Thursday, March 8: John 5- Where will you be found?.

The opening story in chapter 5 is about the invalid at the Pool of Siloam. For thirty eight years this man’s life have been defined by his infirmity.  Presumably he has been coming to the pool for those thirty eight years in the hopes of being healed. Occasionally the pool would be stirred and when it was stirred, the first in the pool was healed. For thirty eight years the man hoped against hope that he would receive healing.

Problem was, as an invalid, he needed someone’s help to get into the pool, so he was never able to get in the water first.  So he waited and hoped and laid by the pool.

Jesus finds him and asks a seemingly obvious question, “Do you want to get well?” (6).

An interesting question.  Could the man have been delaying his pool entry so he didn’t get well. Stranger things are true. After all, healing will mean a quantum shift in his life.

The story progresses with Jesus healing the man. Thank you, Jesus.

After more detail about Jesus slipping away into the crowd, He later catches up to the man in the Temple. That little detail sparked my meditations.

Healed, the man now could go anywhere and do anything. He could have run home to family and friends, “I’m healed!” We could easily imagine him shouting as he talked non-stop about his healing. He could have danced in the streets calling attention to himself. He could have run to the Jerusalem Chronicle and sold his story to a tabloid or Oprah. He could have done any of a thousand things, but he chose to go to the Temple. He chose to go to God’s home, presumably to thank and praise God and possibly to fulfill the law, showing himself to the temple priests.

When God shows up in your life, where do you go, what do you do?

This man went to God’s house to praise and thank the Lord. Think about it…

Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Praise Him all creatures here below. Praise Him above you heavenly hosts. Praise Father, Son and Holy Ghost. Amen…

 

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