“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 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. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.”
‭‭John‬ ‭5:2-9‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

This is one of my favourite healing stories in the bible. My favourite is the healing of the woman with the blood issue. I have always thought of the man at the pool as full of excuses. Each time I read these verses, I noticed how Jesus asked if he wanted to get well and rather than respond with a yes or no, he gave a reason (considered an excuse in my opinion) for not being well yet. I observed how Jesus ignored this and healed him anyway.

Today, I feel differently. This man had been unwell for 38 years. He had no one to help him yet, it sounded like for the period of his sickness, he tried to be made well. Only 1 person gets healed a time. He was lame and obviously wouldn’t be able to move as quickly as the person who has fully functioning legs. But he still sat at the pool waiting for the stirring of the water.

Today I didn’t hear an excuse, I heard his frustration and a cry for help. “Do you want to be made well?” “Well, I have been trying, but my chances are slim without help.” Maybe he was even trying to enlist Jesus’ help 😀.

Perhaps it’s that frustration that brought Jesus there that day. A crowd of sick people were there with various problems but Jesus picked him and only him out. The others were left unhealed. Untouched. He didn’t even ask what his problem was. He already knew. Many would have seen this man at this pool for several year ms but none cared enough to help. But Jesus cared and Jesus still cares.

God sees and knows our struggles. There may be things in your life that you have been trying for a long time to resolve. Know that He sees you. He knows you And what you are fighting for. He cares for you. He will come to you. He will help you.

Just don’t give up. Don’t stop trying.

Arielle x