Faith can move mountains. “And whatever you ask in prayer, you will receive, if you have faith.” [Matthew 21:22, ESV]
The story of the lame man at the pool of Bethesda was faith and hope – he knew there was hope, and it was only a matter of time. For thirty-eight years, he never had his healing until Jesus came to his aid and healed him.
You would think the man would have at least some family members to carry him and dip him into the pool after the Angel of the Lord had come and splashed in it for miraculous healing of every sick person who entered.
This was not the case for the lame man, but he kept waiting at the poolside all these years, hoping he could one day have his healing by dipping quickly into the pool.
He kept his faith and never gave up. Refer to the book of John, chapter 5, verses 1-17 for the full story. [John 5:1-17, ESV]
The man had the faith that he would be healed if he could dip into the pool at the splash of the Angel. YES, he had the faith and hope, and he was always ready to exercise it. And he kept waiting at the pool day and night.
That expectancy finally happened, but not through a dip in the pool. His faith and hope for healing came through Jesus with a simple question from Jesus: “Do you want to be healed?” The lame man responded affirmatively, and Jesus, by his divine power, said to the man to take his bed and walk, and instantly the lame man stood up, packed up and went away.
So ultimately and summarily – after all these years, Jesus came, and without a sprinkle of water he asked the lame man to get up and walk – so immediately it happened.
Jesus coming by the pool of Bethsaida that day was divine to glorify his Father, the Lord God. It was the day that the lame man was supposed to receive his healing and breakthrough. Hence, when it came, it became a testimony that was taught in the lands at large, and it’s still being spoken and preached about to this day.
Faith kept with Hope and Focus – Even before Jesus came to walk on this earth, the lame man was at the pool, but he kept his faith and hope. Considering the number of years the lame man had been at the pool and bearing in mind Jesus’ age on the earth at that time, it could be construed that the man had been at the pool for so many years.
Hence, the lame man’s problem was there even before Jesus was born. Thus, ahead of Jesus time on Earth, this healing was meant for Him to glorify the name of our Lord God.
The lame man could not heal himself and relied on human help, but no help came from any man. In the wake of the inability of human effort, Jesus provided instantaneous healing through his word.
Keep Your Faith and Hope in Jesus Christ – So to all believers and non-believers who will find the lame man’s testimony as uplifting and inspirational, remember that whatever the situation is in your life now, the Lord will come through for you if only you will grow and keep your faith, hope, and focus on Jesus Christ. Don’t rely on human effort and intelligence.
A lot of the time, if our needs and requests are not being answered as we wish, we lose faith in the Lord and lose our hope in him. In those difficult periods, some people tend to backslide, but the Lord is our hope in all circumstances.
Don’t trust in man but in the Lord God alone. “Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind. And makes flesh his strength, And whose heart turns away from the Lord.” [Jeremiah 17:5, ESV].
“He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, but he who walks wisely will be delivered.” [Proverbs 28:26, ESV].
The Lord God is always ready to fulfill his promises in your life. Believe in the Lord, that he will do it. Back it with faith and hope, but don’t believe in man for anything. You will have no answer from the Lord if you depend on man – that is, loathing of God.
Remember that every situation is different, but we realize that there is always an answer for the players involved. In all of these, we tend to compare and ask why me, and why that?
It is a mistake we make in our walk with Jesus; every story is different in life – it is timing, it is your faith and hope in Christ. How is your faith? Little faith; big faith; or great faith?
Jesus told them, “If you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. [Matthew 17:20, ESV]
Don’t give up, but keep your Faith and Hope alive.
This is the Journal of Faith and Hope Diaries. Share