Text: Jesus said, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17).
God is always at work in the life of each of us because we are His children. He knows our needs, our hurts, our feelings, our desires, our whereabouts, and our thoughts. He knows when we do wrong and He knows when we do right. He knows our sinful acts as well as our pure acts. He knows when we are in a difficult position and He awaits our request for assistance.
Story: “Our God Still Able!”
An officer in the first World War gives this account of God’s willingness and ability to save men from shot and shell when they pray. A German machine gun crew had their gun trained on an angle of our trenches where troops frequently passed back and forth and the casualties were many.
As a last resort volunteers were called to storm the gun in the open. Fifteen men volunteered. They themselves could see at a glance that most if not all of them must die. Even if they succeeded in silencing the gun they would scarcely escape the hail of lead that would follow them back to their lines.
The young officer appointed to lead them, a friend of the one reporting the incident, before going over, addressed the volunteers as follows: “Men, I am a Christian. Before every undertaking I pray. Those of you, who are willing, kneel with me and pray about this one.”
Then he took off his helmet, knelt down and prayed, asking God to spare their lives, but if any must go that their souls might be saved. When the officer rose from his kneeling position he noted that every man had knelt and placed their helmet on the ground in front of them.
Then they climbed out of their trench and raced toward the German machine gun nest while a hail of lead and steel flew above their heads. They overcame the machine gun crew, tore up the gun and took it with them as they ran back to their trenches. All the men returned and not one of them suffered a wound.
To the men looking and watching, it was a miracle indeed. None of them will ever say that the day of miracles is over. God has not withdrawn His “exceeding great and precious promises.”
------------------Gospel Herald
God is the same today as He was then and He will be the same tomorrow. Jesus said to His disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” (Luke 11:9).
It doesn’t make any difference when we ask, seek, or knock because God is always with us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. He resides within the innermost chambers of our heart. His hours are not 9 to 5. He is not closed on holidays. You will never get a busy signal when you call upon Him. He is available to help us in our time of need.
When Jesus was conducting His earthly ministry, He was always available to those who needed help or assistance and He was always in the right place at the right time. Our Scripture reading tells us that “Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews” (John 5:1).
It is true that there were three feasts held in Jerusalem that all male Jews were required to attend, but this particular trip was going to bring a blessing to someone in need and open the eyes of many other people present. When Jesus entered Jerusalem, He went “….by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches” (John 5:2).
The Pool of Bethesda was very important to the people suffering from various infirmities; such as the inability to see, a leg or arm that was lame, or paralysis in some part of their body. The name Bethesda means “Place of Outpouring” or “House of Grace” or “House of Mercy.”
The water was viewed as the God’s mercy being extended to those who were sick or diseased. According to Scripture, “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 of he had” (John 5:4).
It is interesting to note that John mentions only three physical conditions in verse 3. Only these three are stated because people with these conditions were least able to help themselves into the pool. The people with these ailments depended on assistance from someone nearby. The blind could not see when the water was stirred, the lame probably had difficulty moving quickly, and the paralyzed were unable to move.
If we think for a moment, there are people this very day who are blind, lame, or paralyzed. Wouldn’t it be nice to have Bethesda in many locations for people today? Do the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed have to travel to Jerusalem to the Pool of Bethesda and wait for the water to be stirred and compete for a healing?
Let’s look at some other examples of Jesus’ ministry of healing. He healed:
A leper (Matthew 8:2)
“A man with leprosy came and knelt before him and said, ‘Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.’” The man made the first move and demonstrated his faith in Jesus by coming to Him asking to be made clean. The leper knew that he could not cure himself, but he knew Jesus could cure him. This event occurred after Jesus came down from a teaching session on the mountain. The healing took place at the foot of the mountain.
A centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5)
“When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering.’” The centurion did not want Jesus to go with him to where the servant lay, but instead, just to speak the word that his request had been fulfilled.
Jesus was astonished at the great faith this centurion possessed. He said, “I tell you the truth, I have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith” (Matthew 8:10). This healing took place in Capernaum.
Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14)
“When Jesus came into Peter’s house, he saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her hand and the fever left her, and she got up and began to wait on him.”
This woman’s faith was so strong that the touch of the Master caused her fever to leave instantly. To show gratitude for His serving, she immediately got up and began to serve Jesus. She could not cure her illness, but Jesus was available to help. This event took place in Peter’s house.
The sick in the evening (Matthew 8:16)
“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” People did not want to be sick and did not want to see other people sick. Those who had no sickness brought those who were sick into the presence of Jesus. He did not turn any away, but instead drove out the evil spirits responsible for their sickness. These healings appear to have taken place at Peter’s house.
