What did you expect would happen?
John 5:5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
John 5:6 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?
John 5:7 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.
John 5:8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Last time we looked at what was happening at this pool at Bethesda. Remember that Bethesda means “house of kindness.” I am amazed at this story seeing that God wanted to show His kindness to people.
Is. 54:10 For the mountains shall depart, and the hills be removed; but my kindness shall not depart from thee, neither shall the covenant of my peace be removed, saith the LORD that hath mercy on thee. God never withdraws His kindness from us.
It is His character to be kind and loving. We need to understand and see that clearly. When the prodigal son came home his father embraced him with kindness. There were no harsh words for his mistakes. There were no rejections because of his choices. Only kindnesses to embrace him and to welcome him back home.
At this pool was a man that was there for thirty-eight years. That in itself is incredible to fathom. The bible doesn’t say that he lived there. Maybe he did and some family member brought him food and drink every day. Most probably he had someone take him home every night and someone to bring him back every day. That is hard to understand whatever way you look at it. Most people can’t stay in one church for two or three years. Thirty-eight years he was there every day waiting for the Angel to stir the waters. That is 13870 days waiting for a chance to get healed. That is a long time. I am sure he had seen it all. For thirty-eight years he had seen people get in first and be healed of every disease imaginable. What amazes me is that in thirty-eight years he could not find any man to help him get in first. No compassion from anybody else. Everyone helped themselves. No line so that everyone could get a chance. No person asking if somebody could wait and give him a chance.
This also speaks to me in the sense that maybe this man gave up hope. Maybe he became complacent with his circumstances. Maybe he made good friends and enjoyed the company of misery too much. At least they all had the same thing to talk about. God was moving and people became excellent excuse makers. “I have nobody to help me.” Everybody was content with a move that could only heal one person. Nobody questioned why it was so small a move while many were still sick and lame and in pain. Nobody placing a demand on God for more than what they had yesterday. Same old same everyday. Once again they achieved building an understanding around how and when God moves. It s so nice to understand God!
The time came for God to break up the party. In walks Jesus ready to do something different. He came to change the agenda. This time they would see one who commands the Angels to do it. Maybe just this one time they would place a demand on God to do more. So Jesus goes to the one that I believe had been there the longest. If he could heal someone that had been sick for thirty-eight years then anybody that had been sick for less than that had a chance to be healed as well. So Jesus asks him if he wants to be healed? Why would Jesus ask him that? I can see everybody looking at the pool. The water is not moving. Where is the Angel? Silence descends on the pool like fog on a mountaintop. Everybody is waiting in anticipation. Then the silence is broken with doubt and excuses. “I have nobody that can put me in……..! WAIT! What did you just say?
Jesus speaks up without waiting for more excuses. “Take your bed up and walk.” Strength surges through his lame legs and before he can even wonder what happened the lame man jumps up and stands on both legs. Wow the view is different from here, he thinks to himself. I can hear the gasps as people see a miracle and a man that can walk for the first time in thirty-eight years. Jesus is waiting for more people to ask Him: “Master what about me, I have been here for….., but only silence meets Him as they settle back in their fear of having to engage a God that does change the way He reveals himself. No more takers while God is moving with power to heal everybody at the pool. They were so stuck in only the first one gets healed that it stopped them from expecting more to be revealed. They were so happy to celebrate that one miracle, that nobody asked for another miracle.
God wants to reveal His kindness, but we have limited Him by not expecting more and greater things. We are afraid to engage a God that works and functions outside of our experience and understanding. God help us if we have a God that we cannot explain. How will we represent him if we don’t know what he will do next? Our only safety is not in what He will do but in His ability to do it. Just like the people at the pool we are stunned and shocked if He does it in a different way than before. One person got healed and blessed by God. Now let's wait until tomorrow! No, no, no, and a thousand times more, NO.
I expect God to move in a new way everyday. We need testimonies of God’s goodness and His kindness. God wants to do something but he is waiting for us to place a demand on Him. Our expectancy draws on His character to act on our behalf. What are you expecting?