John 5
“Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” (v. 8)
I believe that Jesus is teaching here that one need not go through all the formality of the world, but trust only in Christ for salvation, (healing of the soul). The man wanted desperately to be healed, but had no one to help him into the pool; he seemed to have no friends or relatives that cared for him. In all those years he had sought someone to help him, but others, who had not lingered long at the pool, would slide into the waters of mercy before him. Imagine his frustration when, day by day he waited, hoping, and praying that his turn would come, only to find that another had stolen his blessing. The formality of this world is not always “fair” but it is, on the contrary, ruthless and self seeking. For thirty eight years the man lingered by the pool; the blind could stumble their way in before he could lift himself enough to enter the water; the lame would rush past him and dive in before him; those with one limb, or otherwise deformed were able to get help, or to somehow get to the pool before he did; in thirty-eight years, he was not able to make it on his own. What a beautiful picture of humanity. There was no one to help us when the mercy of God came down, and to get us to the great Shepherd. There was no one to “stand in the gap” and point the way to Jesus, the way to healing our sin-sick souls. We had none that cared for our souls, until Jesus came along. He saw that we had been in that state for quite sometime, and had mercy on us. Jesus did not have to bow to the tradition of men, nor wait for the mercy of God, for He had it always with Him. Jesus cared for the man that was shoved aside; He cared for the one who was uncared for; He became a healer to the one who sought it most desperately. Thirty-eight years; unbelievable, but true. Jesus is a friend to the friendless; He is a cure to those who have no chance for finding healing on their own; Jesus is the Merciful One, the great Healer, the hope for all mankind. We, in our depravity, linger by the pools of this world, looking for someone to help us. We try desperately to help ourselves, but fail miserably in the effort; we need Jesus. Thank God that He sent His Son to us, and that we no longer need the pool, but have the Son of God. We too can take up our own bed, and walk. Our labors for reaching the pools of life are over, and we can now walk freely, and in good health spiritually, because the Lord has passed our way.
What a glorious day that was for this crippled man. What a “new day” for him; a new life was before him, a life he had not known for thirty eight years, and he rejoiced greatly in it. He was to begin walking a new walk, and living a different life. This too is a picture of what Christ does for us, and the “new life” He gives us in salvation. Let us rejoice in it; let us appreciate it as he did his new walk, and let us glorify God in it. What a wonderful passage for us to read often, and rejoice in our God-given salvation.
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