GOD Morning! Waiting for What? / January 11, 2017

GOD Morning!

Waiting for What?


January 11, 2017






John 5:1-24 AMP


The Healing at Bethesda


5 Later on there was a Jewish feast (festival), and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.


2 Now in Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew (Jewish Aramaic) Bethesda, having five porticoes (alcoves, colonnades). 3 In these porticoes lay a great number of people who were sick, blind, lame, withered, [waiting for the stirring of the water;4 for an angel of the Lord went down into the pool at appointed seasons and stirred up the water; the first one to go in after the water was stirred was healed of his disease.] 5 There was a certain man there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus noticed him lying there [helpless], knowing that he had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” 7 The invalid answered, “Sir, I have no one to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am coming [to get into it myself], someone else steps down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up; pick up your pallet and walk.” 9 Immediately the man was healed and recovered his strength, and picked up his pallet and walked.


Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews kept saying to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and you are not permitted to pick up your pallet [because it is unlawful].” 11 He answered them, “The Man who healed me and gave me back my strength was the One who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the Man who told you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away [unnoticed] since there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews began to persecute Jesus continually because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now [He has never ceased working], and I too am working.”


Jesus’ Equality with God


18 This made the Jews more determined than ever to kill Him, for not only was He breaking the Sabbath [from their viewpoint], but He was also calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.


19 So Jesus answered them by saying, “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself [of His own accord], unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever things the Father does, the Son [in His turn] also does in the same way. 20 For the Father dearly loves the Son and shows Him everything that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will be filled with wonder. 21 Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life [and allows them to live on], even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment [that is, the prerogative of judging] to the Son [placing it entirely into His hands], 23 so that all will give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] the one who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who has sent Him.


24 “I assure you and most solemnly say to you, the person who hears My word [the one who heeds My message], and believes and trusts in Him who sent Me, has (possesses now) eternal life [that is, eternal life actually begins—the believer is transformed], and does not come into judgment and condemnation, but has passed [over] from death into life.






Jesus made it a point to go to Bethesda, where “a great number of” sick, blind, lame and withered people were lying around, waiting for an angel to come and trouble the waters.


Why did He go to Bethesda? Because He wanted to minister to sick folks.


Are you wondering what you can do for God? Are you wondering what your ministry is? Here’s a thought… Follow Jesus’ example. Go, on purpose, to places where you will find folks who have needs.


Where do desperately needy folks hang out?


Hmmm… Homeless shelters, nursing homes, low income communities and hospitals, to name a few places.


John 4:35 New King James Version


35 Do you not say, ‘There are still four months and then comes the harvest’? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!


The harvest is ripe. But how are we going to reap the harvest? We have to go out and find it. The harvest will be found in unexpected places.


I have just started attending a Bible Study which is held at a nursing home. I’m not going to say assisted living home, because these folks need a lot more than assistance. Many of them need help with literally everything.


I imagine the scene here to be much like the scene at the pool of Bethesda. The residents gather in their wheel chairs, some bent way over, almost falling out of their chairs.


The first time I went, a lady grabbed my hand. We visited a bit and she said, “I don’t want to let you go!”


Not all of the folks are elderly. Some are simply unable to care for themselves because of various reasons such as losing limbs, losing mobility, fatal illnesses, etc.


Many of these folks have no hope. Some have lost their will to live. They are just waiting.


This is exactly the type of place where Jesus would be found if He were to visit earth in the flesh today.


Not many of us are interested in being a part of a Nursing Home Ministry, or a Hospital Ministry. And yet, Jesus would head straight to these types of places.


I want to be Jesus to these folks, many of whom are literally at their last stop here on earth.


I believe there are miracles available for them, but we have to tell them about the Miracle Man. Otherwise, how will they know?


Here’s another thought. Do you feel like your life is over? Are you simply waiting to die? This man by the pool had no hope. And yet he kept waiting. And suddenly Jesus appeared! And his life was transformed forever!


Get up! Pick up your bed! You have encountered Jesus, the King of kings, the Lord of lords, your Healer.


Your life will be transformed from this day forward. You will find purpose and fulfillment.





“Dear Jesus, I want my life to have purpose. I want to purposefully frequent places that are full of needs. I want to appear on the scene with Hope! Joy! Life! Freedom! Help me to listen to You, Help me to follow You to these seemingly hopeless communities. Like the Allied Drive Community here in Madison. I get the impression that some of the folks are simply waiting. For what? I don’t know. I want to lead them to their only Hope, You. Please lead me. Please guide me. I will follow You, Jesus. I will follow You to nursing homes, hospitals, and hurting communities. How I love You, Jesus. AMEN.”