There is a familiar story in the Bible about Jesus healing the lame man at the pool of Bethesda. Mike and I recently watched this story on an episode from “The Chosen”, a fictional account of Jesus’ life and ministry. If you are not familiar with this TV drama, read below and check it out:
“The Chosen is a multi-season television drama about Jesus Christ. Series creator Dallas Jenkins wanted to create a series about Jesus that could be "binge watched." Jenkins' intention was not only to dig deeper into the people who encountered Jesus and to see Jesus through the eyes of those who met him, but also to show him in a way that is more "personal, intimate, immediate."
The first season introduces Jesus and the calling of his initial disciples. The second season focuses on the beginning of his public ministry and what happens as word of his ministry begins to spread.” The Chosen
In “The Chosen” episode titled “The Perfect Opportunity”, Jesus and three of his disciples went to the pool at Bethesda to find “a man”, as Jesus gave him no name. They found him laying on a mat near the pool, looking very haggard, feeble, and hopeless.
The story began by showing the man as a young boy whose name was Jesse. While climbing a tree, he fell and was paralyzed from the waist down. He remained that way for his entire life up to this period at the pool. He had laid at the pool for 38 years, trying desperately to drag himself to the pool when it began to bubble. You see, the belief was that when the pool water began to bubble, it meant that an angel had stirred the water to produce healing powers to those who entered first.
But tried as he might, he could never make it in time. Others were pushing him aside, falling over him into the water as he crawled down the steps, and he was unable to reach the pool of “healing” water. Can you imagine doing this for 38 years?? But why not? He could not physically move his legs, and this was all that he had to focus on. He tried and tried and tried, but each time, he seemed to become more depressed.
Then Jesus came. Jesse did not know his name, but Jesus kindly asked him (Jesse) if he wanted to be healed? Jesse began to give one frustrating excuse after another of why he had not been able to reach the water and be healed yet. Jesus told him that he (Jesus) had not asked why he was not healed yet but if he wanted to be healed. Jesse cried that it was all that he knew to do! He would have tried anything over these 38 years to heal his legs. Jesus knew that deep down, this man really didn’t believe in the “healing” powers of this water, but it was the only hope that Jesse believed he had for his life.
Jesus told the man to look into his (Jesus’) eyes – not at anyone else present. I believe it was then that the man was healed. Jesus told him to get up and take his mat with him. The man recognized “feeling” in his legs. He laughed, stood up, walked, jumped up and down. He was deliriously happy, and he hugged Jesus. Jesus then walked away smiling as the Pharisees were watching because to carry a mat was considered work, and this was not allowed on the Sabbath. But this is another story!
As I pondered this, God impressed upon me the others who were laying around the pool at the same time waiting for their time to be healed by the stirred waters. They witnessed this. They saw this man stand up and walk. What do you think they were thinking? How did they feel seeing “one of them” get up and walk away when the rest were left to wait for the next stirring of the waters? I don’t know, but I realized that I had never thought about the rest of them before. There were so many others left at the pool.
Why did Jesus go directly to this man? He knew that Jesse had the faith from his upbringing. He knew that Jesse had lost hope and had hit “rock bottom”. Has this ever happened to you or someone you know? Is this where you met Jesus – at rock bottom? Many of us have. It is a time of total surrender, and Jesus comes to us at just the right time.
We don’t know about the others around the pool. Many had come and gone since Jesse had been there during the 38 years. Were any “healed”? We don’t have the answers to so many questions regarding stories recorded in the Bible, and that’s OK.
Like those left waiting at the pool, we encounter people daily whose faith/beliefs we know nothing about. They may or may not be open to a test of faith. Not everyone will be ready to look Jesus in the eyes and “rise from their pool.”
Jesse looked into Jesus’ eyes, and KNEW he was healed. It was that faith that Jesus saw in his eyes which rekindled the hope for his life. Jesse’s faith allowed him to rise from the pool.
Thanks for stopping by,
Rachel
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