"His Kindness Will Find You"

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 had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" The sick man answered Him, "Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me." Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk." And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.  And that day was the Sabbath. John 5:2-9

I saw this picture yesterday and it made me think about what it must have been like for this guy to suddenly have Jesus come along and ask him if he wanted to be made well? I can't imagine waiting 38 years! Laying there day after day for the waters to move. Struggling to get in first and then being beat by someone else. Time after time missing out on being the one. It must have been pretty devastating to watch as someone else came out healed and rejoicing as he lay there knowing once again he had missed his chance. His hope for healing died a little more each day. Then one day Jesus shows up asking, "Do you want to be made well?" He tells Him his tale hoping Jesus will offer to help him in and instead because of the kindness of our Lord, who, 'saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time,'  NO MORE WAITING!

The thing I really liked about the picture above is how Jesus was there to help. The expression on His face and the helping hand that is extended to the lame man is all about the kindness of our God. It reminds me that Jesus is always willing to be the source of help in our time of need. Why? Because He loves us. Jesus came to the pool of Bethesda looking to help those that were there waiting! He knew that there were people who had needs and He came to them!  Did you catch that? He came to them. He came to the lame man. All the sick people, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed were all there for the chance to be the first one in the water and be healed of whatever ailed them but Jesus wasn't. Jesus didn't need a miracle. His purpose for being there was to provide the miracle.

I love that Bethesda means-house of kindness. Thanks to the kindness of Jesus who found him this man received just that when Jesus came to him and spoke these life changing words, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."

The lame man had been trying for 38 years to get his miracle in his own strength but because of the kindness of our Lord he received all that he needed in just a single moment. The reason I like this picture so much is because it reminds me that His loving kindness is awesome and amazing! His kindness will found him, even when he was busy looking to the pool for help. It also reminds me that it is available to you and I, here, now, today as well!  The kindness of our Lord is still the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow! It is still his heart to come and find us, to save us, and send us on our way to proclaim the kindness of our God to the nations!

His kindness and His love are for you and I in same way they were for this lame guy at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus found him and reached out to help him because of the kindness of our God and he wants to help you and I in the same way. Even now, in this moment, His kindness is extended toward you to help with whatever you need. Receive it and rise up!

Lord, I pray that every person, both young and old, who takes the time to look at this picture will be reminded that your kindness is very real and that even now in this moment you are reaching out with a hand to help us rise up strong in you! Amen

God Bless!!!