Jesus is Our Anchor

Scriptural Foundation:

John 5:2-9 New King James (NKJV)

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made 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, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath.

Reflection:

My kids love Legos. I love Legos, because there are sets for every age level. Granted, that doesn’t defuse the Lego “envy” that goes on between them, but it does challenge each one of them where they are, to build something amazing with the pieces they have.

As Believers, I suspect that we all get a little bit of Lego “envy” when we observe what the Lord is doing in the lives of our loved ones. We all have different pieces that the Lord has placed in our lives to build something wonderful here on earth, only we need to focus on our process and not the process of others.

In our foundational scriptures, we read about Jesus’ interaction with a man that had been waiting for his miracle for thirty-eight years! There is so much to this interaction that I really encourage you to meditate on it, nonetheless I have pulled out a couple of nuggets that I uncovered in my studies that I wanted to share with all of you.

Jesus met this man at the sheep gate. That is a very significant place. Out of all the gates in Jerusalem, the Great Shepard, met this man at the sheep gate. The gate reminds us that there is only one way to God and that is through Jesus Christ.  It is through this gate, those that are broken (mentally, physically, emotionally, etc.) come and wait by the pool called Bethesda which means holy mercy.  In this place of brokenness at a certain time (or in some translations in a certain season), an angel of the Lord is sent to stir up the water.  The first to respond in faith and bathe themselves in Bethesda (holy mercy) will be made whole of their infirmity.

Jesus asked the man if he wanted to be made well. Wasn’t that a funny question to ask?  Of course, this man wanted to get well, however his response to the Lord revealed why he had not been able to attain that healing.  Now this man, sought out the gate and the pool, believing that if he got to the water when it stirred he would be made whole. The only hurdle he had after all those years of waiting was that he still expected others to help him move into position to receive his blessing.

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.” John5:7

As Believers, we all seek out the Lord in the places from past experiences where we think that He is most likely going to move. We assume we know the totality of His character and His resources. Sadly, our minds cannot comprehend the vastness of our Lord.

For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. – Isaiah 55:8-9

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. – 1 Corinthians 2:9 (KJV)

As a new born Believer, we will be “carried” by others to experience God’s holy mercy, but at some point we are expected to help others and/or find our way to the pool ourselves. Jesus asked this seemly seasoned Believer if he wanted to be healed and the man defaulted to the blame game, that it was somehow someone else’s fault.  Blaming others or our circumstances for our short comings will only keep us in the same season of life…well that will preach!

Jesus in all His love and compassion, like He had done with the Samaritan woman at the well, took time out on the Sabbath to bring the “pool” right to where this man was at in his faith.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.” – John 4:13-14

Beloved, we must remember we have living water (the Word) in our bellies and we have the Holy Spirit (power) on hand to help us out of any and every situation we find ourselves in.   It is up to us to choose what we are going to do with that authority.  Are we going to use the water and power given to us to build something awesome for the Lord or are we to going sit around with our pieces and wonder when the Lord is going to send someone else to put them together for us? The decision is yours.

Seeking Revelation:

Grab your notebook:

• Have you been comparing your walk with the Lord with someone else’s life?
• If so, why?       Are you discouraged in your current season of life?
• Ask the Lord to reveal to you through His Word, what “pieces” in your life you are not utilizing to the fullest.
• The Lord is still in the miracle business, reach out and receive your blessing!