The Shepherd and His Lame Sheep


After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.
Now that day was the Sabbath.
(John 5:1-9 ESV)

I really enjoy this account of Christ. He walks up to all these people, all dealing with some sort of issue (mainly sin) and then focuses his attention on one person. Without even saying his name, Jesus knows why this man is there and offers healing to him.

“Do you want to be healed?” The question rings through the air. Everyone knows the answer to this question, "yes" but this man doesn't even answer the question. Instead the lame man begins to tell Jesus that he couldn't be healed because others would not assist him. This man didn't even answer the question! One would think that he simply gave an answer because he though that Christ was poking into his life, but Jesus Christ does so much more than that. Without even a "yes" from the man, Jesus gives him healing. Restores him to a state of being whole.

How often do we give an answer to Christ without even thinking about His original question? How often do we put aside the fact that Christ is reaching His hand down to us, and we push Him away?

This story, this testimony constantly reminds me of my need. Where I am at, invalid, sinful, lame, and yet Christ shows his lovingkindness and mercy to me.

Wow.

Thank you for taking the time to read this, I hope it encourages you, and helps you see our Shepherd today.

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