In our day and time, people in need of healing go to see a doctor, or
they go to the hospital. But they didnt have hospitals in Jesus day,
and the physicians in that day did not have great success rates. Two
thousand years ago, Jews in the Jerusalem area in need of healing might
go to a pool known for healing. Such a pool was called Bethzatha, in a
quarter of Jerusalem known by that name. This pool had five porticos, so
it was an attractive place to await healing. This pools water would
occasionally be stirred up--most likely by an underground stream that
occasionally released water. People believed that when the water was
stirred, the first person into the troubled water would be healed. Jesus
came upon an invalid who had been crippled a long time. In fact, for 38
years! It would be like having someone waiting at the Reid Hospital
emergency room since 1969, when the Beetles were singing Hey, Jude,
and Spiro Agnew was in the first year of his vice presidency. Now thats
a long time to wait around! And if weve been to the emergency room and
had to wait several hours there, we have to admit, several hours isnt
nearly as long as 38 years!
This man was an invalid, but might have been able to slowly drag himself
and make his way along. But this invalid was apparently alone. As he
explained to Jesus, Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the
water is stirred up and while I am making my way, someone else steps
down ahead of me.
Not only was the invalid an invalid for 38 years. There is sadness in
his words to Jesus Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool... I
have no one.... My experience of bypass surgery was the opposite of
this poor man at the pool of Bethzatha. I couldnt say I have no one.
I had Pam, Andrea, Rachel, the love, prayers, and support of the members
of this church, and many more. If weve got someone in our lives who
cares, be it friend or family, we should consider ourselves very blessed!
But the paralytic by the pool of Bethzatha only thought he had no one.
Jesus was standing right in front of him, and Jesus was all he needed!
There are people in our world that think they have no one. But they can
have Jesus! And sometimes, we are called upon to represent Jesus to the
lonely, discouraged, despairing. God wants us to work together in
Christs name to reach out and share His love.
Whitney Mays is such a representative of Jesus in our community. Some
men come to Hope House feeling they dont have a friend in the world.
Alcohol and drug problems may have alienated every last family member.
Theyve been on the streets and are in dire condition. Whitney began at
Hope House as a shelter worker. She would welcome men, get them food,
get them a meal and clean clothes, bathe and tend to their sore and
weary feet. She wants each man who comes to Hope House to experience the
love and touch of Jesus. Whitney is Richmonds own version of Mother Teresa!
When people get depressed and discouraged, they may conclude that no one
cares. Theyre wrong, but thats the way they feel! Jesus cares, and God
calls upon us to be his hands and feet. I recall such an individual who
was depressed, experiencing mental health challenges, and thinking of
taking her life. At one point, shed locked herself in her apartment. A
member of this church reached out to her, and along with the help of the
police, a little involvement by me, a phone call to her son in another
city, Jesus reached out to bring healing and hope to this woman. This
woman was convinced she had no one, convinced her son and no one else
cared. She was wrong! So was the paralytic at Bethzatha.
Jesus asked the man at the pool Do you want to be made well? We may
think that sounds like a nervy question for Jesus to ask! The invalid
had been waiting around a place of healing for 38 years (since the
Beatles were singing Hey, Jude! Since Spiro Agnew was vice president.
Only a year past IUs last trip to the Rose Bowl!) Of course he wanted
to be made well. If not, he would have spent his time hanging out at the
VFW, Smileys Pub or the public library!
But upon further reflection, Jesus question was well put. Dont all of
us find ourselves going through the motions at times? Perhaps years
earlier the paralytic had given up hope of ever being healed. He really
didnt try that hard to be first. Whats the use, hed told himself.
This is just my fate in life. This is the way Ill always be. Weve
known folks whove struggled with an addiction or some other challenge
for far less than 38 years, and have given up.
Jesus question Do you want to be made well? was also a challenge.
When the invalid looked at Jesus, he perceived the question was not mean
spirited, but an invitation. There was something about the way Jesus
looked at the man that gave this invalid hope. There was kindness there,
a sense of power and authority. Likely, the man had heard some of the
crowds buzz about Jesus. He was an invalid, but he still had his sense
of hearing. People spoke of Jesus as having healing power, genuine
concern. Jesus was different! Then Jesus said to the man Stand up, take
your mat and walk. The man struggled to his feet, and was made well!
There is more to health than physical well being. The emotions, the
intellect, the will are involved as well. Dr. Bernie Siegel, a physician
who specializes in cancer patients, has done studies on exceptional
cancer patients--why is it that some are able to beat the odds and live
longer than others? Siegel concludes that patients who dont see
themselves as victims, but have faith in God and a positive outlook, can
at times do better than others. Human beings are a combination of body,
mind and spirit. Theres more to health than can be analyzed in a test
tube.
My medical sabbatical following bypass surgery gave me the opportunity
to stop and reexamine my life and how I go about things. Some of us
require a jolt to awaken us to the need to reexamine our lives. There
are biological factors that challenge us in life. And how we were raised
and what weve been through affects us as well. But theres an area of
life where we do have some input: What kind of attitude will we have
toward what were facing? How will we respond to our upbringing, and our
present environment? In one way or another, many of us are lying at the
pool of Bethzatha. Were lying there because something in our life is
challenging us. Maybe its health, or emotional issues were dealing
with, or stress. Our challenges may seem too big for us to overcome on
our own. Jesus steps into the picture and asks Do you want to be made
well? Do you want to be able to deal positively with these burdens
youre trying to carry? Do you want to make the most of the months or
years you have left? Do you want to get out from under the tyranny of
your current life experience?
Jesus could have healed the man at the pool of Bethzatha in a different
way. Jesus didnt have to engage the man in conversation. He didnt have
to challenge the man Do you want to be made well?, and Jesus could
have physically picked the man up and said Youre healed! Instead,
Jesus challenged him Stand up, take your mat and walk. From this
account, we see that the power of God often does not dispense with the
effort of humankind. Wed like healing that relies totally on others: on
doctors, on medications, on new surgical procedures. But in the healings
of Jesus, he often asks the person seeking healing, to play a role. To
lepers, Jesus commanded Go, show yourselves to the priest. It was on
the way, that they were healed!
Do you want to be made whole? Remember: you are not alone!
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