Nougat 18

The issue of breakthrough is usually very interesting. For God’s methods are not always easy to comply with. Consider today’s Holy Nougat. How would we react.

“The sick man answered Jesus, “Sir, I don’t have anyone to put me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I’m trying to get there, someone else steps into the pool ahead of me.”

Jesus told the man, “Get up, pick up your cot, and walk.”” John‬ ‭5:7-8‬ ‭GW‬‬

When we are in the midst of our circumstances and no one seems to be able to help, it is so easy to lose hope. This is even stronger when we’ve walked the road for some time. Yet, the immediate response does not indicate that all hope was lost. For the infirm was still at the poolside. Thirty eight years later he was still there. A little despondent, but not lost.

It is little wonder that the response to Jesus’ question is an explanation of his condition, and not a simple Yes. The man, though hopeful, was once again sure that he was going to be left behind. And, having NO clue of Jesus’ identity, he was justifying his presence at the poolside

How many times have we tried to justify our infirmity, used it as a crutch or qualified our hurts, especially when we are the Walking Wounded? And when Jesus offers us a way out, the sting of past rejections is such that we may find ourselves missing the point of God’s plan.

Jesus’ response is kinda funny

The man says, Nobody has helped me; and Jesus tells him, a lame man, to GET UP ON HIS OWN, lift his bed and WALK!

Say what?!

That actually makes ZERO sense! How could God tell a crippled man FLAT on his back for 38 years to get up IN HIS OWN STRENGTH? I believe that defies medical logic. The muscles should have atrophied (gotten totally useless) and his bones should have stiffened.

But God

For God’s ways are not our ways. And when it’s time for our breakthrough we may be asked to do the impossible. And while we know the man responded, if we were to be honest, after 38 years we might wonder whether we are hearing right. Yet it may be that our breakthrough is a matter of our Faith response. ie Whether we will arise despite the odds.

So here we are, Jesus asked what we want. How will we respond? And if he tells us to rise, take up our bed and walk- or something similar – what will we do?

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May all we seek be found in Christ