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 Turning our attention to the symbol of water, a substance deeply intertwined with purification, life, and healing, we will experience the transformative power of Jesus. Jesus frequently uses water as a conduit for his literal and metaphorical restorative touch. As we delve into these passages, let us consider how water, in its fluidity, reflects the flowing grace and life-giving presence of Jesus. May these readings remind us that, even in our own periods of dryness and spiritual thirst, Jesus offers a wellspring of healing, washing away our burdens and renewing us from within. A collective reflection on God’s grace and our chances for renewal Wednesday, April 2, 2025 |
Jesus sees us John 5:1-16 For a good reason, Jesus as a healer is one of the main themes in the gospels. His mission was to bring the broken and hurting people to the One who can heal both body and spirit. We read of how he listened to the pleas of two blind men in Matthew 9:27-31 and touched their eyes to provide sight. In Luke 17:11-19 we read of the miraculous healing of 10 men with leprosy. These stories of compassion defined much of Jesus’s ministry. We celebrate the miracles and feel the joy of these life-changing moments deep in our souls. In John 5:1-16, we read of a lame man waiting in a crowd of people, all desperate for healing. They lay beside a pool that would periodically be stirred up, causing the first person into the water to be healed. Jesus saw this lame man and asked if he desired to be well. Verses 7-9 provide his response. “’I can’t, sir,’ the sick man said, ‘for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.’ Jesus told him, ‘Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!’ Instantly, the man was healed!” What a life-defining moment for this man! There he was, alone, sick, and surrounded by so many others consumed by disease and pain. We read in verse 5 that he had been ill for 38 years. Can you imagine? 38 years ago today, it was 1987. I was 4 years old, possibly watching Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. At the same time, my mom cleaned the house with The Bangles, who were singing “Walk Like an Egyptian” on the radio. Maybe you were newly married, or perhaps you weren’t even born at all in 1987. It gives a little perspective, doesn’t it? This man hadn’t spent a year or two praying for healing. He waited 38 years. And Jesus loved him enough to bring that physical healing Jesus sees us all. He sees those who are prospering and those who struggle to cling to the last bit of hope they have. May we be like that man and immediately get up and walk in response to the words of Jesus, no matter how long we have waited. We will likely never know why God heals some immediately while others have to wait a lifetime. Our part is to simply trust in a God full of love and healing, knowing we are seen wherever we are. May we never lose faith in the goodness of God, no matter the season we are walking through. Prayer for today: Lord, thank you for being a God of healing. There is so much that we will never understand here on earth, but thank you for remaining by our sides every step of the way. Please open our eyes to the goodness all around us and help us be messengers of hope to those still awaiting your healing. Give us eyes to see how to best love a hurting world and the faith to believe in that love wholeheartedly. Thank you. Your love knows no end. By Laura Buchman |
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