By Edwin Ashimwe.
A story is told……..In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. He then hid and watched to see if anyone would move the boulder out of the way. Some of the king’s wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and simply walked around it.
Many people loudly blamed the King for not keeping the roads clear, but none of them did anything about getting the stone out of the way.
A peasant then came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to push the stone out of the road. After much pushing and straining, he finally succeeded.
After the peasant went back to pick up his vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder had been.
The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the King explaining that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from the roadway.
Needless to mention, every obstacle we come across in life, gives us an opportunity to improve our circumstances and whilst the lazy complaint, the others are creating opportunities, through their kind hearts, generosity and willingness to get things done.
In John 5:1-15, I find one of the greatest sermons, one that uplifts souls and revives my spiritual perspective every day I read it.
However, I would like to draw your attention to the five aspects of this impotent man’s healing journey and break it down to our current Christian lives today.
To start with, what does the bible mean by an impotent man? Customary the word “impotent” means lacking in power, strength, or vigor; helpless; suffer from a disease.”
In today’s context there are thousands of people crying for the help of God. This man is therefore representative of anyone presently in need of healing,
Jesus, in Mathew 11:28-30, “28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
But was he in the right place? The pool of Bethesda, was a place where healing was expected commonly referred to as a place of grace and a place of mercy. The impotent man acknowledged his weakness and he therefore went to the most crucial place in that time.
Does this ring a bell for us today, in our different weaknesses are we strategically located? Do we expect healing in the places that we are located?
Conversely, some people have been in the right places but have not heard of the Lord’s voice, today I am here to tell you that do not run away, from the right places because at God’s right timing you will receive his word, and this will come in the right time to quench your prayers.
Besides, as we take a closer look in the impotent man’s life, we can hardly specify and find all the hindrances he faced.
But the two things we are sure about the limited opportunities he was exposed to, and secondly, the lack of support when his opportunity came.
This limited opportunity was even more critical in that after the angel troubled the water, only one person, the first person to enter the pool would be healed.
In addition to this, the time he experienced his sickness, 38years of age. Now even the writer who is writing to you, is not this age yet, however this becomes even worse to think that people have been sick for their lifetime.
Today, I want you to know it doesn’t matter how long you have been in trouble! It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been sick! It doesn’t matter how long you’ve been bound by unhappiness! It doesn’t matter how long you’ve seemingly been shut out from all of the blessings of God in your life! When Jesus saw him lay down on that porch, and knew he had been a long time in that state, He asked him a simple question: “Wilt thou be made whole?”
In other words Jesus said, “I know you’ve been sick, but do you want to get well?” The man evidently was not too into what Jesus said! He was so into the fact that he was being ignored and being left out and did not have any assistance, until even when his Hope Jesus came, he still was speaking out of his disappointment! You’ve got to understand that when the Lord tells you that He’s ready to do something for you; don’t let your disappointment speak out over your faith!!!
He said, “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 steppeth down before me.” Jesus might’ve said to him, “I didn’t ask you for all of your excuses! I simply want to know are you ready to get well?!” Are you ready to be delivered?! Jesus just spoke a word to him: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”
Dear, reader, perhaps you have been enslaved by a different sickness in the last period of time, family divorce, financial instabilities, addictions among others.
Jesus reminds you that if you believe, “These signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues!” Believers shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover! If you can believe it today, God is sending you a word, and that word is the same word that we’ve been speaking in church for so long: “In the name of Jesus Christ, be healed, be delivered, and be set free!”
Lord Jesus, we have sensed this today that we are here, like a great multitude laying by the pool of Bethesda, waiting to be healed, thriving with various ways and means, hoping somebody will help. We have not yet listened to that wonderful voice that says to us in the inner heart, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” Grant that we will do so from this moment. We pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.
