Take Up Your Bed

In John 5, we find a story of a man who had an infirmity. Some versions say he was invalid, sick, ill, disabled. We don’t know exactly what was wrong with him. But he was in this condition for thirty-eight years. I don’t know about you, but thirty-eight years seems like a long time to be dealing with this condition that has him in this position. This man was lying by the pool of Bethesda, which in Hebrew means house of mercy. But I’m sure this man was not feeling the mercy. Many people believed that when the water was stirred, there was a supernatural power that would heal the first person to get in the pool. The problem for most of those that were at the pool is they couldn’t get in the pool fast enough. The weak were trampled on by those stronger than them. Some would make it to the edge of the pool to only lose their life before getting in the pool. This man, though, was never able to make it to the pool. He was too weak, too crippled. He did not have enough strength. So mercy was not present. Until this one particular day. A special day. The Sabbath. As he was lying there, heart-aching due to lack of healing, a man approaches him. The man asks, “Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5: 6. Does he want to be made whole? What kind of question is that? Of course. But I’m sure his heart sank. He responded, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppe this down before me.” John 5:7. The Man, Jesus, didn’t hesitate. He didn’t need the pool to heal. He told him, “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk,” John 5:8. There was zero hesitation. Even though he did not know this was Jesus, he had the faith required. He didn’t hesitate. He didn’t sing the blues. He stood up, took up his bed, and walked. In verse 14, the man finds Jesus again and Jesus says, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee.”  Why was this healing significant? One, it was done on the Sabbath. Two, Jesus had the man take his bed, which according to the Jews, was a sin to do on the Sabbath. But I think Jesus was trying to make a point. He could have healed this man on Sunday instead of Saturday. He could have waited. But He didn’t. He could have had the man leave his bed there and come back for it. But He didn’t. The Jews were so focused on law instead of relationship that they missed the joy of Sabbath. I personally think there is a significance to having the man take his bed with him. Wherever your bed is, your house is. He was living at the pool for many years. The consequences of his sinful life took him to the pool. Jesus told him to sin no more lest a worse thing come upon thee. If he continues to sin, he will end up back at the pool but in a much worse condition. And with no hope. So why should he leave his bed, unless he plans on coming back? He had no intention of coming back. He had all intentions of turning away from sin and never returning. 

In our life, we called to leave a life of sin. We are called to follow God. When Jesus calls out of a life of sin, we are not to return to the same lifestyle. Alcoholics are not called away just to go back to the bars and alcohol stores. Porn addicts are not called out of that lifestyle to return to risqué sites or movies. Sin addicts are not called out of a lifestyle of sin just to return to the same habits that got us there in the first place.  When Jesus heals you of some infirmity, pick up your bed and walk. Don’t leave your bed in the sinful lifestyle. Don’t plan on going back. Get up and leave. Never look back. Think of Lot’s wife. She didn’t take her bed with her. She looked back. And man did she feel salty. 

Be like the man Jesus healed. Take the healing, the forgiveness, and your bed. Rise up and walk away. This is possible only By God’s Amazing Grace.