It’s called Bethesda. It could be called Central Park, Metropolitan Hospital, or even Joe’s Bar and Grill. It could be the homeless huddled beneath a downtown overpass. It could be Calvary Baptist. It could be any collection of hurting people.
An underwater spring caused the pool to bubble occasionally. The people believed the bubbles were caused by the dipping of angels’ wings. They also believed that the first person to touch the water after the angel did would be healed. Did healing occur? I don’t know. But I do know crowds of invalids came to give it a try.
Picture a battleground strewn with wounded bodies, and you see Bethesda. Imagine a nursing home overcrowded and understaffed, and you see the pool. Call to mind the orphans in Bangladesh or the abandoned in New Delhi, and you will see what people saw when they passed Bethesda. As they passed, what did they hear? An endless wave of groans. What did they witness? A field of faceless need. What did they do? Most walked past, ignoring the people.
But not Jesus. He is in Jerusalem for a feast. . . .
He is alone. He is not there to teach the disciples or to draw a crowd. The people need Him—so He’s there.
Can you picture it? Jesus walking among the suffering.
What is He thinking? When an infected hand touches His ankle, what does He do? When a blind child stumbles in Jesus’ path, does He reach down to catch the child? When a wrinkled hand extends for alms, how does Jesus respond?
Whether the watering hole is Bethesda or Bill’s Bar . . . how does God feel when people hurt?
It’s worth the telling of the story if all we do is watch Him walk. Its worth it just to know He even came. He didn’t have to, you know. Surely there are more sanitary crowds in Jerusalem. Surely there are more enjoyable activities. After all, this is the Passover feast. It’s an exciting time in the holy city. People have come from miles around to meet God in the temple.
Little do they know that God is with the sick.
Little do they know that God is walking slowly, stepping carefully between the beggars and the blind.
Little do they know that the strong young carpenter who surveys the ragged landscape of pain is God.
Study Guide
Read John 2:1–15.
• Think of a time when a friend showed special concern for you during a difficult time in your life. How did that person’s support help you?
• What do you think motivated Jesus to go to Bethesda during a celebration?
• What do Jesus’ actions in this story teach us about His character?
• What are some of the challenges of ministering to people with a serious illness?
What are the rewards?
• How can we demonstrate God’s love to people who are suffering?
• Why is it important for believers to minister to hurting people?
• Think of someone you know who is hurting. How can you reach out to that person?
• How can the church become more sensitive to the suffering around it?
Text taken from Lucado Life Lessons Study Bible
Image design: Yury Gaudard
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