Rise and Walk!

Dear Weekly Readers around the world! God’s Peace!

I sincerely do pray that the peace of God is in your hearts today! This is the peace that passes all understanding!

John 5:8 Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up thy bed and walk.

What amazing words for this man that was by the pool of Bethesda. This man had an infirmity for thirty eight years. Such a long time he waited to go into the water. This pool was such that when the angel stirred the water, the first man to enter into the water would be healed.

Jesus had asked the man, Wilt thou be made whole? V6. The man answered, I have no man, when the water is troubled to put me into the pool. Jesus wanted to hear from the man with his own mouth, do you want to be made whole? Jesus already knew what the man needed, and he knew his heart. This man would not have been by the pool unless he had some measure of faith that the water would heal him. Just as God called to Adam in the Garden of Eden, where art thou? Genesis 3:9 Our God knows right where we are. Yet he calls out. He is still calling out for the lost, the hurting, and the sinner today.

Here Jesus came to this pool called Bethesda, which is the place or house of mercy. The God of all mercy, our Lord Jesus Christ, came to show mercy to this man. There were many other people there that needed healing. John does not record whether or not Jesus healed any others. From this we see that each person needs to be healed one by one. Each individual heart needs to be mended one by one. As in this text, the first person into the troubled water was healed. As individuals we must face our Lord!

Oh that all mankind would come face to face with our Saviour during the time of mercy and grace, as this man did. The Bible says that unto me every knee shall bow……. Isaiah 45:23 So important it is if one by one we would humble ourselves as great sinners during this time of mercy and grace! Soon the day of Grace will be over, and the Lord will come again in the eastern sky. Then it will be too late! That will be a great and terrible day of the Lord. Much like the day that the door on the ark was closed; no more could get in when the rains came. When Jesus come again, it will be with power and Great Glory! The day of grace is then over, no more can enter in.

Once this man with the infirmity spoke of his troubles, his problems, what did Jesus do? He listened to his confession. He listened that the man had faith that if he could get into the waters, that he would be healed. Jesus listened, heard, and showed great mercy!

Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up they bed, and walk. V8 Jesus did here what He came to do! In Isaiah 61:1 we read how He came to ….. preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prisons to them that are bound.

Are there any of us reading this today that are bound? Satan has so many ways he desires to keep us bound. It may be the sins of this world, the pride of life, the deceitfulness of riches. It could be depression due to our physical illness, or so many other things. Are the waters of your heart troubled today? Will you preach today in a way that will stir up thoughts and movement in other people’s hearts? Remember, one by one we must each turn for help!

It is such a glorious Gospel then that we can hear from the ambassadors of Jesus Christ, as from God himself, when they proclaim to the dear poor, weak, sinful one; believe that Jesus died for you. You can believe that by the power of Jesus name, His completed work on earth and on the cross, and by His own precious shed blood, all of you sins are forgiven! He has come to set the captive free!

What a joy when sinner mankind can then be set free by Jesus, and can Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Immediately the man was made whole, took up his bed, and walked. V 9 When the heart was ready, when it was prepared, and when Jesus spoke to him, immediately he was made whole. No more waiting was needed. His time of turmoil was past, the day of rejoicing is now!

Dear reader, no matter how long you or someone close to you has had turmoil and troubles, this can all be over as soon as the Lord fills us with His Holy Spirit. Enter into His Rest. Enter into His peace!

Notice the man carried his bed. He did not leave it behind. This I believe signifies that we still carry our fleshly portion with us, and we will until we die. No, life will not be perfect, we are still sinners. However, when we have been made whole by the merits of Jesus Christ, we are perfect in God’s sight, and now we are only waiting for Jesus to come take us home to worship the Lord forever in heaven above.

May God Bless your Week! John R.