Tag: Bethesda

Living in the Image of God, The Gospel

Limited Power of Human Interactions and Relationships

Living in the Image of God M07S06

The experience of a paralyzed man by the legendary pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem provides a subtle but powerful statement of the limited reach of human interactions and relationships, especially compared to the power of God. The man was paralyzed for thirty-eight years and laid by the pool hoping to attract friends powerful and kind enough to help him get into the pool first after a “stirring of the waters.” The legend was that an angel would occasionally stir up the waters and the first person into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had. The paralyzed man could not find such friends. So, we learn that human interactions and relationships, no matter how strong or powerful, are limited in what they can do for a person. In contrast, the man was healed in one encounter with God, then in human form as Jesus.

A man paralyzed for thirty-eight years laid by the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem hoping to attract friends powerful and kind enough to help him get into the pool first after a “stirring of the waters.” The pool was associated with a healing legend [John 5:4]: “From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” So, the paralyzed man waited by the pool with the expectation that somebody would throw him in to be the first there after a “stirring of the waters.” Nobody did. Even if anybody had thrown him in, he would have found that the legend of the healing power of the pool was simply just a legend.

But Jesus found the paralyzed man [John 5:6]: “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” The man at first did not recognize the opportunity that Jesus presented to him. Instead, he thought the opportunity was for him to begin constituting a group of sympathizers that would help him into the pool at the next stirring [John 5:7]: “Sir, … I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” But Jesus was motivated to heal him by the power of God and not by any legend of the pool: “Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk’” [John 5:8]. The man was healed immediately. He picked up his mat and walked.

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Following God's Schedule

Accepting Opportunity for Change

Recognize-Understand-Implement

God’s Schedule for fulfillment of his promise could include an opportunity to change an objective or the approach to accomplishing the objective. We discuss aspects of recognizing such opportunity, understanding what change is needed, and implementing the change. Additionally, we discuss an example from the life of David, when he relocated to enemy territory to separate himself permanently from Saul. Furthermore, the separation provided opportunity for him to build peace-time administration skills that contributed to his preparation for becoming king of Israel. Also, we discuss Christ teaching on recognizing and accepting opportunity for a change, through interactions with a disabled man at Bethesda pool.

In the wilderness just before temptation
Facing options in the wilderness TheGlobalGospel.org FreeBibleImages.org

An opportunity for a change could arise as a person works toward an objective to which they are committed humanly and spiritually. The person believes in the project as a step toward fulfillment of God’s promise. Such experience could occur in every aspect of living, including business, education, worship, sports, and others. A person could encounter an opportunity to change their pursuit: add a new objective, replace the current objective, or change the approach to accomplishing one or more goals.

OPPORTUNITY OR DISTRACTION? It is important to understand whether the opportunity is from God or an attempt by the devil to distract the person from following God’s Schedule. God will provide opportunities for a person to adjust their pursuit along the path he has chosen for them. In contrast, the devil will attempt distractions to lure a person away from God’s path. Therefore, recognizing an opportunity includes distinguishing between an opportunity from God and an attempt at distraction by the devil.

Turn stone to bread
Turn stone to bread
theglobalgospel.org FreeBibleImages.org

As we discuss in a previous study under Resisting Enemy Disruption, the devil can attempt to distract a person from Following God’s Schedule by attempting to disrupt their compassion, diligence, appreciation, or any aspect of human interaction essential to living in God’s purpose. To accomplish a distraction, the devil can interfere with or manipulate behavior by exploiting a person’s lust of the flesh (i.e., physical desire), pride (i.e., obsession with status or relative importance), and lust of the eyes (i.e., greed, selfish ambition, or covetousness) and has several options to disguise the attack. In contrast, an opportunity of God will point you to changes you can implement toward accomplishing your goals while preserving your commitment to represent God in every situation and motivate others to do the same.

We discuss an example from the life of David as he tried to avoid confrontation with Saul while committed to the protection and economic well-being of six hundred followers and their families, including himself. He recognized a need and opportunity for change and relocated to Philistine territory with his followers. The relocation won him permanent separation and peace from Saul. Furthermore, he was assigned a base inside Philistine, which provided opportunity for him to build peace-time administration skills that he needed as part of his preparation for becoming king of Israel. Also, we discuss Christ teaching-by-illustration on recognizing and accepting opportunity for a change, through interactions with a disabled man at Bethesda pool.

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