357. Tuesday after Fourteenth Sunday after Trinity.
“Heal me, O Lord,
and I shall be healed.” Amen.
John 5, 2-9. 14. 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. 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. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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? 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. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 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.
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All the miracles of Jesus manifest his glory, and strengthen our faith. To us he is then a present Savior; and we experience his power on ourselves. That which he did he does; that which we read in regard to the sick whom he healed agrees with our own experience. Even if it be a spiritual healing, it is no less true; but, for the matter of that, it is he who by healing and quickening them gives our bodies also the power to live forever.
The story in our text may greatly edify the earnest reader. Bear in mind that this hospital is called Bethesda (the house of mercy); which vividly reminds one of the church of Christ; that it is by the market for the sheep which are to be sacrificed; that it has five porches; that under these are a great multitude of sick persons; that they are blind, halt, and withered; that it is water in which they are healed; that it is an angel, a messenger of God, who troubles the water; that the sick need aid to get into the pool; etc. Let me call special attention to but one of these sick men, and to Jesus. Clearly, this man is the most wretched of all, or at least one of the most wretched. Him Jesus saves. He has been waiting for help a long, long time; and has almost lost the last remnant of hope. He has been abandoned by everybody. Jesus asks him: “Wilt thou be made whole?” and thus quickens his dormant longing. Why does God let some men be sick for so long a time? Is it because they are greater sinners than others? By no means; it is for the purpose of teaching them humility. In the case of some he for this purpose employs sickness; in the case of others some other means. We have often seen that sin and sickness go together; and the Lord calls our attention to this truth when he says: “Behold, thou art made whole; sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” — Here we see, then, that Jesus can help, and does in fact help the most abjectly wretched of men; if we do but admit our guilt and feel our helplessness. The Lord speaks first. He comes first; he is the author, and he is the finisher of our salvation. When he has opened our ears to hear him, he again speaks to us; and in his words is life; through them he gives us the faith which receives this new life. Jesus said “rise”; and this word raised the impotent man from his bed. It entered his heart, and made him believe that he should rise; and as soon as he believed it he was able to do it. Have not you also had this experience, dear reader? When your soul, in sin and trouble, heard the words of Jesus, “I save you; I took away your sin; you shall inherit eternal life; rise, and walk with God;” — you received a new life, rose up, and praised the Lord. Or, if you have not had this experience, give heed now to that which the Lord says. Is it your wish that Jesus may save you from sin and sickness, and make you whole in soul and body forever? If this be your wish, hear his words to you: “Rise, and walk.” Obey them; do this; the word itself gives you the required strength. Go thy way, then, and “sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”
Precious Savior, thou art the Lord who healeth me. Let me know thy healing power until I become perfectly whole in the life eternal. Amen.*
O Savior Christ! Thou too art Man;
Thou hast been troubled, tempted, tried;
Thy kind, but searching glance can scan
The very wounds that shame would hide.
Thy touch has still its ancient power;
No word from thee can fruitless fall;
Hear in this solemn evening hour,
And in thy mercy heal us all.
* Here the head of the family says a short morning or evening prayer in his own words, and closes with the Lord’s Prayer and the Benediction. This is to be done every day. If the stanzas are not sung, they may be read in their proper place before the impromptu petition and the Lord’s Prayer.