April 15

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Will thou be made whole?

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool; but while I am coming, another seepeth down before me.

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked; and on the same day was the sabbath

10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day; it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.

11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?

13 And he that was healed was not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place.

14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

17 But Jesus answered them, My Father works hitherto, and I work.

18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God.

(204)

19 Then answered Jesus an i—l—into them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of his will, he what he sees the Father does for what things soever he does h, these also doeth the Son likewise.

20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth, and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may have.

21 For as the Father a sets up the dear, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will.

22 For the Father jodgeth no man, but I am committed all judgment unto the Son.

23 First all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.

24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that beareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation, but is passed from death into life.

The pool of Bethesda, no doubt, was intended as a typical representation of the fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. In the blood of Jesus a sovereign efficacy is found for all who are washed in it. He cures the guilt of sin, the dominion of sin, and the sting of sin. We do not have to go down into some low valley to find the Gospel Bethesda; it is at our very door. We do not need to wait for some angel to come and stir its waters; the blessed Spirit is promised most simply and unconditionally "to them that ask Him." This promise says nothing even about desiring or thirsting; it promises absolutely nothing; but comes to the lowest depths of sin-paralyzed will—it is only and simply, "Ask."

"Is passed from death unto life" (verse 24). Not "is passing," but "is passed."

"From death—cold, dark, hopeless, useless, loveless; the death in trespasses and sins; the death that lives (strange paradox) forever in the lake of fire—unto life with its ever-increasing abundance; life crowned with light and love; life upon which only a shadow of death can ever pass, and that only the shadow of the portal of eternal glory; life in Jesus, life for Jesus, life with Jesus."—F. R. Havergai.

Closet Promise.—Wherefore He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them.—Heb. vii. 25.

"God never wastes His power. What He is able to do, He is willing to do—desires to do. His ability furnishes an unlimited, exhaustless storehouse. Christ's intercession gives every one the key. Alas that there should be so many who either starve in rags or perish by the wayside!"

12