John 5:1-18 - Pool of Bethesda - Always Working
Scripture is economical. There is life-giving power in the succinct words perfectly said by God. - And we can learn too from what isn’t said. Jesus is no stranger to angels - indeed He’s their author and commander (Hebrews 1:14 and Luke 15:10). Jesus’ incarnation was announced to His mom by an angel (Luke 1:26-38). And Jesus’ dad too was told of His birth by an angel and the angel confirmed to Joseph that He who was conceived in Mary was “from the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 1:20). Angels announced Jesus' birth to the shepherds in the fields by Bethlehem (Luke 2:8-10). And angels were commanded by God to warn Joseph of the need to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus and to stay there until it was safe to return to Judea from Egypt (Matthew 2:13-23).
Angels. Angels are all around - and we, mere humans, have little to no ability to see or sense them. Our inability to see and sense them doesn’t mean they aren’t real. Some things we know by faith. We know and trust that there is a spiritual realm around us because God tells us there is and because we know in our hearts that there is. In this scene in Jerusalem 2,000 years ago there was an assumption that angels were real. There was no question of good and evil just as any child worldwide can tell you. It takes a lot of education to convince a person that there is no God. And God forbid you are the proponent of such philosophy - such men indeed live solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short existences.
In this scene, Jesus has an opportunity to say whether or not the angel of the Lord was the one who was stirring the water for people to be first in and receive healing. The people obviously believed it. Some must have been healed as the covered porches were crowded with those needing God’s healing. But Jesus leaves that part unsaid. He had other things to say and do. Jesus miraculously healed the man who was 38 years in waiting for his miracle. "Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” (5:8). When Jesus speaks - listen and obey. Jesus did this healing miracle I contend out of compassion and love, but also to show that blessed and cursed generation who He was and what their responsibility to Him was.
Jesus, seeing no need to be subtle made plain by word and deed that He was the Messiah. Jesus said, “My Father is always working, and so am I” (5:7). The Jewish leaders got the point, but missed the truth of His message. Unlike the Woman at the Well, the Village People of Sychar (4:42), and the Healed Man of Bethesda Pool - who believed Jesus to be their Savior - these wicked leaders rejected the Messiah.
These Jewish leaders were the Evil Farmers (Matthew 21:33-46) that Jesus condemned. Jesus said, “I tell you, the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit” (Matthew 21:43). Those wicked farmers saw and heard the Son of God, but they rejected Him. They wanted to keep power for themselves. They wanted to build their earthly kingdoms and to lord their power over others.
I’ll leave it there for today as I’ve got to get this chubby body some exercise. As we prepare for Christmas, let’s remember that Jesus is the Savior of the world. He is God. The Father is always working and so is the Son. Jesus is working through His church today to produce much fruit. And we as His dear children get to serve alongside the Holy Spirit today.
Thank You, Lord Jesus, for all You are doing through Your people to grow Your Kingdom. We know that You came to this earth to save the world (John 12:47). We know that You give life to all who believe in You. Lord Jesus, please increase our faith in You and help us to work hard and do good. Amen.
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