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8/4/2012 recording date. audio/video is 11 minutes takes a few minutes to load so be patient please. Or just read ahead. Also the following week it is air on utube on turtle30cshell channel. Just type in website name when you got to utube. The Stirring This is Christina Farris live from turtle30cshell.com. Today we are talking about the pool of Bethesheda. The history of this pool of water is a painting of angel was in the pool when they dug it out. However the paint was not there at the time of Christ. It was painted at a later time, perhaps as a reminder to the people of what God did. The stirring of the water was thought to be generated by the natural spring that feed the pool. Yet others believe that an angel (minister) came and stirred the water and people would go down into the pool when it was stirred. The person that was dipped in the water would be healed. There were five porches surrounding the pool which people could sit or lie upon that went to the water. Another interest information about this pool is it was by the sheep gate, a gate where sheep were commonly thought to be brought into the city for sacrifice for sin. This is what help the archaeologist to locate the pool. This is mentioned maybe not just for the detail of the scene but a reminder of the healing power through repentance and sacrifice. No doubt those seeing those sheep come in for sacrifice would be reminded and repent of sin. Jesus being the sacrificial Lamb that takes away our sins, is why sacrifice for repentance is no longer needed. Yet with repentance comes healing. If we are a child of God we need to purge sin from out lives. Let us begin the reading of the Word. John 5:1-18 KJV (1) After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. (2) Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. (3) In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. (4) For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. (5) And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. (6) When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? (7) The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. (8) Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. (9) And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. (10) The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. (11) He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. (12) Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? (13) And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. (14) Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. (15) The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. (16) And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. (17) But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. (18) Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. There are so many people today that can not get to doctors because they need a ride. When God choses to use His people to be workers of miracles as in the time of the apostles. Like when Peter full of the Holy Spirit just passed by with his shadow people that were sick were healed and aprons were taken to Peter to be touched and taken back to the sick to be healed. People came to belief in Jesus at that time. However in the Gospels Jesus healed the people in person, not just in Spirit as in the day of the Apostle Peter. This man in the story being impotent meaning in the Hebrew language weak could not get down to the pool when it was stirred. In fact Jesus knew the man had laid there many years, and much time had passed, But no one to help the man. Jesus look at the man and said pick up your mat and walk. Simple enough words, but it was the words the man had long perhaps to hear, for with that he stood up. This man a cripple and no one to help him, yet Jesus made Him whole. Yet he knew not Jesus. He just knew a man had made him whole. How many people needing healing, yet no not the healer. God desire to heal us even today, yet we must be aware that Jesus is still no respecter of persons when it comes to healing. This man knew not Jesus, but knew that water he laid beside on his mat had healing power. To know the power of anointed water, oil, apron, but to know not the source can lead a person straight to hell. However Jesus finds the man in the temple carrying his mat. Did he know God? It does not say but Jesus told the man who He was and told him to sin no more. The Jews understood not why a man was carrying his mat on the Sabbath, yet this man was made whole. They were not concerned that He was whole, but that he was carrying his mat. It was sin to work on the Sabbath to the Jews Jesus when he healed the man had sinned in the eyes of Jews. Yet this pool of healing power was there with people of faith around that believe not, for if they had believed they would of helped the man when the water was stirred. The healing of the Spirit come without repentance to a non believer, yet the healing to a believer comes sometimes with repentance. James 5:13-15 KJV (13) Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms. (14) Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (15) And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. This verse says to pray and to call on the elders. Do people do this today, in some churches, yet the power of God to heal is not always seen in the since of miracles. Sometimes it seen through the use of doctors. Doctors are like water being stirred. They are a form of power to be healed but not the healer. We need to touch the healer. We need a revival like at the time of the apostles. Yet many believes it can happen. Is it those that receive their miracle, not necessarily, for the man knew not who Jesus was but was made whole. Whole to the extend he even obeyed Jesus by carrying his mat, though it be unlawful to do so. What will it take for you to be healed physically, mentally. Jesus desires to heal, but He desires us to be made whole spiritual. Jesus went and told the man to sin no more. Faith taking the man to the temple and showing himself to the priest a custom of the law. Perhaps this was why the Jews were stirred up over the healing, because to show oneself to the priest for examination, required a priest to work. However this is speculation. However what we know is the man knowing not Jesus was healed. The power of God is still with us by the Holy Spirit to those that believe in Jesus. That working power of the Holy Spirit still available today. Yet man believe not. God’s way of healing may not be instantaneous in your life. Healing might come in the form of death for those that are saved. Healing might come in the form of being made whole. Yet few understand that God is still the healer, whether doctors, prayer clothes, or oil are used. We need to rid ourselves of linking the middle object or man as the healer and look to Jesus, to the word of God concerning healing, looking to God for that breakthrough need in our life and the lives of those who are sick. To have faith does not mean one goes not to the doctor, but one seeks God. God still heals and with time some are made whole and with others it takes a miracle, or healing comes in the form of death if they know Jesus. God heals His way and in his time. Realizing the man on the mat had wait a long time for healing, yet Jesus full of compassion made Him whole. One could say the water was really stirred that day. Yet the man met the healer. Dear Heavenly Father we ask for healing in our bodies and our spirit today reaching up to you as the healer. In Jesus precious name, Amen. |