#67: Bethesda

He lived beside Bethesda every day. He was always watching and waiting for the water to move.

John 5:4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

He had seen it happen, but while he was slowly making my way to the pool, someone would step down before him. He had been lame for 38 years. Oh, how he wanted to be healed!

Sitting at the pool he would cry out to God. His heart was overwhelmed. He begged God to trouble the water and to heal him. He would cry out with painful tears “…lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” (Psalm 61:2)

While sitting there he would think back to Moses’ time. The princes brought their offering before the Lord on their day. One spoon of gold full of incense; one young bullock, one ram, one lamb of the first year; for a burnt offering. One kid of the goats for a sin offering. Day after day the same thing. But when Moses went into the tabernacle, he heard the voice of God speaking to him from the ark.

He believed that in his mundane life, God could still appear and speak to him just as he had spoken to Moses. Day after day he sat, watching and anticipating that the Lord would help him. He knew that God would come for him; he had faith that the Lord would not leave him. He couldn’t let something distract him. He didn’t want to miss seeing that water move. He didn’t want to miss his opportunity. He didn’t want to miss his God.

Then one day, He came. Jesus. The man heard His voice just like Moses did in the tabernacle. Jesus saw him by the pool and said, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” (John 5:8)

Glory! Immediately he knew he was healed. It was just like he had imagined. Instantly he had strength, and energy and a compulsion to leap! He was healed! Jesus healed him!

He often thinks what might have become of him if he had not been faithfully watching. He was in the right place at the right time watching for the water to move and he got to see Jesus Christ. He got to feel the hand of God.

He doesn’t go to the pool of Bethesda anymore. He has no need. But he has not ceased to watch and wait; anticipating for the Lord to move again. Just because he has been healed, doesn’t mean that he should stop watching, waiting, and anticipating the Lord to “trouble the water.” He still watches for the Lord and looks forward to hearing His voice and direction. You see, Jesus told him, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14)

Jesus healed him, but he understands that it is his job to keep himself from becoming “lame” again. Sin will make him spiritually lame. If he gets distracted and loses his attention, then he could inadvertently allow sin into his life and become spiritually lame. He had been physically lame, and he knew that pain all too well. Being spiritually lame and sick would be a worse thing. He must never let this happen.

“Oh Lord, I have my eyes on you! Lord, you have my focus and attention. I am watching you like I was watching the water,” he declares to the Lord.

Proverbs 8:34-35 Blessed is the man that heareth me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at the posts of my doors. For whoso findeth me findeth life, and shall obtain favour of the LORD.

“When I read your word, I am watching, waiting, and anticipating you to move. When I hear your word preached, I am watching, waiting, and anticipating you to move. When I am simply going through my day, I am watching, waiting, and anticipating you to move. I don’t want to miss you, Lord. I don’t want to miss you when you trouble the water again.”

Bethesda is always with him. In his heart, he still lives beside Bethesda in the way that he approaches his life. Over and over he now sees how the Lord moves and performs amazing things.

Do you live beside Bethesda? Are you watching for the Lord to move? Has the Lord troubled the water and you missed it because you were not paying attention? When the Lord moves, it is miraculous, and you don’t want to miss it!

Live life like you are living beside Bethesda.