“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.” John 5.1-5
At certain seasons the pool’s waters were agitated, and it was commonly believed that this was the result of supernatural power, and that whoever 1st stepped into the waters after the troubling, would be healed of whatever disease he had. Many sufferers visited there; hence when the water was troubled, they rushed and trampled underfoot men, women, and children, weaker than themselves.
Many could not get near the pool and those who succeeded in reaching it died upon its brink. Shelters were erected to protect the sick from heat and cold. Some spent the night in these porches, creeping to the edge of the pool day after day, in the vain hope of relief.
Jesus was at Jerusalem, walking alone, in apparent meditation and prayer. He came to the pool and saw the wretched sufferers watching for what they supposed was their only hope. He longed to exercise His healing power and make every sufferer whole; that day was the Sabbath day. Multitudes were going to the temple for worship.
But Christ saw one case of supreme wretchedness: a man who had been a helpless cripple for 38 years. Alone and friendless, feeling that he was shut out from God’s mercy, the sufferer had passed long years of misery.
At the expected time, those who pitied his helplessness would bear him to the porches. But at the favored moment, he had no one to help him. He had seen the rippling of the water but had never gone beyond the edge of the pool. Others stronger than he would plunge in before him. His persistent efforts, anxiety and continual disappointments, were fast wearing away the remnant of his strength.
He was on his mat and occasionally gazing at the pool, when Christ bent over him and the words, “Wilt thou be made whole?” arrested his attention. Hope came to his heart, sensing imminent help. His failure to often reach the pool, and the little prospect of living till another troubling, made him turn away wearily, saying, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another stepped down before me”.
Jesus does not ask him to exercise faith in Him. He simply says, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” His faith takes hold upon that word and without question he obeys the command. Springing to his feet, he finds himself an active man! DA 201
Behold, another Sabbath is here, and our Redeemer is passing by. Oh, that He will visit us like the crippled man by Bethesda! Oh, that God will heal us of all our diseases, sins, and problems on this Holy Sabbath day! Oh, for the faith of the crippled man to wait on God and walk according to His Word. How many can stand and wait on God unto death?
The time is close when moral and spiritual darkness shall envelope the Earth. We are closer to a time when those faithful to God’s Word shall be persecuted and banished. Oh, for the faith to stand for God and wait on His mercies. May God imbue us with persevering faith and visit us in our darkest hour, to lift us up from our weakest days. A happy Sabbath to all the saints of God! 
