Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Scripture
John 5: 1-18

Devotion
This is the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda. In many ways it is a symbolic story as well as a literal one. It has the 'resurrection story" in its content. We read of a man rising up and becoming whole who was dead in the eyes of the world around him. it shows how not only do physical barriers and construction barriers limit or deny people access to wholeness and health, but also, that there are social and religious barriers as well. it clearly shows how God's love overcomes each of those barriers. it challenges us to remember constantly that healing isn't only an issue of physical health, but also one of being able to fully participate in church and in society.
Jesus selected this man from a crowd of many. He was alone, crippled and shunned to a mat among the surging and excited crowd asking and wanting to be healed. No one was carrying him; no one was supporting him. Jesus selects him out of this multitude and asks him if he wants healing. The old man explains how he has been limited not only by the pools construction, but also by the teaming crowd and lack of friends to assist him. Jesus offers him immediate healing, completely avoiding the pool.
This reading indicates Jesus and God's ability to see our needs, even if others cannot. It shows God's desire to seek out and touch even those who society ignores or puts in the corner. No matter how alone, how friendless, how lost we might feel, God is for us. This healing isn't a simple case of restoring physical mobility. It is also a story of reintegrating a life back into the world.
May it be so with us...that we know of God's ability to restore us at all levels. And may we certainly carry the mission forward and help restore all those needing God's grace, not just the obvious ones. We can be a healing pool, a living source of God's greatness, mercy, and grace.

Prayer
Lord, restore us to what you would have us be. Amen.