RISE UP

John 5:1-9

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 

Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to Him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me."

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

I love this story. I look at it as how the world might view the issue of salvation. The world is one vast multitude of spiritually sick people. We are sick in our sinful, fleshly natures. We are born this way. We all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). But there is a Man who can change all that.

At some time in their lives, many have been met by this Man. He knows all about us. He asks us in some way if we want to be made well. When that water, that knowledge, is stirred, some make it into that pool and are healed. Others, however, maybe don't go into the pool because they just aren't sure now is the time. They aren't sure if they want to be healed. They might know what they should do, but...it means change. It means letting go of, losing, the old life for a new and better one.

But our God is patient and won't hesitate to confront again, and again, and again. This man was afflicted 38 years. Yet Jesus came to Him. He will meet us and ask us repeatedly in some way if we want to be healed (saved). This salvation is for whoever steps into the pool. Maybe all our excuses have run out or this time we understand the call, or maybe we just need one more word of urging. Then Jesus will tell us to rise from our wrong spiritual condition and walk...follow Him.

There is only one way to be healed, to have our spirits stirred, to rise out of our sinful spiritual condition. His name is Jesus Christ. If you hear Him, respond. Rise and walk with Him.

Matthew 16:24-26 - ... If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?