Read John 5:1-3. Circle the words that stand out to you. What is the Lord saying to you?
1Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
Digging Deeper
Growing up as a child and teenager, my world was Chinatown, San Francisco. When black and white television came out, my eyes were open to seeing another world of cities and countries. My friends would share their thrilling experiences at Disneyland or in New York City. They went on vacations. Our family didn’t go on vacation. It was difficult enough for my parents to feed seven children.
In my heart, I wanted to see what was there beyond the Golden Gate Bridge, beyond the United States. To go boldly beyond the Pacific or Atlantic Ocean, to where I have never gone before. What was your childhood dream of going to?
This lame man was bounded by his illness. He couldn’t go anywhere. He was trapped by his illness. All he could do was crawl, but that didn’t take him very far. But oh, if he could just get well. If he could just be healed, he could go and do things that he hasn’t been able to do for 38 years!
Feeling trapped with working six days a week or caring for the children for 7 years now. We think we need a vacation. But when we get there is it really vacation? Someone’s always on their laptop, iPhone or other device. And someone has to watch the kids. There is almost no relaxing. Just ask any Mom who is on vacation with young children, “Are you on vacation?” The resounding words would be this, “I have just changed location!”
Trapped by your circumstances. No exit plan. What will you do? Who will you go to for help? Do you see yourself like that lame person? Just crawling from location to location. Who can help you? There is Someone who can help you. His name is Jesus.
Kingston