The pool at Bethesda is located just outside
the city walls of Jerusalem. The pool
was originally built to supply water for the Temple, but by Jesus' time it no
longer served this function. By Jesus’
day, the pool had acquired a reputation for healing qualities. Jesus singles one man out from the many who
are gathered there to be healed. This
man acknowledges that he has no one to put him in the pool, a direct admission
that there are no family or friends to help him. It's difficult for us to
imagine how he would survive there very long by himself without anyone to help
him out. This man did not know that it
was Jesus talking to him, so he obviously did not anticipate being healed by
Jesus. Although the man expects to be
cured by the waters of the pool, Jesus bypasses the pool altogether and cures
him directly. It is interesting that, unlike some other healings Jesus performs,
Jesus doesn’t link the cured person with his or her faith. Jesus
just cures him because he needs healing. The cure that happens in this Gospel
passage has a very reassuring and positive message to all of us as we continue
our Lenten journey. The man is cured, he is saved, because he merely wanted to
be well.
The holy season of Lent is an
opportunity for all of us to grow closer to Jesus and to contemplate the great
love God shows us through his beloved Son. May our Lenten prayer today be that
we may be able to recognize the opportunities that Jesus extends to us every
day. May we use the gifts given to us to
bring life and abundance to our daily lives.
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