Bethesda

John 5:2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches. (Bethesda = house of mercy / grace)

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

*We have many examples of the moving of the spirit in both old & new Testaments. When the spirit moved, things happened.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

*Was this the first time he had made it to the pool? Maybe he had been time & again, hoping each time to get close enough...

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

*Why didn’t he get to the edge of the pool so he could just ‘fall in?’ Perhaps the pool was raised, or according to some photos of Bethesda ruins, it depicts the pool to be far below the porches with a long set of steps leading to the pool. Was it like the story of the man with palsy that couldn’t get to Jesus because of the crowd & they had to uncover the roof & let him down to where Jesus was? >

[Mk. 2:1-5 ...when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.

5 When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee. ]

Jn. 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

*We have to desire to get near the water - to come to the place of mercy.

*We have to believe in the water.

*We have to want the water.

*We have to accept the water.

This man believed in the healing power of the troubled water. He made his best effort to get to the water, but he was hindered by his affliction & the fact that others got to the water first.

Are you finding it difficult to get to the source that will bring you deliverance, peace of mind, renewed joy...whatever your need might be. Jesus sees your need, just as he saw this man's need. Trust in him, make the effort, believe in his word & expect him to trouble the water for you.

*Jesus ‘saw’ him...If the man hadn’t made the effort to get near the water, he would still be lame.

If he hadn’t believed, when Jesus said, “rise” he would still be lame.

Jesus is the water! - Now, the water is always troubled:

John 4:14...whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

Rev 22:1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.

Rev 22:17...whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely