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 immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for you to carry your bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up your bed, and walk”, and in chapter five and verse twelve of his book, John shared how the Jews asked, “what man is that which said unto you, take up your bed, and walk?” where we read:
Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto you, Take up your bed, and walk?
The verse reads, “Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto you, ...”. John began with the words, “then asked they him” or “at that time questioned and inquired the Jews of the man who was healed from the infirmity”, “what man is that which said” which means “who is the male human being that uttered, declared and proclaimed” “unto you” or “to you, man cured of the infirmity”. John shared how the Jewish people continued to question the man who was healed as to who told him the following words.
The verse goes on to say, “... Take up your bed, and walk.” John continued with the words, “take up your bed” which means “raise and elevate your couch, mattress or pallet”, “and walk” or “and amble away”. John shared how the Jewish people wanted to know who told the man to “raise up his bed” and “walk”.
When we consider John's words in this verse, we see how these religious Jews were more concerned with who told this man to “carry his bed and walk” than they were that he was made “whole”. Many times people miss what Jesus does for others because they are only focused upon their own “rules” or “religiosity”. God desires to have a personal relationship with every person through His Son Jesus, and when they yield their life to Him as their “Savior and Lord”, He becomes their focus and ruler. Those who are wise will not miss the “Savior” for their “traditions” and “rules” like these Jewish people.
Next time see John shares how the man, “did not know who it was”, 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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