Headed to the House of Mercy

John 5: 1-15

Have you ever gone to one of the natural "hot springs or pools" around the country? Have you heard people talk about how much better they feel after taking a bath or sitting in these pools? Some people years ago would move from other parts of the country to be near to these baths, so that they would be close for the healing powers felt over their aching bodies.

Well, in this story people traveled to the Pools of Bethesda for healing. The word Bethesda means "house of mercy or flowing water". The people would do whatever it took to get to the pools. They would lie on the porch until they thought the angel had stirred the water. In the King James it states "an angel went and troubled the water". I like that image. Angels were servants of God and friends of mankind so that prepared the water to heal the sick.

Once the water was stirred the sick person must then be the first to get into the water for the cure. The person must first come from a distance for the cure and then be patient to wait for the cure. Then the person must be the first in the stirred water to receive the cure. The angel prepared the water and then one would have to do something for themselves and get in the water.

Jesus healed this man during Passover when a lot of people were gathered for the festival. A lot of people were watching. Jesus healed him on the Sabbath, so exception was taken to the healing for working on the Sabbath. One thing that really got my attention is that Jesus noticed the man that had been sick for thirty-eight years. God knows how long one has suffered ~ He notices. These are the things that matter to God!

What about our spiritual life? Are you sick? Do you need to step into the pool to be healed? Have you been to the church lately and the sermon just didn't stir your heart? Does the water need to be stirred? Well, sometimes we have to get ourselves up and into the pool. Maybe it is our heart that needs to be changed or maybe we need to go to a different pool for the healing to take place. Ask God to stir the feeling in your heart to call out to Him for the healing that only He is able to provide.

Stepping in the stirred water,

Debbie