Healing at the Pool

0:00Jesus saith unto him, rise, take up thy bed and walk. John 5.8 Today is the day, Lord. Today is the day that I have decided to pick up my mat and walk. No longer will I lay amongst the sick and do nothing to change my condition in life. When I am at the place called Bethesda, the house of grace, I will not miss my moment to step into the stirring of your power to receive the newness that I desire. When defeating thoughts within myself tell me to become comfortable with my condition, I will yell, No. No to mediocrity, no to illness, no to laziness, and no to complacency. This is my year of breakthrough. This is my year of healing and nothing will stand in my way from receiving what's mine.

1:00So, I speak to myself and say, Get up. I speak to my mind and say, Wake up. Jesus has already given me the green light to move on and to be well. And that's exactly what I'm going to do. It doesn't matter how long I've battled. Or I am getting up more and moving on. In Jesus' name, Amen. Listening to these daily prayers, strengthens your relationship with God. Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible in a year. Brought to you by Bibleinnear.com. When fall comes back around, there's a sense of a reset. The new pieces from Lululemon's fall drop are an inspiration to push your goals and elevate your routines. As your calendar fills, easy to layer styles meet the demands of your day. And as you challenge yourself to try even more, versatile sets transition with you.

2:03The Lululemon fall lineup brings new levels of comfort and confidence, whether you're starting something fresh or starting something over. Check out the latest arrivals in store and on Lululemon.com now. Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated. Whether it's hot yoga over 100 degree weather or too much sun, Gatorlight with a specialized blend of five electrolytes was scientifically designed to help move fluids into the body faster for rapid rehydration. Shop now at Retailers Nationwide. Gatorlight hydrates faster than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted are signs of mild to moderate dehydration, consult to healthcare professional and symptoms persist. On any journey using Uber, it helps to know you're getting into the right car. Pin verification adds an extra step to make sure your ride is your ride. Before the trip begins, your app gives you a unique pin. Just tell it to your driver and they'll enter it in their app before the ride can start. Hey, what's your pin? Mm-hmm. 2538. That way you know you're in the right car taking the right trip,

3:04and your driver knows you're the right passenger. Make sure your ride is your ride, with pin verification from Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app. Healing at the pool. In our last story, Jesus displayed his compassionate power over sickness and death. He healed a woman who was afflicted with chronic bleeding. He took a little girl that had passed and restored her life. Jesus did these things to show the whole world that sickness and death did not rule over him the same way it did humanity. Now we see Jesus heals a man who has been afflicted with sickness and bitterness his whole life. The Pharisees keep a close watch on him to see if he will slip as inspired by the Gospels. I'm so glad you joined us on the Bible in a year podcast today. But before we get to today's episode,

4:05I want you to know that I would absolutely love to send you my daily devotional that will give you fresh encouragement every single morning and day. From the moment we wake up to the moment our head finally hits the pillow, there are thousands of things demanding our attention. But it's in the midst of all this crush and hustle and bustle that you and I need peace and truth and God's word. That's why I want to help you spend time each day growing in God's life. Giving life-changing word by sending you my free daily email devotional PowerPoint today. So visit jaggram.org to sign up for your PowerPoint today devotional. That's jagram.org. In our last episode, we heard how the Lord Jesus healed a woman who had been stricken with a debilitating and isolating bleeding disorder her entire life. She had incredible faith, believing that just a touch of Jesus's garment

5:08can make her whole and it did. We also learned how Jesus raised a young girl from the dead, speaking words to her that resonate in our own hearts even today. I say to you, arise. Today we'll learn of another healing that brought both rejoicing to some and scorn to others. We will see how the Pharisees burdensome additions to God's perfect law have led people astray from God's true purpose for His people, a purpose to which Jesus is calling them to return. So let's hear today's reading from God's Word. When fall comes back around, there's a sense of a reset. And new pieces from Lululemon's fall job are an inspiration to push your goals and elevate your routines. As your calendar fills, easy to layer styles meet the demands of your day. And as you challenge yourself to try even more, versatile sets transition with you. The Lululemon fall lineup brings new levels of comfort and confidence, whether you're starting something fresh or starting something over.

