The Miracle at the Pool of Bethesda

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; whoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatever disease he had. -John 5:2-4

This account gives us a picture of God’s sovereign side. Five sheds full of people sat by the pool. The people didn’t know when the angel was coming; they just knew he was coming. They didn’t know who would be healed; they just knew someone would be healed. And afterwards, the rest of the people would have to sit and wait for the next time the angel came to trouble the water. Now let’s look at verses 5-9.

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie…he said to him, will you be made whole?

The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool…

Jesus said to him, Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked…

Obviously, the impotent man wasn’t healed on his own faith. Well, then, someone may say, “Jesus’ faith healed the man.” But Jesus never once said in the Bible, “My faith made you whole.” If Jesus’ faith had healed that man, He would have healed everyone else there too. But after the healing this one man, Jesus disappeared into the crowd.

So what healed the man? The sovereignty of God. Why did God single that one man out? I don’t know; that’s God’s business. God did it, and He knows what He’s doing.

CONFESSION:

God reaches out to heal people as He wills. He also made a way for me to receive my healing by faith in His Word. I exercise that faith, and I receive my healing now!

From: A Devotional for Divine Health Prescription for a Miracle, Mark Brazee, 1999