Jesus was not one to be intimidated. Even when the religious sect took exception to His healing the man at the Pool of Bethesda and they began plotting to kill Him, Jesus knowingly added fuel to the fire by boldly asserting things like: He only did what He saw the Father do (John 5:19 Amplified), and that “the Father dearly loves the Son” and just as the Father gives life, the “Son also gives life to whomever He wills” . . . and that “all judgment has been given into the hands of the Son.” Jesus went on to speak of the resurrection and judgment of sinners, and ended John 5 by telling these religious people that they didn’t know God at all; that they were blind to both God’s voice and the vision of God. And then the kicker. He told them that God’s love was not in their hearts and that they were only interested in receiving praise and accolades from each other rather than God.

The thing we have to understand is that Jesus left no wiggle room. There could be no fence-sitters in His camp. He made very definite claims about Himself and we have to come to a place where either we believe them or not. And we can’t pick and choose, either. We can’t say, “yes I believe Jesus gives life” but I don’t believe He’s ever going to judge sinners. And here’s the tougher reality, if only one of the things Jesus said about Himself is not true then all the rest, like a house of cards, must, of necessity, come tumbling down, for then He would be a liar, and can a liar be trusted or believed?

I believe Jesus is exactly who He said He is. I climbed off that fence long ago to align myself with His camp. So when I hear Christians, and especially ministers, picking and choosing what they want to believe, I find it disturbing. As Christians we are to proclaim God’s Word, His entire Word. And yes, some of that Word can make us uncomfortable. It can be inconvenient and even downright painful. But to do less would make us like the “religious” crowd in John 5, blind to God’s voice and vision, lacking God’s love in our hearts, and only interested in receiving the praise of man rather than God’s.

Oh God, may we not be fence-sitters.  “Create in us a clean heart and renew a right spirit in us.”

Until next time,

Sylvia

Imagine being desperately ill for thirty-eight years and the only chance you thought you had of ever getting better was to dip into the Pool of Bethesda. Only problem was, a lot of other people wanted to get healed in that pool, too, and only the first to reach the water, whenever an angel stirred it up, ever seemed to get well (John 5:1-5). Even so, this poor man didn’t give up. Year after year he went to the pool hoping he’d be the lucky one this time.  But after trying for thirty-eight years, I’m sure he was at the point where he wondered if he’d ever make it first into the pool, especially since he had no one to carry him down. Then along comes Jesus.

John 5:6 tells us that Jesus “noticed him (the sick man) lying there helpless” and knew at once that he had been in this poor state for a very long time. His first question to the man seems a bit odd. “Do you want to become well?” Even to a casual observer the answer seems obvious. Or is it?  Sometimes after being so long in a certain condition we can become resigned, lose our hope, even become comfortable in our misery and let it define us. Some people even use their misfortunes to manipulate and control others. There are numerous stories of parents/husbands/wives/friends/neighbors who have used an illness or misfortune to control those around them through guilt.

So at second glance Jesus’ question doesn’t seem that odd after all. And Jesus asks this same question of us. Do we really want to be free of that illness, that situation, that addiction, that heartache? Or do we want to hold onto it and let it define us? It’s no accident that Bethesda means “house of kindness” in Greek. Jesus is kindness itself and where He is allowed to enter, where He is invited to go, automatically is infused with kindness and mercy. We are much more fortunate than the man who suffered for thirty-eight years. We don’t have to wait for an angel to “trouble the waters” then race to its edge trying to be first. Jesus is our Pool of Bethesda. He is our “living water.”  He is our “House of Kindness.” We need nothing more. And if we are serious and want His intervention in our lives He will not disappoint. And His grace will carry us through as He works things out in His way and according to His timing.

Until next week,

Sylvia