John 5:1-9 (NRSV)
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Chapter 5After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Verse 2Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. Verse 3In these lay many invalids-blind, lame, and paralyzed. Verse 5One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Verse 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" Verse 7The sick man answered him, "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." Verse 8Jesus said to him, "Stand up, take your mat and walk." Verse 9At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.
Devotion
As you read this story, at first glance you wonder if this man is excusing his need and hope or not. Thirty-eight years of waiting is a long time, just as Jesus said it was! Whatever the case many be—excuse or length of time or inability to get help from someone, Jesus got right to the point of need. A simple question brought a quick response and healing came to him.
Has someone said, “I simply cannot do it,” to you? But, you believed with encouragement that the person could do it, whatever the “it” might have been. You responded, “Just try it!”; the person attempted the task and the doubt was resolved. Just as easily and just as simply, the Lord used you as an instrument of favor and healing.
Prayer
Lord Jesus Christ, you promised we would do the unthinkable. Amen.