What is He telling you?
John 5: 1-11
When I read this passage recently, some salient points came to light.
This passage makes us understand that this man at the pool of Bethesda had been there for 38 years.
It is a pretty long time by all standards to be in a mess or difficult situation as his. He may have been mocked at, made jest of, deserted by friends and family. He never knew that his day of redemption was very close.
Jesus is omniscient. He knew that this man had been there for a long time, and walked straight to him.
There may have been many other people by that same pool with different issues and problems, but The Lord picked him.
No matter the situation or condition you are facing, no matter the length of time it has taken, Jesus knows it all, and your own day of recovery and restoration is closer than you have ever anticipated in Jesus Name. Just as He picked this man at the pool, I pray you will find favour before God and He will bring solution to that problem.
Jesus asked the man a question…”do you want to be made whole?” I believe He is also asking each and every one of us today a question. Your question may be different from mine.
Coming back to this man, do you notice that he did not answer the question directly? I thought the simple answer would have been Yes or No. That was not the case. In his own words,” Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me”
Are we answering the questions that God is asking us or are we like the man by the pool rambling away with inconsequential details? Or are we making excuses why we cannot give a Yes or No answer?
….excuses like, if I had started doing this or that while I was much younger, how I wish my mortgage is all done, how old am I now, that boss in the office, will I continue to work with him this way and for how long, that man coming to the pharmacy where I work provokes me all the time, how do I deal with him or make the situation better?….
Remember Phillip’s story. (John 6: 5-14). Jesus was only expressing His concerns for food for the people. The disciples brought in their own worries and excuses .The question asked by Jesus was” where can we buy bread?”(The message Bible) The answer from Phillip was “Two hundred pennyworth of bread is not sufficient for them, that every one of them may take a little” (King James Bible)
The man at the pool did not answer the question directly but Jesus was merciful to him and listened to his ramblings.
Sometimes we miss our opportunity this way. The lord will have mercy on us all in Jesus name.
In John 5: 8, Jesus told the man “Rise up, take up your bed and walk” He obeyed what Jesus told him to do. There was resolution to the problem. Peace and joy came to him.
Jesus is telling you something today. He is also telling me something. What he is saying to me might be different from what he is saying to you because our conditions and situations may be different.
Be calm so you can hear what he is telling you. You may not hear his voice in the quake, fire or turbulence.
May we be quiet in our spirit to hear what he is telling us to do so that we shall have joy and gladness of heart.
This shall be our portion in Jesus name. Amen.
Prayer:
- Oh Lord, let your voice be clear to me when you speak.
- Grant me grace to be obedient to you Lord.
