Jn 5:1-16
1There was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2Now there is in Jerusalem at the Sheep [Gate] a pool called in Hebrew Bethesda, with five porticoes. 3In these lay a large number of ill, blind, lame, and crippled. [4] 5One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill for a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be well?” 7Thesick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool whenthe water is stirred up; while I am on my way, someone else gets downthere before me.” 8Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your mat, and walk.” 9Immediately the man became well, took up his mat, and walked.
Now that day was a sabbath. 10So the Jews said to the man who was cured, “It is the sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.” 11He answered them, “The man who made me well told me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’ ” 12They asked him, “Who is the man who told you, ‘Take it up and walk’?” 13The man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away, since there was a crowd there. 14Afterthis Jesus found him in the temple area and said to him, “Look, you arewell; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15The man went and told the Jews that Jesus was the one who had made him well. 16Therefore, the Jews began to persecute Jesus because he did this on a sabbath.
Reflection:
ILL FOR THIRTY-EIGHT YEARS.The man has suffered long—for 38 years. In spite of his illness,however, the man remains hopeful, patient, and optimistic. He is apicture of confidence in God. He firmly believes that someday he willbe healed. This healing now comes in the person of Jesus who sees hisfaith and confidence in God and instructs him to rise, take up his mat,and walk.
Let us always perfnrm good and nobledeeds. Let us help and heal. Let us make use of every opportunity to dogood. And let us not be discouraged if people turn out to be ungratefulor question our motives.
Name the person(s) you will help today.
