(September 14, 2025) Brian Bell shares…

This short meditation is taken from a New Testament encounter in the life of the Lord Jesus, which is found in John’s gospel 5:1-11NKJV.

The Place Jesus Walked
Verse 1 describes the place as ‘a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.’

While the physical structure of this place was likely an area with five covered walkways around the pool, Bethesda means ‘house of mercy.’

The scriptural record is very descriptive, in verse 3 we read that ‘In these [the five porches] lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed…’ The primary point here is that it was a place occupied by many people with various sicknesses and or physical issues affecting their mobility. We should not be surprised Jesus chose to visit this location.

In those days these dear people were gathered in that place hoping and waiting for a miracle as in verse 4 we are told that ‘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.’

In this location and among the many other people there, we read about the Lord Jesus meeting with a certain man who had suffered an infirmity for 38 years.

I have no doubt this was a divinely appointed meeting, in the same manner as Jesus met the Samaritan women at the well described for us in John 4. It would be an occasion for Jesus to exercise divine mercy.

The Question Jesus Asked
In verse 6 we are told Jesus knew all about this man having been afflicted by his condition for a long time and also the question Jesus that asked: ‘Do you want to be made well?’ In other versions of scripture the question is framed ‘Do you want to be healed?’(CJV) or ‘Would you like to get well?(Mge).’

To us it may seem a strange question to ask! Surely if we were in the same situation, we would gladly be made whole/healed or get well! In the context of the passage, we may surmise that all the many people gathered at Bethesda would have welcomed the opportunity to be asked this question.

This man sought to respond and explained his situation to Jesus by saying he had no one to help him into the pool and someone else always got there before him (v7). In other words, it seems to me the best efforts this man had made to help himself proved ineffective.

This speaks to me about a spiritual issue, in terms of our relationship with a holy God, our best efforts at righteousness can never reconcile us— but God has taken the initiative and by exercising saving faith in Jesus alone sinful people like me (and you) can be made whole.

The Difference Jesus Made
The response Jesus gave to the man was very straightforward— ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ (v 8NLT).

The man did not ask for any explanation, he made no expression of doubt, we are told in verse 9NLT that ‘Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!’

When a person realises their sinful condition before a holy God, confesses their sinfulness and asks forgiveness, we receive an immediate pardon, but we must then with the help of the Holy Spirit, seek to grow in faith— in a spiritual sense, we too ‘take up our beds and walk.’

If, like me, you have had or are still affected by a medical/physical condition, perhaps even like this man for many years, then Jesus can also make a difference in our lives.

Even as we take the advice of the medical profession, whom I believe God uses with modern medications, treatments or even surgery not available centuries ago and which may prove effective, we look to the divine physician who is able to do exceedingly abundant above all we ask or think.

The apostle Paul was troubled by what he called a ‘thorn in the flesh’ and asked the Lord three times to take it from him (2Corinthians 12:7-9). The Lord’s response was to say, ‘my grace is sufficient for you, my strength is made perfect in weakness.’

I believe implicitly in divine healing, for many years such a ministry was conducted in my home fellowship with some miraculous outcomes.

Having known many others throughout my life with various forms of sickness, some which are terminal and met many with physical disabilities, even wheelchair bound, just like Paul, we may not all experience a healing or be well in body, but we can be whole in spirit, as we trust ourselves to God’s grace.

The Warning Jesus Gave
It was not unusual for Jesus to find opposition and criticism. It arose again as the Jews queried why this man, who was now carrying his bedroll, had by this innocent action broken one of their many petty burdensome rules about working on their Sabbath.

We are told in verse 14 that Jesus later met this man again in the temple and said to him— ‘See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.’

I would not wish to speculate, but it may be that the words of Jesus imply this man’s condition had been due to a specific sin— yet Jesus was not suggesting that all sickness is due to a personal sin.

In a general sense, all sickness is inherited from our sinful nature, death is the final outcome as Paul wrote in Romans 6:23, ‘the wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.’

Death is separation and one day it will separate us from life, but if we have not taken God’s gift of salvation, death will also separate us from God in eternity.

While Christian believers will never be free from temptation while we live in our mortal bodies, we must seek the help of the Holy Spirit to resist and not allow sin to reign in our mortal bodies.

The Comfort Jesus Brings
To conclude this meditation I share some words from Bill and Gloria Gaither’s song Shackled by a Heavy Burden…
Since I met this blessed Saviour,
Since He cleansed and made me whole,
I will never cease to praise Him,
I’ll shout it while eternity rolls.

He touched me, oh He touched me
and oh the joy that floods my soul.
Something happened and now I know
He touched me and made me whole.

Gracious Lord, you know those of us who like the man in this encounter with Jesus, may be struggling at present with an affliction, whether of the body, mind or spirit, may each of us know the wholeness which is possible by trusting the precious promises of your word and may those promises comfort us as we seek to walk daily with you.

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Brian Bell is a diaconate member, Christ Church (Congregational) Abbots Cross, Northern Ireland. Brian describes himself as ‘grateful for the privilege and opportunity given me to serve my Lord.’
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