He has the authority to do the same thing today. In fact, He has instilled that authority in each one of us. Jesus said, “In my name they will cast out demons….they will lay hands on the sick and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18).
Jesus has given each of us the power to cast out demons. Our prayers are just as strong as His prayers. Our prayers carry the same healing power as did His prayers. Sometimes we pray, but we do not pray in faith.
Sometimes we pray with a negative attitude, that is, we pray without believing that what we are praying for will come to fruition. We can pray anyplace at anytime. Inside the church building is not the only place to pray.
Two demon-possessed men (Matthew 8:28)
When Jesus was in the area of Gadara, which is located southeast of the Sea of Galilee, two demon-possessed men came to Him and He sent the demons into a herd of pigs. This is another example that healing can take place anywhere and any time.
Woman with blood disease (Matthew 9:20)
As Jesus was walking along with the crowd one day a woman who had a bleeding issue for twelve years knew that if she could just touch the hem of Jesus’ cloak, she would be healed. Her strong positive faith enabled her to get close enough to Jesus to touch the hem of His garment and when she did, she was completely healed. This healing did not take place in a church or a specific place, but it took place on the road where Jesus was walking.
Two blind men (Matthew 9:27)
Two blind men followed Jesus one day calling out to Him, “Have mercy on us, Son of David” (Matthew 9:27). When Jesus asked them, “Do you believe that I am able to do this?” (Matthew 9:28), they immediately said “Yes”.
Now listen to what happened next. Scripture tells us that Jesus touched their eyes and said, “According to your faith let it be to you” (Matthew 9:29). The result was their sight returned. They were healed of their blindness. They did not have to go to a special place or location for this healing to take place. Their faith in Jesus was the healing instrument.
There are many other such examples of healings during Jesus’ earthly ministry that are recorded in the Scriptures. In our Scripture reading today, we are told of the Pool of Bethesda where people went to be healed of their sickness and disease. This is all well and fine, but I am trying to tell you through the various healing examples that one does not have to go to a special pool or location.
The Pool of Bethesda became famous because people were healed. As long as the pool was there and people were being healed, those living in the area and who need healing would continue to visit the pool. The water was certainly not magic. The stirring of the water was not magic. The magic part was that people believed and had faith they could be healed.
There is no question that many people came to the pool. There were five porches surrounding the pool. I believe the reason for the five porches was to protect and provide space for the “….multitude of sick people” (John 6:3).
These people were waiting for the stirring of the water caused by an angel who would come at a certain time. The people had a strong belief in the angel, the stirring of the water, and the fact that the first one in would be healed. I venture to say that the ones healed really had faith in Almighty God.
Scripture goes on to tell us, “Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years” (John 5:5). We are not told what the specific infirmity was, but we are told the man, for whatever reason, was slow at getting into the water; therefore, he never received healing.
Jesus was on His way to a feast, but He came by the pool. I don’t think He came by the pool accidentally. I believe Jesus knew this man’s situation and that the man was losing hope of ever being healed. This was a good time and place to restore the man’s hope and to heal his infirmity or physical condition. This would also be a sign to the many others present of the power of God.
Help was available to this man, but the man did not know it. Jesus spoke to him saying, “Do you want to be made well? (John 5:6).
What did the sick man say? He said, “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” (John 5:7).
Just listening to the words the man spoke gives us the feeling that he had lost almost all hope. In his mind, he is convinced he will never be healed. Have you ever felt this way? Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt the weight of the whole world was upon your shoulders?
Have you ever faced a mountain that was so high you thought it impossible to get over, go around, or go through? Have you ever had a physical condition that made you feel worthless or useless?
I believe we could say yes to some of these questions. We have all been at the “bottom of the barrel” so to speak. We have all been in the dark to where we could not see what was coming next. As Christians, we know in our heart that help is always available.
When we are down as low as we can get, there is only one way to look, and that is to look up. When we do, we will see His outstretched arms reaching out to us.
When we are in darkness not knowing what is coming our way, we can be assured that there is Light on the edge of the darkness. As someone once said, “There is light at the end of the tunnel.”
Jesus said to the man, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8). The man’s hope level was raised, his faith kicked into gear, “he was made well, took up his bed, and walked” (John 5:9).
Conclusion:
Help is available to each one of us. Jesus is always present with us in the Person of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).
We do not have to travel to Jerusalem to the Pool of Bethesda for our healing. Healing can take place anytime anyplace. Most of the healing Jesus did, did not take place at the pool.
James recorded these words:
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up.” (James 5:13-15).
Whatever our problem or whatever our situation, help is available.
“My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working” (John 5:17).
The prayer of faith is the key and God is the answer to our needs and our concerns.
Amen.
