12/06/2012
Thinking about the encounter Jesus had with the man at the pool of Bethesda. The details of the encounter are located in John chapter 5. This morning I am personally reflecting on the name Bethesda itself. Bethesda translated means "house of mercy". That's an interesting description for a place where the sick, diseased, dying, and dead used to congregate. In our city there is an institution that also calls itself "The House of Mercy". Here, the homeless, drug addicted, DSS sanctioned, the sick, diseased, and dying also congregate. Coincidence? It is well known in the city that "The House of Mercy" is the very last place you can go when you've exhausted all other options. It is truly the last "safety net" in place for those that have burned all other bridges or opportunities. I wonder though... perhaps "Bethesda" (the Biblical one) wasn't as much a "safety net" as much as it was just a net. Perhaps the promise of mercy, in this case the hope of physical healing, was really a snare of entrapment. Real mercy visited the invalid man when Jesus counseled him on his sin issue. Though its not politically correct, those of us in pastoral ministry must never neglect the matter or sin. Because true healing can only come by way of allowing God to deal with the sin issues in our lives.
