a situation that was seemingly hopeless, for how could a paralytic ever be the first into the water??? (2): The Lord draws attention away from the water and towards the needs we have for a MAN to help us: This is fulfilled in Christ Himself, who became man to heal them all: (3): Not everyone who is ill actually desires healing: sadly, some may prefer to remain infirm in order to have license to complain, to avoid responsibility for their lives, or to continue exciting the pity of others!!!
"Jesus doesn't force Himself on any of us instead He leaves up to us our fee will ... Salvation is a free gift given by God's grace but some we reject because of their own free will, and hell was not created for man but for Satan, but man will join Satan in hell by their on choice by not reconciling themselves back to God ... Our Lord's question to the paralytic do you want to be made well is indicating to us that we need to have no excuses, but instead strengthen our faith in the midst adversity and choose the way of life, light and the truth which is Jesus Christ OUR GOD ... Do you want to be made well??? Seek your Father in heaven first and love Him with all your heart, mind soul and body, and let that flowing fountain of water in your heart help guide you to eternal life" ...
Jared W Campbell
Numbers 6:24-26
“The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 The Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;
26 The Lord [a]lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.” ’
In Christ love Jared W Campbell