Seven Miracles - Pt 12

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:1-9 ESV).

So far we have seen that his knowledge of us is complete and his compassion toward us is great. Now we see that his power is immediate and sovereign (vv. 8–9). John recalls, “Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” The words “at once” signify the immediacy of Jesus’ power. When he speaks, diseased muscles and bones obey. And they obey “at once.” This is John declaring the sovereign power of Jesus the same way he did in the way the official’s son was healed at exactly the seventh hour fifteen miles away when Jesus said the words (cf. John 4:52-59). This truth cannot be understated. The power of Jesus is more than enough to conquer every circumstance of our lives. At this point we might be tempted to simply say, “So what?” We have seen John detail the complete knowledge, the heartfelt compassion, and the sovereign power of Jesus. Of what use is this knowledge when we find ourselves in so much pain from the circumstance of our life. Well, the answer is that this is how you get to know Jesus. This is how you build a relationship with Jesus. You meet him here in his word. And you speak to him. You tell him what you think and feel about his knowledge and compassion and power. You ask him to shape your thinking and your feeling around this sight of his glory. Then you walk out of your encounter with him, into the day and live in the fellowship of this Jesus. It is not an imaginary one. It is not a self-made one. It is the real, living Jesus revealed with absolute authority in the words of his apostle. So, for those who are in the midst of a crushing experience of life, return to your knowledge of Jesus. Renew your relationship with him through prayer and the reading of the Scripture. I know from my personal experience that when I focus on that I am always encouraged. It is in that moment that I feel contentment. It is in that moment when I know immediate peace, even if my body continues toward death. He is your great friend and brother. Sit with him for a bit!