6:09Check out the latest arrivals in store and on Lululemon.com now. With Share My Trip from Uber, you can send your live trip location to the ones who matter most. Like Dan and Hannah, who always wait up to make sure their daughter gets back to her college dorm room. Or Tiffany, who's running late as usual, and her friends are tracking her trip to make sure she's actually on her way. Look, she's right there. She's three minutes away. Or Sam, who never goes anywhere without her roommate knowing exactly where she is. Some journeys are meant to be shared. Share your ride in real time with Share My Trip on Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app. Low energy, unfocused, foggy, you might be dehydrated. Gatorade Zero powders have been scientifically designed to help improve hydration balance in the body. With a clinically proven electrolyte plant and no artificial colors or flavors, great tasting hydration, no matter where you're going. Shop now online or at retailers nationwide. Gatorade hydrates better than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted are signs of mild

7:10to moderate dehydration, consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist. Brussels clean up nicely at sweet green. Maple glazed, roasted, and edges perfectly caramelized. Sweet greens fall harvest is back on the menu, and the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured. You know what to do. Order on the sweet green app. The sun rose over the great city of Jerusalem. The light streamed through the city streets, and people emerged from their homes ready to celebrate the great feast of the Jews. Jesus watched as thousands of people flocked to different holy sites to pray, celebrate and sing. During the celebration each year there is said to be a special touch of God. Annually it is said that an angel comes and touches the pool of Bethesda. Any person who comes in with an illness is healed of their sickness, so the story goes. Jesus knew this was the place he

8:12needed to be. There was a man he wanted to see. The sun was high above the sky, and Jesus watched as hundreds of blind, lame, and paralyzed people were carried by their friends to the pools below. With hope in their eyes they were dipped in slowly, hoping to catch a sliver of God's favor. Lying off the side away from the pools was a man. He looked sickly and was clearly unable to walk. He had been there a long time, desiring to be healed, but having no way to walk over himself. Jesus strolled over and sat beside him. The two of them looked at the pools, watching flocks of people dip in for healing. Jesus, without looking at the man, simply asked, do you want to be healed? The sick man turned his head and discussed. He was offended by Jesus' question. As you can see, sir, I have no one to help me into the pool. Even if I could hobble my way over, everyone cuts in line. The man crossed his arms and contempt. He stared at the pool and

9:16watched people being led in by their friends. He wore bitterness like a warm blanket. He cursed them all under his breath. Jesus could see that much of this man's sickness was due to his lack of friends. He sat from afar feeling sorry for himself. Get up from your bed and walk, Jesus said. Then Jesus stood up and began walking away. The man was about to curse Jesus, but then he felt a warm rush of his body. Strength returned to his legs and his stomach ailments cleared. The man was completely healed and watched as Jesus walked away. He wept, knowing that his bad attitude had robbed him of truly experiencing his healing to the fullest. The man stood up, took his bed, and walked toward the temple to worship. The man skipped with the newfound strength in his legs. Joy began to fill his heart as he thought about what had happened. Who was that man? He thought to himself. As he was carrying his bed to the temple, a group of Pharisees stopped him.

10:22Stop! They shouted. Don't you know that it is not lawful to carry anything that heavy on the Sabbath? Why do you pick up your bed and carry it with you? Normally the man would have spat and returned, but that was the old and bitter man. Now all he desired to do was to worship freely. There was a man who healed me. The man responded. He is the one who told me to pick up my bed and walk. So here I am, walking with my bed. The Pharisees scoffed for a moment. They knew exactly who was to blame for this. Jesus had healed this man, but they had to know for sure. Who was the man that told you to break our Sabbath rules? They asked. However, the man did not know. He shrugged and smiled, then began to walk away. Soon after Jesus walked towards the temple and saw the man he had healed, the two saw each other and embraced. I see you are well, Jesus exclaimed. Now go and sin no more, my friend. The man nodded and skipped towards the temple to live a new life of purpose.

