11022006

John 4

In Today's Reading:

Jesus and the Samaritan woman; miracles of healing; Jesus answers the Jews

The sheep gate where lambs were bought for sacrifice was located at the northeast area of the Temple court in Jerusalem. Nearby the sheep market (is) a pool, which is called . . . Bethesda, having five porches (John 5:2). At this pool lay a great multitude of impotent (sick, invalid, and physically disabled) folk (5:3). It was believed that the first to enter the pool of water after an angel stirred it up would be cured (5:4). Jesus, the Great Physician, approached this crowd of helpless sufferers, but no one recognized Him.

In this crowd of helpless people was a certain man . . . which had an infirmity thirty and eight years (5:5). What possibility was there that anyone would care if he were ever healed? When this man expressed his hopelessness, Jesus looked beyond the man's problem and asked him to do something about it, saying: Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked (5:7-9).

Like this man, you and I once were spiritually helpless. We should be eternally grateful that Jesus did not pass us by but asked us if we wanted to be made whole. Jesus cares for even the most hopeless sinner and desires that all recognize Him as Savior and Lord. They may be intellectual leaders such as Nicodemus, or like the pitiful Samaritan woman at the well, or any other lost person.

The sheep gate illustrates Jesus, the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29). The pool called Bethesda means house of mercy or grace. It is only through the compassion of Christ that any lost sinner, without exception, can find mercy and grace by accepting His sacrifice on the cross for our sins.

The Apostle Paul reminds us that we once were children of wrath, but we have been cleansed from our sins and given a new nature with the privilege to put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness (Ephesians 2:3; 4:24).

Word Studies:

4:6 sixth hour = noon by Jewish time and 6 pm by Roman time; 5:21 quickeneth them = gives them life.

Prayer Needs:

Pray for The English International Shortwave Radio Broadcast in memory of Barbara Elaine Dyer · Staff: Letha Hash Country: Serbia and Montenegro (11 million) on the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe Major language: Serbo-Croatian Religious conflict 41% Serbian/Montenegrin/Macedonian Orthodox; 33% Catholic; 11% Muslim; 1% Protestant Prayer Suggestion: Seek the guidance of God in meekness (Psalm 25:9).

Memory Verse for the Week: Matthew 6:33