John the apostle wrote how, “there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he said unto him, Will you be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me. Jesus said unto him, Rise, take up your bed, and walk”, and in chapter five and verse nine of his book, John shared how, “immediately the man was made whole” where we read:
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:
and on the same day was the sabbath.
The verse reads, “And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked:”. John began with the words, “and immediately” or “and straightway and forthwith” “the man was made whole” which means “the male human being with the thirty-eight year infirmity was restored to health, cured and made well”, “and took up his bed” or “and bore and carried his couch, pallet or mattress”, “and walked” which means “and ambled and made his progress and conduct”. John shared how the man with the thirty-eight year infirmity “straightway” was cured and made healthy, and he responded by picking up his “pallet or mattress” and “ambled on his way”.
The verse goes on to say, “and on the same day was the sabbath.” John continued with the words, “and on the same day” which means “and upon the very selfsame sunrise to sunset” “was the sabbath” or “existed the seventh day of each week which was a sacred festival on which the Israelites were required to abstain from all work”. John shared how it was “the sabbath” when Jesus cured the impotent man and told him to pick up his bed and walk.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we learn how Jesus' healing word was “immediately” effective, and the man with the thirty-eight year infirmity was healed. He followed Jesus' instructions to “pick up” his “bed”, and he “walked away”. Jesus demonstrated the power of the Messiah as He again “cured” another person who suffered from a physical ailment. For “thirty-eight” long years this man suffered from his infirmity, and now he was “made whole”. Every person in the world has a “spiritual infirmity” within them that has been caused by “sin”, and each of them need the “Savior Jesus” to come to their rescue. God loves everyone, and regardless of how long they have “suffered”, He is willing to “free” them from their sins and extend to them everlasting life. Let all who read these words say “yes” to Jesus and be made whole from their “sickness and disease”.
Next time John shares how the Jews say to the man, “it is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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