He Knows My Helplessness
Scripture Reading: John 5:1-15
Meditation
The pool of Bethesda is where the angel of the Lord swims.
Popular belief has it that whoever is the first to jump into the pool when the angel splashes is the one who would be cured of whatever disease he had. But there is only one miracle per angelic outing. The first one in is the only one healed.
Day after day, hundreds of disabled people—the blind, the diseased, and the crippled—wait for the stirring of the waters. They crowd in and camp out in one of the five alcoves surrounding the pool. Minute by minute, they look for any ripple caused by the brush of angel wings. Any undulation. A swirl.
When the angel comes, he gives no notice. He has no set schedule. He could come at any moment. Those gathered around the pool know that, if you want to be cured, you have to be vigilant, ready, and fast. You can’t be late. Any waves in the water and you have to beat everyone else into the pool.
For thirty-eight years a man lying by the edge of the pool has always been late. Whenever the angel stirred the waters, he’s been too slow. Somebody else always seems to splash his or her way to wholeness before he can even get his toe in the water.
What’s made matters worse is that his friends and family, anyone that could or would help, have abandoned him. The paralytic is alone by the side of the pool.
He’s helpless—unable to get into the pool. He can see the water ripple but his legs anchor him to his bedroll. Healing always comes to someone else.
He’s hopeless—after thirty-eight years of missing his chance to swim with the angel, he’s no longer willing to try. He’s so close to healing and yet so far from a miracle.
He’s become heartless—unfeeling, insensitive, and dead to the joys of others. His emotions, like his legs, are paralyzed. He’s become numb to those around him and numb to God. When someone else is healed, his heart is further hardened.
It’s this man that Jesus decides to help.
One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?”
The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.”1
For as many years as the paralytic has been lying next to the pool, he has connected healing with the stirring of the waters. But today, Jesus wants to stir his soul. When the paralytic sees Jesus, he makes no request. There is no plea for healing. And Jesus doesn’t reach down and offer him a hand up, or give him a crutch, or even help him into the pool.
Instead, Jesus gives him a command.
“Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off. That day happened to be the Sabbath.2
What Jesus asks is impossible.
On his own, the man is unable to comply. But in, with, and underneath the command, Jesus gives power. The paralytic is healed on the spot. He straightens his legs. He stands up, picks up his bedroll, and walks off. And he doesn’t even have to get wet.
But with the healing comes controversy.
The Jews stopped the healed man and said, “It’s the Sabbath. You can’t carry your bedroll around. It’s against the rules.”3
When the Jews see the one time paralytic carrying his bedroll, they don’t rejoice with the man; they rebuke him. Technically he’s not breaking the Law of Moses but he is violating the strict regulations established by the religious authorities: no load carrying of any kind on the Sabbath. Just healed or not, rules are rules.
But he told them, “The man who made me well told me to. He said, ‘Take your bedroll and start walking.’”
They asked, “Who gave you the order to take it up and start walking?” But the healed man didn’t know, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd.4
Again Jesus takes the initiative. Earlier, he had found the paralytic lying next to the pool. Now he finds him in the Temple about to give thanks. A few hours ago, Jesus straightened his legs; now he wants to strengthen his soul. Whether it’s paralyzed limbs or numb hearts, Jesus finds and helps the helpless.
“You look wonderful! You’re well! Don’t return to a sinning life or something worse might happen.” 5
The healed paralytic presents his thank offering and skips away singing a psalm.
“God, you did everything you promised, and I’m thanking you with all my heart.
You pulled me from the brink of death, my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God, in the sunlit fields of life”.6
Reflection
In what areas of your life do you feel like you’re helpless? What pool are you waiting for Christ to stir?
When has Jesus asked you to do something that you were powerless to do? How has he given you the power to do it?
In what ways has a work of Christ in your life caused controversy in your world?
When you’re in the Temple, what thank offering do you bring? What Psalm do you sing?
Prayer
Father,
Your Son is the Savior who takes the initiative. He finds hurting people, involves himself in their lives, cures their bodies, and cares for their souls. When it comes to the needs of the powerless, he pays no attention to manmade rules. The dignity of the individual is more important than the dictates of the law. Sabbath or no Sabbath, your Son is going to do his work and give the helpless rest.
During this day, Jesus, find me where I lay. If I’m helpless and unable to move, say the word. Give the command and make me strong. If I’m hopeless and unwilling to try, breathe into me a reason to dream. If I’m heartless, unfeeling towards the joys of others and numb toward you, soften my heart and stir my soul. And after you work, may you find me in the Temple, offering thanks, and singing a psalm.
It’s in your name that I pray. Amen.
1John 5:5-7 2John 5:8-9 3John 5:10 4John 5:11-13 5John 5:14 6Psalm 56:12-13
All Scripture references in the meditation are marked by italics and are taken from the Gospel reading for the day. Those verses quoted outside of the chosen reading for the day are noted. All Scripture quoted in this post is taken from THE MESSAGE: Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001 & 2002. Used by permission of NavPress Publishing Group. All rights reserved.