03/29/2022
In todays lectionary text from John 5, Jesus visits a pool near a sheep gate during a festival. There was a belief in that day and in that area that every now and again a spirit - maybe God - would stir the water and those in the water at the time would experience healing.
Jesus sees a sick man that had been there a long time and asked him if he wanted to get better. Interesting question. He was at the pool by the sheep gate after all. He responded by saying that of course he wanted to get better, but that he had no one to help him get in the pool when it was stirred.
The man’s proximity to the pool - the activity of the Spirit - was not related whatsoever to his getting better. It seems that this man was right next to where God was at work - as healing is the work of God - yet had been there ill for some time.
Closeness in proximity to the work of God does not necessarily equate to involvement or participation in that work. It just seems like it doesn’t. But it also seems like Jesus pulls people into that work. Involvement and participation. It just seems like something that happens.
