That’s what the man at the pool of Bethesda, along with countless others who were sick, were waiting for. They’d witnessed in prior times that, every so often, an angel would come and trouble the waters, and the first sick person who stepped in was instantly healed. So waiting was good.
But the issue was that once you knew the angel had touched the water, you had to be first; second would get you nothing. A man, whose name is nameless in the scriptures, but is pointed out because he’d been infirm for 38 years!
One day, Jesus saw the man lying there (I suspect waiting for the next troubling of the water). He asked the man, “Will you be made whole?”
I’ve always found that question odd – who wouldn’t want to be whole- but we know Jonah wasn’t interested in being healed from his internal heart condition. The man tells Jesus that he doesn’t have anyone to help him in the pool, so while he’s coming, someone else steps in ahead of him.
And right there on the spot, Jesus speaks life-changing words to him. Rise, take up your bed, and walk. No troubling of the water, no one stepping in front of him, no formula. Just a word from Jesus. What happened? Immediately, the man was made whole, picked up his bed, and walked! After 38 years!
Waiting for God to move doesn’t mean He’s going to move at the same time, in the same location, in the same manner for you as He did for others. Waiting for God to move means trusting that He will do what He chooses for you, according to His set purpose in your life.
You don’t need to be the first one at the pool to receive your deliverance. You just need the Lord to speak to your situation.
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.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.5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.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?7 The impotent man answered him, 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.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. (John 5:1-9 KJV)
5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. (Proverbs 3:5 KJV)
In the Master’s Service,
Author/Pastor Michele D Robertson
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Matthew 11:28-29 (KJV)