"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22
"...proving that this is very Christ." _ Acts 9:22

January 20th

 

 

THE SPIRIT OF THE WORD IN OPERATION

 

John 5: 1-8

      After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.  In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.  And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.  When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?  The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is
troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down
before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

 

Bethesda means “house of mercy” or “flowing water.” Whatever meaning the heart chooses, there is a bounty of love and power encapsulated therein. The multitude described above is a snapshot of the condition of people in the flesh apart from God’s mercy and without the flowing water of His powerful Word.  Some were impotent speaking to the spiritually powerless, weak and feeble along with the blind or those unable to see spiritual things.  The halt or lame are those who cannot walk in the spirit.  The withered are those who are dry and have been without the water of life for a long time. All they could do was to wait for the moving of the water which is the same as the Spirit of the Word in operation.

 

          Jesus came moving in the Power of the Spirit and simply spoke the three-fold command, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”  The Spirit moved upon the face of the water (His spoken Word) and the man was made whole. According to the Companion Bible, the man’s 38-years of infirmity represents the period of the wanderings.  Jesus knew from looking at the man that he had been that way for a long time.  He could see by the Spirit that the man represented Israel, and He was their Deliverer. His desire was to see the man made whole, but He could not impose His will upon the man. Therefore, Jesus asked the man, Wilt thou be made whole?  Jesus knew the answer of the man’s heart by his exclamation of numerous failed attempts to be healed. Jesus had mercy on him and the waters of His Words of healing started flowing! Simply ask, believe, and receive Christ Jesus’ mercy and the power of His Word.

 

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