“Jesus said to him, Arise, take up your bed and walk” John 5:8
In 1842 the Croton Aqueduct was completed, bringing fresh water to the City of New York. A few years later to commemorate this milestone, the Bethesda Fountain was dedicated in Central Park. At the fountains dedication ceremony, the sculptor, Emma Stebbins, read the passage from John chapter 5, describing the healing powers of the waters as they were stirred by an Angel. This tribute was meant to signify how healing a fresh water supply would be to New York City. Today this Angel statue is known world wide, and in pop culture films such as “Elf” staring Will Ferrell, where the Angels wing knocks the engine off Santa’s sleigh as it flies by. Yet, few know of the history behind this commemorative statue. Today, let it remind you to,
Take Up Your Bed And Walk!
From the preceding verses in John 5 we know there was a man among many infirmed people by a pool called Bethesda in Jerusalem who had an infirmity for 38 years. They would gather at the pool because an Angel of the Lord would regularly stir the waters and all who went in would be healed. As Jesus himself comes to the pool he sees this man and says to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The man simply responds, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another steps in before me.” Jesus responds by saying, “Rise, take up your bed and walk. And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed and walked.” Every time I read this story I’m reminded that it’s all about Christ, and not about us and our doubts. When asked a question if he wanted to be healed the man made an excuse. He didn’t say yes, he didn’t jump at the chance offered to him. Thirty eight years of disappointment had turned all thoughts negative. In his mind he wasn’t strong enough, or quick enough to make anything happen. None of this mattered to Christ. Jesus simply said “arise” and everything changed. Today you may be shouldering a mountain of self doubt. In your mind you are believing the lie that you are not good enough or strong enough for whatever you are facing. Today its time for you to take your eyes off your circumstances and place them where they belong, on Jesus. He’s softly saying to you today, Arise! For in Him all things are possible!