John 5
Wow, another chapter about WATER.
This CAN'T be a coincidence, can it?
I hope verse 4 is simply an unfounded belief,
instead of the actual truth.
To think that angels actually come down
and stir something in the physical world
on a regular basis
to offer some desired result
just boggles my mind.
but now that I think about it,
angels are mentioned in other parts of scripture.
Doesn't it say somewhere that a great battle
is going on behind the scenes
that we are not aware of?
I'm gonna have to do a study of angels someday...
Anyway, I can't imagine there would be a sound reason
for providing healing
to the first (and only the first) person to hit the pool
after the angelic whistle blows.
What would be the point?
It seems like Jesus would have said something meaningful
to the crowd that hovered around the pool.
-=-=-=-
Ok, I've been thinking about this for MINUTES now,
and after all this reflection (grin)
I really have a question about this.
These people have got it into their heads
that they can be healed at this one particular spot
if they just wait for the water to be "troubled" by an angel.
And then they race to see who can soak up the free gift first.
Is this an early recorded example
of crowds mobbing to the scene of some religious happening?
Its says there was "a great multitude".
Like the media coverage we see today
when someone notices what looks like
an image of Jesus's face on a piece of toast?
or statues that cry?
Are these people deluded?
OR...
Maybe that is what makes faith work.
Maybe that's what faith is all about
Was the reality that since so many people BELIEVED,
it just HAD to happen?
All that faith FORCED the angel to act
to keep order in the universe?
Were these people really healed because they had faith?
It doesn't really say.
I don't know why it makes me uncomfortable
to think that scene at the pool was the way to be.
Jesus healed one of them instantly.
Maybe to show that
although the belief was CAUSING the desired result,
the same result was available by other means?
After all, in other parts of scripture
lotsa people get healed.
In all kinds of different ways.
In fact, maybe no two are the same.
I should research that too...
go through all of Jesus healings and see how they differ.
I suspect the real point is,
We can be healed.
The spirit is available
The power is available.
It's not the surroundings or circumstances that make it.
I could understand that.
Then Jesus explains the power a little bit more:
He goes on to say something new to ME
now THAT is a shocker to me.
I don't think I have ever heard that before,
or if I have it didn't register itself in my mind.
I've always had the mental picture
of God sitting in the judgement seat.
When you think of being judged, don't you think of God?
Maybe it doesn't matter,
if Jesus and God are one in the same.
I'll have to let that one roll around a while
and see where it comes to rest.
I guess it all ties together in the end,
when Jesus says this about himself:
and I just stumbled over another "truly truly"
that seems ultra-powerful to me
Maybe its a mistake to try to rank verses,
and label some as more important to others;
but if I could take only ten verses to a desert island,
that would probably be one of them.
I probably WON'T be taking this one along.
ouch.
.
This CAN'T be a coincidence, can it?
Joh 5:2
Now there is a pool
at the Sheep Gate at Jerusalem,
which is called in Hebrew Bethesda,
having five porches.
Joh 5:3
In these lay a great multitude of thosewho were sick, of blind, lame, withered,
waiting for the moving of the water.
Joh 5:4
For an angel went down at a certain time
into the pool and troubled the water.
Then whoever first stepped in
after the troubling of the water
was made whole of whatever disease he had.
I hope verse 4 is simply an unfounded belief,
instead of the actual truth.
To think that angels actually come down
and stir something in the physical world
on a regular basis
to offer some desired result
just boggles my mind.
but now that I think about it,
angels are mentioned in other parts of scripture.
Doesn't it say somewhere that a great battle
is going on behind the scenes
that we are not aware of?
I'm gonna have to do a study of angels someday...
Anyway, I can't imagine there would be a sound reason
for providing healing
to the first (and only the first) person to hit the pool
after the angelic whistle blows.
What would be the point?
It seems like Jesus would have said something meaningful
to the crowd that hovered around the pool.
-=-=-=-
Ok, I've been thinking about this for MINUTES now,
and after all this reflection (grin)
I really have a question about this.
These people have got it into their heads
that they can be healed at this one particular spot
if they just wait for the water to be "troubled" by an angel.
And then they race to see who can soak up the free gift first.
Is this an early recorded example
of crowds mobbing to the scene of some religious happening?
Its says there was "a great multitude".
Like the media coverage we see today
when someone notices what looks like
an image of Jesus's face on a piece of toast?
or statues that cry?
Are these people deluded?
OR...
Maybe that is what makes faith work.
Maybe that's what faith is all about
Was the reality that since so many people BELIEVED,
it just HAD to happen?
All that faith FORCED the angel to act
to keep order in the universe?
Were these people really healed because they had faith?
It doesn't really say.
I don't know why it makes me uncomfortable
to think that scene at the pool was the way to be.
Jesus healed one of them instantly.
Maybe to show that
although the belief was CAUSING the desired result,
the same result was available by other means?
After all, in other parts of scripture
lotsa people get healed.
In all kinds of different ways.
In fact, maybe no two are the same.
I should research that too...
go through all of Jesus healings and see how they differ.
I suspect the real point is,
We can be healed.
The spirit is available
The power is available.
It's not the surroundings or circumstances that make it.
I could understand that.
Then Jesus explains the power a little bit more:
Joh 5:19
Then Jesus answered and said to them,
Truly, truly, I say to you,
The Son can do nothing of Himself
but what He sees the Father do.
For whatever things He does,
these also the Son does likewise.
He goes on to say something new to ME
Joh 5:22
For the Father judges no man,
but has committed all judgment to the Son,
now THAT is a shocker to me.
I don't think I have ever heard that before,
or if I have it didn't register itself in my mind.
I've always had the mental picture
of God sitting in the judgement seat.
When you think of being judged, don't you think of God?
Maybe it doesn't matter,
if Jesus and God are one in the same.
I'll have to let that one roll around a while
and see where it comes to rest.
I guess it all ties together in the end,
when Jesus says this about himself:
Joh 5:30
I can do nothing of My own self.
As I hear, I judge, and My judgment is just,
because I do not seek My own will,
but the will of the Father who has sent Me.
and I just stumbled over another "truly truly"
that seems ultra-powerful to me
Joh 5:24
Truly, truly, I say to you,
He who hears My Word and believes on Him who sent Me
has everlasting life
and shall not come into condemnation,
but has passed from death to life.
Maybe its a mistake to try to rank verses,
and label some as more important to others;
but if I could take only ten verses to a desert island,
that would probably be one of them.
I probably WON'T be taking this one along.
Joh 5:42
But I know you,
that you do not have the love of God in you.
ouch.
.