Day 6: The Sabbath in Israel

It’s the Sabbath today in Israel, and I visited the place of healing.

The Bible calls it, the pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means "house of mercy" or "house of grace." It comes from:

• Beth – Meaning house

• Chesed – Kindness, mercy or grace

You may be familiar with the word because it’s connected with some of the hospitals across America.

Among the most famous of Jesus’ miracles is recounted in the Gospel of John, where Jesus heals the paralytic at the Bethesda Pool (John 5:2-9). It is not the only one of Jesus’ miracles of healing to take place at a pool in Jerusalem, however. In addition to the Bethesda Pool, the Gospel of John also says that Jesus healed the blind man at the Siloam Pool.

Herod built the pool of Bethesda. Five sided and up to 40’ deep. Like he always did, he made it beautiful and very enjoyable. It drew lots of people. The blind man had been a regular for 38 years.

Jesus miracle story also tells how many people sought the Bethesda Pool’s healing powers. The first person to enter the pool when the waters were stirred up would supposedly be cured of his or her ailment. But, the paralytic tells Jesus, he can never get into the water quickly enough. So Jesus immediately cures him, and he is able to get up and walk.

Jesus asks the lame man if he wants to be healed for a reason. Maybe the lame man was not committed to, did not believe in, his own healing. Matthew’s Gospel says “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you” Mt. 7:7
 I think Jesus word to us might be, “Seize the moment!” Ask God for your heart’s desire.

May this Lord’s Day be exceptional and full of His mercy and grace! Bethesda!