Waiting for my Bethesda

 

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. 

This story from John 5:1-8 could be familiar to you as just a memory of a nice,

Feel-good Sunday school lesson.

But I ask you to look at it again, and try to see the miracle of miracles here.

What was going on?

      - A poolside miracle!

What does that mean?

      - People from miles around waited for days, even months, or years, to be finally free from any terrible disease imagine-able. The cure was heaven sent. No doctors needed. No questions asked.

How big was this beach property?

      - Five verandas surrounding the waters!

Was this a busy place?

      - Yes! A much crazier scene than a chilly 6:00 am "Black Friday Mosh-pit" at Menards!

How many people benefited from the random angelic healing?

      - This was a first come, first serve,

 one person wins all, too-bad-you-missed-it-because-you-were-too-slow, too crippled-and-tripped-losing-your-cane-I-don't-care-if-you-got-hurt, you are in my way-I-I-I-Me-Me-Me... WIN.

 

How many years did it say this crippled man was waiting for a miracle?

      - Thirty-eight excruciatingly long years!

What just happened?

     -Funny thing happened.

The Messiah. The Healer. The Gentle Shepherd who knows His sheep, happened by that day.

He stops at this pool, somehow works His way through the crowd of sick and disabled and finds this one man.

This man, who has been waiting and hoping and praying and pleading and crawling... and failing, year after year after year, to be delivered from his heavy burden of pain and disease - this man is chosen above all.

Why this man?

I don't know, maybe because he waited so long.

Maybe because he never gave up.

Maybe because he had a "better attitude".

Maybe because he could do so much more.

Or perhaps, just because God received all the glory. 

I don't know about you, but sometimes we get all bent out of shape trying to figure out "the why", when we really need to stop and remember "the Who".

(Lesson is still in session for me on that one.)

So looking back at this man in John chapter 5, we see Jesus asking another one of His unusual questions - "Do you want to be made well?"

(…pause for a chuckle if you are paying attention)…Well, duh. You think I am camping here at crazy station just to get trampled by idiots?

 

But in all seriousness, Whenever Jesus speaks, He always has good reason.

He wants to make sure we are paying close attention.

He wants to ensure that His benefactors know what they are asking for.

He also wants to make sure the crowd (which always seems to follow) is listening and are witness to what is going to happen next.

 

So Jesus listens to the man tell his story, how long he has been sick,

 how hard it is to get to the waters, and the fact that he is all alone.

Jesus is the very best Listener, and you can tell by how the people come from miles around to hear Him. It's as if He is speaking directly to you and none else.

Yet His love encompasses the crowds day after day, generation after generation.

His love is pure and true and everlasting.

His love is only one of the Miracles that happened that day.

 

Then after listening to the man describe his journey, Jesus gives him a job to do.

What? The poor guy is crippled. Give him a break! Can't it just be “A-la-ka-zam A-la-ka-zoo”, I have a miracle right in front of you?

Hmmm… No, my friend. When Jesus comes to help us, we have to meet Him in the middle.

We must choose to participate in the miracle.

 He may heal our brokenness and our diseases, but we have to pick up our bed and walk.

We must pick up the pieces of our shattered lives, ruined plans and broken dreams bit by bit and place them prayerfully in the hands of the Messiah, the Healer, our Gentle Shepherd.

Let Him take those pieces to redeem, salvage, soothe, and guide us through the desert lands of grief and pain.

 

Even if it takes 38 years. Or longer. 

 

At this moment in time I haven't even been a mother for that long.

I lost two babies a little over 25 years ago.

I am a wife and mother of four children who have walked this earth,

including our 24 year old son who peacefully walks on streets of gold,

as we plod slowly on the road of loss.

This will be our fifth Christmas without our sunshine called Nathanael.

I have spent the last six years battling chronic pain and immune disorders

which dramatically change the way things are done, what can get done, and how quickly I am done for.

I am sitting by the Pool of my Bethesda, waiting for a miracle.

 

The miracle beyond all miracles is when we realize why we must wait so long.

 

I can't see the plan.

I can't see the road ahead.

 I can't get into the pool on my own,

I must trust that the Healer of my soul is leading me in ways I can never imagine,

taking me to paths of strength, peace and long-suffering.

The Shepherd is guiding me on a journey more miraculous than I could dream,

and I am learning to be ok with slow, because I am not alone.

 

Traveling in the slow lane, still gets us where we need to go.

 

Waiting by my Pool of Bethesda @Brick by Brick

Written by: Sue Leerhoff