“I was in John’s gospel this morning,” Stan began, “and I saw again the interesting story of the healing water in what is called the pool at Bethesda.”
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Well,” Stan responded, “it seems that in Jerusalem there was a pool of water referred to as Bethesda. Every so often an angel of the Lord would stir up the water so that the first one in would be healed of whatever ailment that person might have.”
Continuing, he said, “It appears there was a man who had been there thirty-eight years hoping to be the first one in, but someone else always got there before he did.”
“Thirty-eight years?” I replied “That’s a long time waiting to be healed.”
“It is,” Stan replied, “and the next part of the account is what I just love. Jesus saw the man and asked him if he wanted to be healed.”
“Don’t you think that was pretty obvious?” I asked.
“It would seem like it, but what Jesus did or said was always for a purpose. And here, it seems to me, that Jesus wanted the man to focus on being well by asking the right Person. The man needed to admit he was helpless and that he needed the only One who could heal him.”
“How so?” I asked.
“As soon as the man admitted to Jesus that he couldn’t get into the healing water quickly enough because there was no one to help him, Jesus said to get up and walk. The man did and he was well. It was simply a matter of coming before the right Person, and that’s ‘Person’ with a capital P, who had the power to heal.”
Continuing, Stan said, “It was just like me and my experience in becoming a Christian. There came a time when I had to admit to God that I was sick and tired of being where I was in my life. I admitted that, gave it all to Him, and He showed me the healing that only He could provide. The healing that had been provided by the finished work of Christ on the cross.”
“Just had to talk with the right Person!”
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And a certain man was there who had been thirty-eight years in his sickness. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to Him, “Do you wish to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “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.” Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your palette, and walk.” And immediately the man became well, and took up his palette and began to walk. John 5:5 – 11.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for your provision of all I need to be healed in my relationship with you. I confess that I was too slow in asking you for what only you could provide. I also am often too slow in asking you for continual healing in all I need to be yours in every aspect of my being. Please forgive me. And please lead me, and help me to follow you, wherever you have for me to go in being completely healed of everything about which I need to be healed. Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Waiting for the Train 
I love this! Thank you!
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