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Monday
Read 1 Corinthians 13:12-13
“For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13)
You may wonder why we are starting with this verse when this week’s story of the disabled man in John 5:1-14 is the focus. Faith, hope, and love are key to living a “fully known” life.
As we seek to understand the interaction between Jesus and the disabled man at the pool of Bethesda, let us start with a basic understanding of faith, hope, and love. Jesus knows us intimately and fully. He wants what is best for us. In this story, Jesus shows us how to experience faith, hope, and love and then share them with others.
Jesus knows the man at the pool intimately. He knows what the man needs. The man has no idea who Jesus is, according to this Scripture. Jesus knows this man has struggled and needs healing. He is offering salvation to this disabled man on several levels: physical, emotional, mental, social, and spiritual.
How does this man respond to Jesus? Was he afraid? Was he angry? Did he ask, “Why me?” Was he unwilling? Did he continue in self-pity? Did he doubt Jesus could heal him?
This encounter with Jesus was life-changing for him! The disabled man had faith in the waters of the pool to heal him. He had hope in a new life after being healed, but he wondered if he could be loved.
Jesus, I want to be fully known and fully know. Help me to fully embrace faith, hope, and love and, most importantly, share it with others.
Reflective Questions
Where do you put your faith? Where is your hope? How do you share love?
Prayers
Ethnos Asia
Two months have passed since the March 28 earthquake that devastated Myanmar. Because of the prayers and financial support from Glenkirk and others, Ethnos Asia workers in Myanmar and their local church networks have been able to respond to urgent needs in the country. Ethnos Asia is grateful to Glenkirk for its quick response. Continue to pray.
Tuesday
Read John 5: 1-7
“Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’” (John 5:1-7)
“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’” (v. 6). I love that. Jesus asks him if he wants to get well. You might think, “Of course the disabled man would want to get well.” But that’s not always the case. As awful as it might seem, the man had a made a life for himself. In 38 years, not only can you get used to a certain way of life, but you can really come to enjoy it, to find satisfaction in it.
This man has faith that the waters will heal him—if he could just get there. He really wanted the healing, but … over the course of 38 years, he probably became disappointed, lonely, depressed, hopeless, and possibly gave up on getting well. He had no friends to help him into the pool. He did not see a future for himself. This would be a downward spiral for sure. Yet, he still had faith!
Jesus’ question emphasized the man’s faith, but pointed out that his faith was misplaced. The water doesn’t heal—Jesus does.
Jesus, I believe that You can heal me and change me. Help my unbelief so that I can see clearly and experience the hope You have for me.
Reflective Questions
Have you become accustomed to how things are and accepted they will never get better? Do you have faith that Jesus will bring change, healing, knowledge, and wisdom at just the right time for you? Have you given up?
Prayers
Ethnos Asia
Daily life is far from normal in Mandalay, Myanmar, and surrounding areas. Aftershocks continue leaving people in fear and deeply traumatized. Even small tremors cause panic. Many still won’t return to their homes in fear that they would collapse. Thousands of survivors still sleep in make-shift tents or at the roadside at night. Pray that God will help these people to have the confidence that He has not forsaken them.
Wednesday
Read John 5: 6-9
“When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ ‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath.” (John 5:6-9)
Can you imagine the excitement and hope welling up in the man as Jesus approached him? Could this be my chance to get healed? Will I have a new friend? What will it be like to walk? Will I get a job? What is it like to take care of myself?
Then Jesus speaks: “Get up!” That must have taken some courage, bolstering his hope! Jesus speaks: “Pick up your mat and walk!” Wow! Hope is fulfilled. All the disappointment, depression, and loneliness of the last 38 years totally melted away. The man boldly got up and went out into his new life.
I imagine Psalm 30:11-12 might have come to his mind: “You turned my mourning into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent. Lord my God, I will praise you forever.” This is the hope that Jesus brings. Without Jesus, hope is unattainable.
Jesus did not let the rules of the Pharisees prevent Him from healing on the Sabbath or telling the man to carry his mat and walk. God’s law is the one that matters. The Pharisees made up hundreds of rules, claiming that their human-made rules were equal in authority to God’s Word.