11:29The religious leaders scorned Jesus. They hated him for breaking their new onsen man made laws. They added to God's law for control and they despised the fact that they did not have a chokehold on Jesus and his followers. They pressed him about healing on the Sabbath. Jesus rose his hand up to interrupt them. My father is about his work, so I shall be about my work. So the Jews sought to kill him for he claimed equality with God. When fall comes back around, there is a sense of a reset and new pieces from Lululemon's fall drop are an inspiration to push your goals and elevate your routines. As your calendar fills, easy to layer styles meet the demands of your day, and as you challenge yourself to try even more, versatile sets transition with you. The Lululemon fall lineup brings new levels of comfort and confidence, whether you're starting something fresh or starting something over. Check out the latest arrivals in store and on Lululemon.com now. Low Energy Unfocused Foggy You might be dehydrated.

12:34Skaterade Zero powders have been scientifically designed to help improve hydration balance in the body, with a clinically proven electrolyte blend and no artificial colors or flavors. Great tasting hydration no matter where you're going. Shop now online or at retailers nationwide. Skaterade hydrates better than water. Is it in you? Symptoms noted are signs of mild to moderate dehydration, consult a healthcare professional if symptoms persist. On any journey using Uber, it helps to know you're getting into the right car. Pin verification adds an extra step to make sure your ride is your ride. Before the trip begins, your app gives you a unique pin. Just tell it to your driver and they'll enter it in their app before the ride can start. Hey, what's your pin? Mm-hmm. 2538. That way you know you're in the right car taking the right trip, and your driver knows you're the right passenger. Make sure your ride is your ride with pin verification from Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app. Brussels clean up nicely at Sweet Green. Maple glazed, roasted, and edges perfectly caramelized.

13:37Sweet Green's fall harvest is back on the menu, and the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured. You know what to do. Order on the Sweet Green app. We began today's reading at a site known as the Sheepsgate where there was a pool of waters that the people used for bathing, but which was also believed to have healing properties. And so around the pool there were gathered scores of physically laying crippled people who were seeking wholeness and healing for their physical ailments. Among them was a man who could not walk, and for 38 years he had helplessly waited and hope that his body would be made well. But as we also will discover this man's infirmity was not just physical. Perhaps after years of trying to know avail or perhaps to learned helplessness, this man was stuck, literally and figuratively, stuck in a state of sadness and even self-pity.

14:40And it's at this point that he meets Jesus who had come to the pool on that Sabbath morning. Jesus asked the man a simple question that may even sound insulting because the answer is so obvious. He asked if the man wants to be healed. The man doesn't really answer the question, however, he just begins to give Jesus reasons why he can't be healed. How no one could help him. Other people always jumped in front of him in line. You see, it was believed that on occasion the waters of the pool would be stirred, and when that happened, the first people in the pool would be healed. Whether this was true or not, we do not know for sure, but his answer tells us something important about his mindset, and really that of all who came to that place. To them, healing was not available at all. They were operating on the mindset of scarcity. There wasn't enough good to go around. Only a few could be fortunate enough to get to the water. Little did he know that the one to whom he was speaking

15:44knew nothing of scarcity because he was the God, he is the God of abundance, the God who loves to heal and to restore. Jesus loves to heal not only physical ailments, but the spiritual immobility that plague his people. Jesus paid no attention to the man's negativity and excuses. He looked at him with compassion and spoke, saying, pick up your bed and walk. Immediately the man was healed. Imagine feeling sensations like strength and motion in the limbs that your mind seemed to have long since forgotten. How joyful, how glad this man must have felt as strength rushed into his muscles and tendons and allowed him to do just what Jesus commanded. He picked up his mat and went on his way. But when he crossed paths with the Pharisees who had gathered at the temple that Sabbath, rather than rejoicing in this miraculous healing power of Jesus, the religious zealots chastised him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath. To them this counted his work, and Jews were not

