Get Up
“Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” These words of Jesus are recorded in John chapter 5 verse 8. As Jesus was walking by the pool of Bethesda he encountered a man who had been an invalid for thirty eight years. The text tells us that a multitude of invalids – blind, lame, and paralyzed were laying by the pool because of it’s “healing” powers. Apparently, when the pool waters were stirred (presumably by an angel), the first invalid into the stirred waters would be healed of their infirmities. After thirty eight years this invalid was probably losing hope. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed he gives a most interesting if not revealing response.
No Help
Instead of answering Jesus in the affirmative, the man simply says, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” (Verse 6). At first glance it appears that Jesus is testing the faith and resolve of this invalid. After all, why wouldn’t he want to be healed. The fact that he was by the pool seems to indicate he had not lost faith in it’s healing power. At the command of Jesus he picked up his bed and walked with it. Sounds like he had faith in Jesus. Who did he lose faith in? Apparently his fellow man. Our intentional Savior was about to test and teach them.
The text points out that the day Jesus healed this man was the Sabbath. When the Jews saw this miraculously healed man carrying his bed they rebuked him and told him he was violating the law by carrying his bed on the Sabbath. Seriously? Seriously! No cheers. No hugs. No prayers of Thanksgiving. Rather he is scolded by his religious leaders and their followers. In their self righteousness they only saw the bed. In their humanity they should have seen the man. Some things never change.
Where is our compassion for our fellow man?
Sabbath Lesson
I am not sure how long this invalid was lying by the pool, but I would venture to guess that these “bed seers” had walked by him numerous times never offering to assist him. Hence his answer to Jesus, “I have no one.” If they didn’t want to see him healed on the Sabbath, where were they the other six days of the week? The fact that Jesus healed him on the Sabbath was no coincidence, nor His command to have the former invalid pick up his bed and carry it. On another occasion, when Jesus was accused of violating the Sabbath He said, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:28). The Sabbath was made to bless and edify man. How we have lost our priorities.
The same sins of selfishness and self righteousness that Jesus confronted are still prevalent today. When the waters stir, we want to be the first in. Every man for himself. It’s a dog eat dog world. Instead of helping our fellow man, we would rather point fingers. Hard to lend a helping hand when we are busy patting ourselves on the back. If only we could be as intentional with our lives as Jesus was. If only we could see the “invalids” all around us. They are longing for a reason to have faith in their fellow man. The best way for us to restore that faith is to imitate Jesus and do the work of our Heavenly Father. “My Father is working until now, and I am working” (John 5:17b).
First we have to “see the man”. There are no walking beds.