Focus: His Mercy For My Misery

Text: Jh.5:7

"The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me."

In our story, the impotent man said, "I have no man…" Sometimes the main problem we have is lack of helpers. Our efforts produce no significant effect because we lack helpers who could add to our own efforts. 

The man said, "As I make effort to get into the pool, another gets ahead of me." There seemed to be an unwritten rule that only the person who got into the pool first ever got healed. We all need helpers in our lives, and these helpers come from different quarters - from family, friends, colleagues and acquaintances. Mary the Virgin faced a similar situation. She said to the angel, "I know not a man." 

Lack of helpers is a serious lack. But let us remember that no matter how much we need the help of men in our lives, our primary helper is God Himself. He alone is the sender of helpers into our way or space. God stepped into Mary's life and became the man she didn't have. The Lord Jesus Christ came into the life of the impotent man and became the helper he desperately needed.

God solves our problems differently. The way He solves a person's problem differs from the way solves another person's problem.

Others got healed by the pool, but this man got his healing directly from Christ. In the presence of Christ he had no need of the pool. God knows when and how best to handle the issues that are beyond our human intelligence and ability. Others needed the pool, not him. For thirty-eight years he waited to be healed. That's like a generation. But at last God came through to him. In just a moment 38 years problem came to an end. God is able to make us outlive our pain and misery.

The impotent man obtained mercy from the Lord. The pool is called Bethesda, which is a compound word in the Hebrew - Beth, house; and Hesed, mercy - house of mercy. 

Just be where mercy flows and it will get to you.

Mercy found the man and he found mercy. At first, the man's story was, "While I am coming…" But now, his story is, "Jesus Christ came for me." 

Peter, in his epistle, talked about obtaining mercy, and twice in 1st Timothy 1, he says, "I obtained mercy…" (1Pet.2:10; 1Tim.1:13,16). Several times in the book of Esther, Esther is said to have obtained kindness, favor and grace. In Act.22:26, Paul says, "Having therefore obtained help of God, I continue unto this day, witnessing both to small and great…" 

I say to you that you will obtain the help of God. Paul obtained mercy for his past deeds and help for his life's assignment, and so it shall be for you. For every area of need in your life you will obtain mercy and help from the Lord. God offers His mercy for every misery of ours. The writer of Hebrews says, "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need" (Heb.4:16). Obtain your own mercy now!

by Bishop Moses E. Peter