Joy & Pain

This I must say has been one of the most trying times of my life. I would say that for at least the last three weeks my body has been attacking itself. I am unable to keep hardly any food down, headaches, nose bleeds and excessive stomach cramping. One of the only things that keeps me going is knowing that my Lord and Savior went through and suffered so much more.

“Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” (Jn 5:2-9 ESV)

Now I don’t know about you but me in reading this it is very easy to miss. Let’s take a look back this section of scripture tells  us in verse three that in these colonnades lay a multitude of invalids. And one of those was a man who had been there for 38 years. So as Jesus and his disciples were walking through he saw this one man and already knew he had been there a long time. But look at this now Jesus asked this man “DO YOU WANT TO BE HEALED?”  (capitalization and italics added for emphasis). Any normal person would look up at Jesus and go what do you think stupid. I have been sitting here for 38 years. Check out this guys response “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while i am going another steps down before me.” So he kind of says what i said without being as rude. Then the most beautiful thing of all happens Jesus gives him a command. “GET UP, TAKE UP your bed, and WALK.”

How many of us would know how to react if Jesus gives us that kind of specific command. What have you been sitting around waiting on? Has it been something at home? Going back to school? Whatever it maybe when your spirit finally lines up with what HE has in store for you don’t sit back on the sidelines because he may, no he will pass you by.

Think about it He being Jesus went to a place full of sick people looking to get healed, and only chose one. So please if you have been feeling him knocking at the door of your heart, open the door and let him in.

“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.” (Re 3:20 ESV).

Let’s take a look at another example of Jesus’ power to change a life.

“And behold, a woman who had suffered from a discharge of blood for twelve years came up behind him and touched the fringe of his garment, ²¹ for she said to herself, “If I only touch his garment, I will be made well.” ²² Jesus turned, and seeing her he said, “Take heart, daughter; your faith has made you well.” And instantly the woman was made well.”  (Mt 9:20-22 ESV).

In using this passage i am not saying that if you have faith in being healed you will automatically be healed. What i would like to point out however is this woman suffered for 12 years with bleeding, in some versions it says she spent everything on Drs who only made her worse or did not solve her issue. Even though she had nothing to give this man, she put all of her trust and more importantly her faith in the fact that if she could touch his garment that she would be healed. Another question for you to ponder when was the last time you actively put faith into something knowing it was out of you control and only Jesus could accomplish it?

Last but not least let us not for get that the Lord allowed Paul to live for an extended period of time with a thorn in his side.

^“7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. ⁸ Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. ⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”   (2 Co 12:7-10 ESV)

So all in all we are no better than Paul or Jesus Christ himself. We must look at our lives and remember that we can go through pain in give glory to Jesus and receive the joy that comes from it. Or we can live in pain and merely have to deal with it. The choice is yours.

Live Long, Pray Hard, Die Well!
Preach