“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.”
John 5:8-9
In John chapter five, we are introduced to a paralyzed man sitting on the edge of the pool of Bethesda. Jesus approaches him and asks if he wants to be healed, but the man doesn’t say “yes.” Instead, he says, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.”
“I have no one…”
One of the saddest phrases in all of scripture. But we don’t have to look 2000 years back to hear his sad words . . .
There is the 88-year-old woman who can’t seem to smile. She can’t walk very well, and can barely cook any longer. Her finances don’t allow for a nursing home and her home is falling apart. Her friends are all gone now, and her family doesn’t visit but once a year. They are busy with their lives, and so she sits alone with only her distant memories to entertain her. She sits in her wheelchair and says, “I have no one.”
There is the middle-aged businessman sitting in his office wondering if he will ever fall in love. He has always worked hard to be “successful." He has tried to stay in shape and has even tried the online dating sites. He spends his money on clothes hoping his polished image and his caring attitude will help attract women, but it doesn’t seem to work. Now he is 40, and he slouches into his leather chair behind the mahogany desk and says, “I have no one.”
There is the teenage girl weeping and contemplating suicide. She isn’t as pretty as the other girls in her class. She is teased on Snapchat for her braces, and on Instagram for the neighborhood she lives in. Her best friend decided it was best that they part ways, choosing to hang with a different group of girls from the rich part of town. She sits on the edge of her tear-soaked bed and says, “I have no one.”
The paralytic said, “I have no one,” but soon discovered something remarkable. He did have someone- THE ONE and his name is Jesus. The man didn’t ask for help, and he didn’t profess his faith, in fact, he didn’t even know who Jesus was. (see v. 13) Jesus simply came to the lonely, helpless man and healed him. Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” And then he did! He picked up his mat and walked.”
The paralyzed man’s hope was wrapped in the supposed magical healing powers of the pool, and yet nobody would help him. But did you catch what didn’t happen? The helpless man didn’t swan dive, belly flop, or cannonball his way to healing, in fact, he didn’t even dip his toe in the water. He didn't need to touch the water at all! Jesus said, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Then he did. Jesus speaks and the miraculous happens. No towel needed.
Maybe you feel you are alone too. Maybe when asked if you would like help you reply like the paralyzed man…“I have no one.” God’s promises are for you today…
“Fear not, for I am with you.” (Isaiah 41:10)
“I am with you always.” (Matthew 28:20)
“I will never leave you or forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
Jesus’ incredible words remind us that nothing can ever put Jesus back in the tomb. Nothing can separate us from the love of God. Our Lord speaks and the miraculous happens. On the cross, our Lord Jesus declared, “It is finished,” and on the mountain Jesus declared, “I am with you always.”
Our Lord’s unfathomable love and comforting words are not only for the women in the nursing home, or the businessman in his office, or the teen in her room, or the paralytic next to the pool, his words are for you today. In God’s great love, he redeemed you from the deadly consequences of sin, death, and grave, and comforts you by the power of the Holy Spirit. He is with you both now and forever. No towel needed.
See you Sunday as we wrap up our sermon series and celebrate THE GREATEST COMEBACK EVER!
-Austin