October 13 - Miracle at Bethesda - Devotional

Gracetoyou.org ^ | 2008 | John Macarthur, Grace Community Church

[metmom]

“After these things there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. A man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ‘Do you wish to get 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, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.’ Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk” (John 5:1–9).

This miracle perfectly illustrates God’s sovereign grace in action. Out of all the sick people at the pool, Jesus chose to heal this one man. There was nothing about him that made him more deserving than the others, nor did he seek out Jesus; Jesus approached him. The Lord did not choose him because He foresaw that he had the faith to believe; he never did express belief that Jesus could heal him.

It is the same way in salvation. Out of the spiritually dead multitude of Adam’s fallen race, God chose and redeemed His elect—not because of anything they did to deserve it, or because of their foreseen faith, but because of His sovereign choice.

Ask Yourself

Be on the lookout for people in need—those you meet in very random encounters, as well as those you know well, people you see on a fairly routine basis. Wherever possible, be part of bringing hope and compassion to those who think no one really cares about them. Understand that you represent Jesus’ love and mercy everywhere you go.

[metmom]

Religion Forum threads labeled “Devotional:”Devotional threads are closed to debate of any kind.

https://freerepublic.com/~religionmoderator/

[metmom]

Studying God’s Word Ping

[InkStone]

Thank you Sister. This one really hits the mark! We bear a light from Jesus Yeshua God, which shatters the darkness, and we must share it.

Freely you have received, freely give.
Matthew 10:8

[Toad of Toad Hall]

Thank you for sharing this beautiful meditation on Scripture!

Today, October 13, marks another miracle, the miracle of the sun at Fatima, Portugal at the end of Our Blessed Mother’s apparitions there in 1917.

[Big Red Badger]

Six encounters today;
Jeep boy
Camp Cop
Deer hunter
Lost dog
Punkin’
Fearful Eyes.
Weird Day,
Everyone is -——alien.

[Elsie]

...an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.

The unbelievers use this to show how cruel GOD is, by only healing ONE while letting the others suffer in their various ailments.

[metmom]

No, because this is a Devotional Thread and debate is prohibited, although recently, that guideline has been generally ignored.

These threads are posted for teaching and encouragement, not for the purpose of debate.

Anyone is free to post a thread about the topic and leave it open if they feel strongly enough that they want to debate it, but they don’t. They just violate the RF posting guidelines instead.

The RM does not need to waste his time babysitting these threads for violators.

[SouthernClaire]

This is a devotional thread. It is for devotion to Christ Jesus the Only Savior, and is not for devotion to the RCC’s Mary or any supposed “apparitions” or a “miracle of the sun.” Please respect the devotion to Christ Jesus.

[SouthernClaire]

Sorry, Metmom. Since this is your devotional, I should have pinged you to my post (9). My apologies.

Thank you for your daily devotional postings.

[SouthernClaire]

I did some research on this a long while back and found that it was simply what was believed by people at the time.

[Elsie]

It’s still that way

[SaveFerris]

(Be on the lookout for people in need—those you meet in very random encounters, as well as those you know well, people you see on a fairly routine basis. Wherever possible, be part of bringing hope and compassion to those who think no one really cares about them. Understand that you represent Jesus’ love and mercy everywhere you go.)

Key takeaway here.

🛐🙏✝️