“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.” John 5:1-9 NKJV)
Look at today’s meditation as a pre-Sunday School lesson. Sunday School? Yes, you know that class you will attend tomorrow before morning service. Don’t freeze up now. Keep reading.
You have surely heard about this man that Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda at some time in your Christian education but let me focus on something that perhaps you have never considered. I didn’t say you had not considered. I said, “perhaps you have never considered.”
If we are honest, transparent, and willing to show some integrity, we can acknowledge that we have all found ourselves sulking about a surprise condition, a situation, a stunning circumstance, or sad predicament. Yes, we have all found ourselves sulking, moping and complaining about our condition at some time or the other. Sulking means fretting and frustrated by something we are facing.
The man in the text above when asked by the Master, “Do you want to be made well?”, he started sulking. You read it, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool, etc.” Now, I admit that I am speculating because I don’t read it in the text, but I wonder if this man, for 38 years had been sulking every day during that span. Then I wonder, “Did he ever wake up seeing?” Seeing what? Seeing his blessings. Did he see the fact that he had the mental capacity to think? Did he see the fact that he had the ability to talk? Did he see that in many ways, even in his sickness, he was blessed like everyone else who got to see day after day after day; days that were not promised? Let’s simplify it. Did he see his generous blessing after blessing, or gift after gift after gift? Furthermore, I wonder did he thank God for the blessings and the gifts that he did have on a daily basis or was he too busy sulking? Did He say any words, directing them to heaven, praising God for all the blessing he did have or was he too busy sulking?
Here’s my point. When you find yourself sulking because of some type of condition or ailment, frustrated by some situation that seems like it is going to last forever, just stop for a minute and see the good things, see the blessings that the Lord has generously bestowed on you! See beyond the heaviness of whatever causes you to focus on sulking and start doing some seeing! See your blessings! And, after seeing your blessings, thank the Lord! Say something to Him in an overflowing expression of gratitude for the blessings you do have! Lastly, whatever your situation and no matter how long it has plagued you, see that there is a brighter day ahead. The Lord will not pass you by and one day He will bring about the change that you have been waiting for! Think about it if you want to! But I declare to you, “Yes He will!” I ask you, “Won’t He do it?” Your answer should be yes! And after seeing, say something, giving glory to God.
Have a great Saturday and a super Sunday in the congregation of the righteous. Move from sulking to seeing to saying! “Praise God from whom all blessings flow!” Yes! Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. Yes, He is! Be blessed!
“We all live off his generous abundance, gift after gift after gift.” (John 1:16 MSG)
Mark L. King