Healing of the paralytic man at the pool of Bethesda

 Do not lose hope

The reading of this Sunday is about the paralytic man whom Lord Jesus healed him at the pool of Bethesda. This man was sick for thirty eight years as it is mentioned in the bible. He did not lose hope. Our Lord Jesus considered his persistence and his perseverance. Many people lose hope when they feel weakness in their spirit. We must hope and trust in the grace of the Holy Spirit. God surely will visit us if we maintain our diligence as It is written: “So I say to you, ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. "(Luke 11:9-10)

 Do you want to be made well

The Lord asked the man saying:" Do you want to be made well?” Lord was known that he had been eager to be held but He wanted him to determine his bad condition and also his great need for healing. This case resembles that when we come to our spiritual father to confess, in that case we declare in a humble way that we are in bad condition and that we are sinners and in great need to be healed from our spiritual sickness like this man. So confession is an expression of repentance. The Lord encourages the sick man to confess his bad condition and the church also urges and charges us to confess our sins to be absolved.

The only saviour

The sick man answered the Lord saying:"... 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."(John 5:7). His answer was referring that he was seeking a saviour. Nobody can help this man even his closest friends only Lord Jesus. He came to him and healed him. Lord Jesus Christ is the only saviour for us all He can take off all our afflictions and misery. Nobody can help us in our way of salvation as He can help, because He is the only mighty and He is the lover of mankind. Lord said to the man:"... Rise, take up your bed and walk."(John 5:8). The man immediately was made well and took up his bed, and walked. This proofs the authority and power of His divinity.

Watch yourself to sin no more

Lord withdrew from this place but afterwards He found him in the temple and said to him:"... See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you." (John 5:14). He warned him. This means that man was paralyzed as result of sinning. Sin leads to misery and eternal death as it is written:" Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death." (James 1:15)Although this man name was among the living, but he did not enjoy live. Every evildoer also is considered dead. Lord warned him lest a worse thing come upon him. It is also not enough to repent and to confess but every sinner must flee from bad lusts lest he may sin again. We must abhor evil as it is written:" Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good." (Romans 12:9)