The Pool At The Sheep Gate [Box Breaker] ♡♡♡

 "The sick man answered Him, "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

I love love how Jesus makes these random stops on his way to wherever. After turning water to wine in Cana of Galilee, he heals a certain nobleman's son who had been sick at Capernaum. Scripture says that after this, there was a feast of the Jews, because of this He went up to Jerusalem - John 5:1-2. I mean, He should be out there catching trips and winding down right? But there was a pool at the Sheep Gate. In the five porches lay great multitudes of sick people, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed earnestly waiting. What were they waiting for? Good question. An angel would usually come to this place at a certain time and stir up the water. Then whoever stepped into it first, after it was stirred, would be made well of whatever disease they had - John 5:4

Let's break this down, so we understand clearly what in the "waiting" name is going on here: 

• Multitudes of  sick, paralyzed and  blind and lame people waiting at this pool to get healed.
• The angel went down to this pool at a certain time. It wasn't all the time.
• They'd wait for the water to get stirred up and after it was stirred, it was whoever stepped in first that got healed. I mean considering there are multitudes at this pool. That can be exhausting for those who never get "lucky".
• The struggle was real indeed.

Here is the bit that concerns us this week though. "Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years" - John 5:5. Thirty eight what? That is a very long time indeed. But I love how Jesus finds that one person out of multitudes. I love how scripture says "Now a certain man....". It's the profiling for me :) Scripture says that Jesus knew that he had already been in that condition for a long time. Jesus never asked who he was, how long he had been in that condition for etc. Jesus went straight to the root of the matter. "Do you want to be made well?" John 5:6b. Question pregnant with a whole lot of meaning, if you ask me. And Of course Jesus is a great listener too:)

".....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

He was in great company. He had no man. He had his fair share of excuses. Personally, I believe they were legit. Somebody else always get's there before me whilst I am coming. And I can imagine, it got even more harder, with any chance as the years progressed. "....Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made well, took his bed, and walked" John 5"8-9  - WOW, that simple? Notice here, that he got well, before he took his bed and walked! Dang...

He had no man, but here was the son of God before him, setting him free from his many years of infirmities.  I know that it sucked that he had to wait thirty eight years to be made whole. But I also love that he met with Jesus, more than just a stirring of water by an angel. This story has been on my heart all week. And I know it's because: I can be this certain man, and you can be him too. Settled in our excuses and doubts. Our eyes fixed on how others are getting along, and how we remain where we are. Sometimes we become so "jaded". Self pity and all it's relatives kick in now and again. And there we are engaging life with a  "Que sera sera" spirit.

"Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord. For he shall be like a shrub in the desert, and shall not see when good comes, But shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land which is not inhabited. Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, and whose hope is the Lord. For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters, which spreads out its root by the river, And will not fear when heat comes: But its leaf will be green. And will not be anxious in the year of drought, Nor will cease from yielding fruit" - Jeremiah 17:5-8

"I have no man...." he said. Thankfully his disappointment, made room for something much more. There was one who already knew about him and his suffering. Jesus on his way to a feast, stopped by the pool at  the sheep gate, for a certain man. And this certain man learnt that day, that there is such a thing called "outside the box". And that there is such a person called "the box breaker", though his dashed hope may have been in the stirring of the waters. I love that he is nameless. He was a certain man. Simples!

Can you relate with the disappointment that comes with dreaming and hoping and believing? but know this ------> it's a trap to stay bugged down under the yoke of pessimism and cynicism.

Do you want to be made well? Forget how you've always seen it get done, with God all things are possible....

Love

SR