I Do! – Stirring the Pot – June 5th

I DO
June 5, 2021

Stirring the Pot

John 5:2-6, ‘Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”’ (NIV)

You know this man’s answer. I bet you can hear this man shout ‘I Do’! But that is not how he responds to Jesus. He basically answers the Answer, ‘It’s impossible for me to receive healing in this manner.’ I love that because of Jesus this man is not bound to what is happening all around him. Simply, Jesus asks a question, which is funny in itself because He already knows the outcome to His question, and then He gives an instruction. He doesn’t say, “Man, come sit with me for a while and let’s think about this; two heads are better than one”…”I mean, we could try this method or a different one. I could toss you in the pool…we could sit here on the sidelines and when I say, ‘Get Ready! Get set! GO!’ Trust Me! I’ll make you the fastest to race to the waters and you’ll beat everyone and jump in and be healed!” None of that happens. Jesus simply and magnificently commands, “Rise. Take up your bed and walk.” And our guy does. Jesus does and our guy does.

With Jesus there is no need for waters that have been stirred even by angels, nor any need for the answer to come in the same manner it has come for others in his condition. He received his healing in a brand new way, not like anyone else, even though he didn’t really answer the question Jesus asked him. Yes, he had an ‘I Do’, but life’s experiences, disappointments, failures, defeats, missed appointments with an angel, had taught him the improbability of success and victory. And Jesus came through for him in spite of himself and his frailties and bad attitudes, and in spite of others around him, even the religious people of the day.

Jesus hears your ‘I Do’ even when you can’t utter it aloud. The condition of our heart sometimes belies our words. We must trust that when we can’t answer that Jesus still hears and He can meet every need we ever thought of if it is in our best interests to do so. Jesus knew our guy had this condition, and for a very long time. Our guy’s condition didn’t surprise Jesus in the least. But Jesus stopped and communicated with him about his need, and in spite of this man’s denial that healing was possible, He answered any way. Still. He knows your condition and he knows what you have tried and He knows what will work even when you don’t. I think Jesus understands all the hidden words, and reads between our lines, especially when He can see the posture of our hearts and hear the sincerity of our ‘I Do’. He is the universal Answer to any need you or I will ever have!

What a promise ‘I Do’ is! Whether we are committing to a person
or simply being intentional in life, our word should be a cherished commodity.
This month, journey with me in ‘I Do’ moments which are an oath, a vow, a pact,
a pledge, an honorarium.