Jesus, my hope is in You. I bring my disappointments, hurts, loneliness, and losses to You. Help me to walk in the hope You have for me.
Reflective Questions
Do you rejoice when Jesus brings you hope? What does it mean for you to take up your mat and walk?
Prayers
Ethnos Asia
Pray for relief efforts in this area to continue as immediate needs are continually being addressed. Through the prayers and giving of Glenkirk and others, 657 families (as of April 28) in Mandalay and surrounding areas were given relief packs. These packs contain dry food, clean water, tarps, tents, mosquito nets and mini solar panels. Praise God for His provision.
Thursday
Read John 5: 9b-14
“Now this happened on the Sabbath Day, and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, ‘It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.’ But he replied, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk.” So they asked him, ‘Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?’ The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.’” (John 5:9b-14)
Jesus did not leave the man in his sin. Jesus was continuing to teach this man that there is more to wellness than physical health. The man was ecstatic to be physically healed, to be sure, but Jesus reminded him to turn from his sins and seek God’s forgiveness to be spiritually healed. As a result, the man was on his way to emotional, mental, and social healing.
This is true love and restoration for a man who had suffered so much. Jesus suffered and died so that we can be lifted from the burden of our sin and be healed in so many ways. Sickness is not necessarily because I sinned but more likely because the world has fallen under the curse of sin.
When you come under Jesus’ grace you are commanded to live differently. God’s forgiveness is the greatest gift you will ever receive. Don’t neglect His gracious gift—live differently and receive God’s grace.
James 1:2-4 records these words from Jesus: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
I believe Jesus wanted this man to understand he is now on a journey to become complete through healing and grace.
Father, thank You for forgiveness, healing, and Your gracious activity in my life.
Reflective Questions
Have you experienced healing of any kind? Have you confessed your sins and repented?
Prayers
Ethnos Asia
Praise God that Ethnos Asia workers are not only responding to physical needs but also sharing Christ’s love amid chaos and uncertainties. As one of the Ethnos Asia leaders shared, “When we go to areas to distribute help, we take it as an opportunity to share God’s love through our actions.” Pray that God continues to uplift these workers.
Friday
Read 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24
“May God Himself, the God who makes everything holy and whole, make you holy and whole, put you together—spirit, soul, and body—and keep you fit for the coming of our Master, Jesus Christ. The One who called you is completely dependable. If He said it, He’ll do it!” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 The Message)
If Jesus were to ask you, “Do you want to be made well?” would you recognize—like the man at the Pool of Bethesda—that you cannot resolve your problems yourself? Would you know who to reach out to and how?
In Genesis, God created us and claimed it was very good! He made us holy so we can commune with Him. God created us whole—body, spirit, soul, mind, heart. Ever since the fall from God’s grace in the Garden of Eden, God has been working out His plan of salvation for each one of us.
Do you want to be made well? Do you want to be healed? Do you want to be in the best relationship you can ever have? God is willing and able to meet you in your pain or suffering, whatever it may be, and He wants to make you holy and whole! How great is that!
As with the disabled man, we have the option to have faith to believe that something amazing is going to happen to us and change us—body, spirit, soul, mind, heart. Instead of the waters being stirred in the pool for just one lucky person, God stirs the inner most parts of us to bring about unrecognizable change.
Faith leads to hope. We have hope in God for many things. The best place to put your hope is in God. Love binds together faith and hope and spurs us onward to amazing things. God IS love! We experience God through faith and hope.
Jesus, lead me to be faithful and hopeful. Show me how to share love with those around me, whether they are hurting or rejoicing. Encourage and empower me to share my faith, hope, and love.
Reflective Questions
Have you asked the Holy Spirit to fill you and empower you with the “fruit of the Spirit”?
Prayers
Ethnos Asia
An Ethnos Asia worker stated, “We may not always be able speak openly about the Gospel while distributing aid. But by God’s wisdom, we make sure to always offer an open invitation to those interested in knowing His love to come to our church for deeper conversations. So far, many have shown interest and responded warmly. Pray that God continues to give His wisdom to Ethnos Asia workers.
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