16:48to work on that day. This man was so excited about his newfound mobility and hope that he was eager to share that a man had healed him and told him to pick up his mat. However, Jesus had not told him who he was, so when pressed he couldn't reveal an identity to the Pharisees. They found out soon enough, though, because Jesus found the man again. You see, he had healed the man's physical condition, but Jesus was also concerned about the man's heart condition. So he told him to go, be well, and sin no more. The truth is that this is the healing that God is most interested in, the healing of the soul. It is why Jesus came to restore our broken fellowship with God. And so the man went away again, and this time when asked, he could say it was Jesus who healed him. The Pharisees, of course, were angered and rebuked Jesus because to them healing was work and forbidden on the Sabbath.

17:49That's the level of oppression to which they had taken the law, concerned more about the outer appearance of righteousness than an inward condition of holiness and healing that comes from God. Jesus, as always, stood his ground. And he said in John 5-17, but Jesus answered them, my Father is working until now and I am working. The religious leaders burned with anger and hatred at this because Jesus was equating himself with God. And sadly, they could not see that he had every reason to make this claim. Their spiritual blindness kept them from seeing the abundance and healing that was available to them as well, right in front of their eyes. Jesus' words to them are ones we as His followers today will do well to remember and emulate. God is still working and so should we. We are to be about the business of the kingdom. Do the work of Christ, regardless of what it costs and who it may anger because this is what we are called to do as followers of Jesus.

18:51We are to bring hope and healing in Jesus' name to a broken world. Dear God, thank you that you are calling us today, offering us healing deep within, the healing of our hearts, the healing of our souls, the forgiveness of sins and a new life in you. Help us now to work for your kingdom, not as an act of earning our way of salvation, but of expressing our love and devotion and obedience and gratitude to you for healing our souls. In Jesus' name we pray, amen. Thank you for listening to today's Bible in a year podcast. I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas and before we go, I want you to know that I would love to send you my daily devotional to give you fresh encouragement every single day. So visit jackgram.org to sign up for your PowerPoint today devotional. That's jackgram.org. Whenever fall comes back around, it always feels like a fresh start. This year, I've been layering

19:51in some styles from the new Lou Lemmon fall drop because the weather is shifting and I find I have to be ready for the entire day and not just one part of it. Lou Lemmon's fall line has some really versatile transitional pieces so I can just wake up, throw on a matching set, add a jacket or a fleece and head out knowing that I'll feel comfortable enough to go wherever the day takes me. Check out the new fall arrivals in store and online now at loulemmon.com. On any journey using Uber, it helps to know you're getting into the right car. Pin verification adds an extra step to make sure your ride is your ride. Before the trip begins, your app gives you a unique pin. Just tell it to your driver and they'll enter it in their app before the ride can start. Hey, what'd you pin? Mm-hmm. 2538. That way you know you're in the right car taking the right trip and your driver knows you're the right passenger. Make sure your ride is your ride with pin verification from Uber. One more way Uber is putting safety at every turn. Learn more on the Uber app. Brussels clean up nicely at Sweet Green. Maple glazed,

20:52roasted and edges perfectly caramelized. Sweet Green's fall harvest is back on the menu and the season's most overlooked little green vegetable is dressed to be devoured. You know what to do. Order on the Sweet Green app. Push your limits, train with precision, see the results. At equinox, that's high performance loving. Everything you need to lock in and unlock your potential at equinox. Start today at equinox.com. Afternoon glare totally ruined my watch party for the big game. That's when my buddy recommended Blinds.com. With custom window treatments made to fit your style, space and budget, customers who shop at Blinds.com experienced overwhelming satisfaction. Side effects may include a fuller, deeper night sleep and a sudden urge to host the watch party again. Blinds.com isn't a medication, but it can improve how you feel about your home. Visit Blinds.com to order your free samples today.