Mercy For Your Misery
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 John 5: 1-3.
"God helps those who help themselves." Those words were preached to me for many years, and as long as I believed them, I was in misery. Then one day I discovered the grace of God; that God helped the hopeless and had pity on those who lived in utter despair. Grace set me free that day, and I’ve never lived in bondage again.
In our scripture we see Jesus on the streets of Jerusalem. There is a lot of activity as the town celebrates the "Feast of Tabernacles". This was a festival commemorating God’s provision to Israel when they were in the wilderness. On this particular day, Jesus visited a place called "Bethesda". It means "House of Mercy". But it only took a moment to see that it was anything but a place of mercy.
This was a place where masses of sick people gathered. It was
a prison of loneliness, filled to capacity with inmates bound and chained to
every infirmity imaginable. Each and every day was lived out in pain with no
possibility of relief. Even though this place was the most crowded place in
Jerusalem, it was no vacation spot. It was a miserable place where no one got
any better.
The people believed that an angel mysteriously came down and moved the water. The first person that stepped in after the moving of the water was healed of whatever illness he had (see verse 4). I believe this was more or less a great superstition. And like many of the superstitions that people believe, it would never bring about change. It is incredible how hearsay survives, and how it preys on the hope of the innocent only to leave their lives in ruins.
Among those people was a man that had been stricken with an infirmity for 38 years. He had faithfully come to the water waiting for something that would never happen. Bethesda was his world, but it was only a nice name. And when you have a need, it takes more than a pretty name to get you delivered.
Jesus was alone when He walked into Bethesda. As He walked through that mass of human tragedy, He felt the misery that prevailed. The lines of diseased and withered flesh were endless. As Jesus made His way through the crowd, He spotted this man. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been there a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole verse 6.
That seems like an unusual question. A sick person obviously wants to be healed. A blind person should want more than anything to have his sight. But Jesus had to help the man move the hinder. "...I have no one, when the water is troubled, to put me in the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me (see verse 7).
Excuses, excuses. We cannot allow other people to cause us to miss what God is trying to do for us. Far too many people spend their lives depending on others to do for them what only God can do. It is unrealistic and unfair to expect a mortal individual to do the works of God. There is nothing wrong with getting your pastor or church leader to pray with you about your needs. But sooner or later, you will have to believe God for yourself. At some point you will have to confess that Jesus is the only one that can give you what you need. The pastor may forget, or he may not be able to pray the exact prayer that you need. But Jesus already knows, and He is more than willing to help you.
The man never did answer the question. He just kept giving excuses. I can imagine after all those years, he probably had many great stories to tell. But excuses aren’t answers. The man really didn’t have an answer.
If we are not careful, we can be the same way. "I would love to work in the ministry for you Lord, but I don’t have anyone to help me". That’s an excuse. "I would love to give, but I don’t have enough money". "I’m not smart, I can’t speak well, I’m terrified of computers and I don’t have good organizational skills." We can never get anything done for God if all we render Him is a mouth full of excuses. The Word is your answer; "I can do all things through Christ; God supplieth my need according to His riches and glory; By His stripes I am healed; ..., ...
Jesus told the man, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And for the first time in thirty-eight years, the man was able to walk. In the midst of his misery, Jesus brought that man mercy. The man didn’t have the faith, but Jesus showed him mercy. The man couldn’t quote a scripture, but Jesus showed him mercy. The man didn’t know who Jesus was, didn’t tell Him thank you or show any interest in His ministry, but Jesus showed him mercy.
When people watched Jesus’ ministry, they witness the love and mercy of God in action. That mercy is still very much alive today. Mercy is God’s provision for human needs. Jesus healed the sick because He doesn’t want us in pain and misery. Jesus wept because He loves and cares for us. When Jesus taught and preached, it was God wanting people to know the truth. You see, without the truth, the enemy will devour us before we inherit one promise from God.
As long as there is human misery, God will be working. If we have misery on the Sabbath, He is working. If we have misery at midnight, Jesus will be working. As long as there is bondage, sickness, broken homes, deserted families, abuse and suffering, Jesus will be working.
You see, our misery matters to God. When Israel was suffering in Egypt, God said, "I have surely seen the oppression of my people in Egypt and have heard their cry (see Exodus 3:7." And God sent Moses down there to deliver them. At the very least, He will take whatever we are going through, and cause it to work for our good (Romans 8:28). Now that’s mercy.
I don’t know what misery you are dealing with as you read these words, but I do know that God has mercy for you. He may heal you, or He may instantly deliver you. I don’t know what He is going to do. But I know that He is with you right now, and He is working on it.
God has mercy for your misery. The atheist says, "Well is your God is so merciful, why is there so much suffering in the world." I appreciate that question, and I understand the point. If the atheist is so concerned about suffering, then why don’t they build orphanages and hospitals for the AIDS patients in Africa? Why don’t they sponsor an outreach to help the starving? About every mercy ministry in existence is sponsored by Christian ministries that are compelled by love and mercy of to help relieve misery.
When we are helpless and hopeless, God shows us mercy. This man was totally unable to help himself. He could get in the water, and he couldn’t find anyone to assist him. And after thirty-eight years in that condition, he really didn’t expect anything different. But Jesus Christ walked into his life, and brought an end to his suffering.
Has misery rooted itself in your life, or in the life of someone you love? Does the thought of facing another day make your heart sink in despair? Jesus has fresh new mercy every morning, and it is more than enough to bring you out of your misery.
By: Edmund Brown