Jesus went up to Jerusalem to attend an important feast
Alert to
the poor and hurting, caring for the least.
There by
the pool lay a multitude of sick and lame, and blind
Hoping an
angel would come and stir the waters one more time.
The
legend was that whoever could get into the water first
Would
find himself completely healed, his ailments reversed.
There lay
a crippled, hopeless man, lame for thirty-eight years
Silently
suffering day after day awaiting the angel’s stir.
Jesus saw
him lying there, observed his crippling condition,
Saw the
agony in his eyes enduring his lame disposition.
Jesus
said, “Do you wish to be well?” The
cripple quickly replied,
“O yes, but when the water is
stirred, I cannot get inside.”
I can
imagine their conversation and his impassioned plea:
“I try hard to get to the pool,
but I have no one to help me!
Day after day, month after month,
year after year I try,
Some days I am so discouraged, I
simply lay here and cry.”
Jesus, as
always, full of compassion, let the poor man talk.
Then with
a commanding voice, He said, “Stand, rise
up and walk.”
Immediately
the man felt renewed, power flowed throughout.
Without a
thought he jumped up and gave a joyful shout.
He reached
down and bent his knees and then picked up his bed.
For the
first time in thirty-eight years he marched straight ahead.
Of course
the story could not be complete without an ironic end.
He ran
into some Pharisees his very first day on the mend.
What are doing, carrying the bed?
It’s the Sabbath, they
said.
(They
walked by him every day and saw him practically dead).
Rather
than rejoice aloud that he, once lame, was healed;
They felt
the need to lecture him, their inner heart revealed.
Who is this man who healed you?
What does He think He can do?
Today is the Sabbath in the land;
He can’t be out healing you.”
Away they
went in indignation accusing Him in their hearts,
For
healing on the Sabbath day would not fit their doctrinal chart.
The man
departed and went away to the temple on the mount.
Jesus saw
him and said to him, “Make these new days
count.
Sin no more, live for God, make
righteousness your goal,
Lest sin come back, enslave you
again, ravaging your soul.”
There’s
more than one truth in this account. Let me summarize:
Loving
people more than tradition is what will win the prize.
Trusting
God, believing His Word, acting on what He said
Will
bring a fruitful life on earth with the joys of heaven ahead.
©
Copyright 2016 George M. Cuff, All Rights Reserved
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