Performance In Christianity series
The Lame At Bethsaida - Performance of Jesus
The pool at Bethsaida was close to the sheep market in Jerusalem, and sheep were the symbol of sacrifice for the people of God. During the season of Passover (John 2:13; most theologians agree), impotent people gathered by the hundreds with the hope of healing. These ill Jews came together with an expectation of passive faith, to see an angel of the Lord, who would trouble the water of the pool and the first person who stepped into the water was healed. They all possessed passive faith, but only one had an active faith. Their faith was activated when they reached the water, but until then, they just waited in hope because all they knew was an act of God by an angel. They went to the pool to watch, but they all missed the appearance of Almighty God who could heal them all with a Word.
Jesus saw a man who was infirmity of 38 years who waited regardless of his condition. His faith was activated when Jesus asked him a question, "will you be made whole" (John 5:5). Jesus understood His purpose, and the man who had been waiting for 38 years felt a healing spark in his limbs. Jesus caused the hope in the man to reach beyond his expectation, and the lame man saw a choice that didn't require the help of others to intervene for him, just the confirmation of his faith. The impotent people were in expectation of signs and wonders, which would have qualified for their passive faith but never activated their faith in God.
Jesus did this miracle on the Sabbath, and curiously He was only known to have healed Jews, His people on the Lord's Day; a close examination reveals seven were healed for the Glory of God. In the act of faith, Jesus challenged the lame to do three things, rise, pick up his bed, and walk (John 5:8, Matthew 9:6). These things seemed impossible because the man was lame, it was impossible to rise, he had been lying down for 38 years; his comfort level was on a bed, and he forgot how to walk, but he did by faith giving Glory to God. The aftermath of the miracle, the lame man, now healed met Jesus in the Solomon's Temple, and Jesus told him to sin no more, lest something worse happen to him. Do we take the Glory of God for granted, is His death in vain? We have only to believe and watch God perform His Grace.
John 5:1-15
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 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 saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry [thy] bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in [that] place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.
God with us, Immanuel (Isaiah 7:14), we thank You for You know how we will act before we open our mouths. We praise You because You allow us to activate our Faith without anyone to help us. We decree and declare blessings upon those who rise, turn over their burdens and walk by Faith, so that; by the Work of Your Faith, we Glorify the Almighty. Now, for the Kingdom and the Glory of God, we petition, with anointing in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior, Amen.
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