John 5:1-5 -- After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed. Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.
Our journey into chapter five has us following Jesus back South, from Galilee down to Jerusalem, in Judea. There is a Jewish feast going on, so it was packed with people.
We hear about this pool by the Sheep Gate, just North of the Temple. Back in this day it was not uncommon for people to gather in places rumored to have healing properties. It was derived from groups like Greek cults that worshipped Asclepius, their god of medicine.
Now whether this was a place God used to heal or if it was just the legend of it, these people believed it enough to gather and wait. This man had been sick and feeble for thirty-eight years. We see later he was so sick that alone he couldn't get into the pool quick enough. That's a heartbreakingly long time to be that sick.
Whatever hope he had left in life was focused on this pool. The answer to thirty-eight years of sickness was just out of reach. We see later he'd been there many times and hadn't found it, yet here he sat once again. His hope was all in, on this pool. However, he didn't know this time around Jesus was coming for him.
Christian, where do you have your hope in? I know the Christian auto-answer is "JESUS!", but slow down…come to a stop even. Take a deep breath and really ask yourself the question. Even better pray and ask God to search you and show you. (Psalm 139).
As Christians we get good at hiding behind the "correct" auto-answers. We often think because we know the correct answer, that's good enough. Then we go back to hopelessly searching and trying in our strength to fix whatever it is. Looking for the next healing service. Looking for the next worship service. Reading the next book on breakthrough. Sometimes even being willing to believe some things that don't exactly line up biblically because there's hope it can fix the brokenness, heal the hurt, or bring balance. Danger zone! Red alert!
Christian, be careful where you place your hope. Especially in the storms of life. Sickness, unemployment, pain, death of a loved one, tiredness, struggles, finances, etc… It's during these times if all you have is the memorized auto-answer, then all the other options start to look good. Some that will simply pull you deeper into the storms and further from Jesus.
If we look to any other source than Jesus, we're going to find ourselves still hungry, still thirsty, and still searching for the next pool of Bethesda.
Don't take my word on anything. Be the Berean, go to the bible and read it directly!
Remember, you are loved. You are prayed over. You are not alone.
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