The man had been sick for thirty-eight years, yet still he lay hopefully beside the Pool of Bethesda. Others had plunged into the water and were healed, but he had no friend to put him into the water and lay helpless while others rushed by him to be “first” into the healing water.
Can you imagine his despair as he saw others come from the pool cured, while he must continue to lie there alone, friendless and disabled.
Then Jesus came. He said, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
The poor, helpless man answered, “Sir, I have no man...to put me into the pool.”
Jesus replied, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”
“And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked.” (You can read the whole story in the Bible in John 5:2-15.)
The Lord Jesus is no longer on earth going about healing as He did then, but He is always waiting to take care of a need that is greater than curing a sick or crippled body. In fact, it is the greatest need of all.
We, sinners, cannot go to heaven unless our sins are forgiven. We are just as helpless as the poor man by the pool.
Have you felt your load of sins and your need of a Savior? Jesus is able, He is willing and He is ready to save you. He is the Savior for those who cannot save themselves-and that disability includes everyone on earth.
He promises, “Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out” (John 6:37).
“When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly” (Rom. 5:6).