God Time June 12-16
Monday June 12
Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches.
Asclepius is the Greco-Roman god of medicine and healing. Here he is seen, as always, with a staff with a serpent twisted around it. This is still used today as a symbol for medicine, like on the logo for the American Medical Association.
Pergamum, a city in Turkey, had the main healing center for Asclepius. At the Temple there was a tunnel with a walking path that would lead to the Temple and small rooms to sleep in on the side. Doctors were there to interpret dreams and offer words of encouragement. After the sick would wake up they walk the path in a loop and the doctors would stand above and whisper words of encouragement through the skylights.
But, usually the Temples dedicated to Asclepius in the various cities were known for having mineral springs or baths nearby. This is probably the case with the Pool of Bethesda. It was used by those who worshiped Asclepius, as well as by the Jews.
ME
What have you experienced when it comes to the connection between emotions and physical health?
Tuesday June 13
Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years.
I quote an online article. “It’s interesting that until the 19th century, there was no evidence outside of John’s Gospel for the existence of this pool; therefore, scholars argued that the gospel was written later, probably by someone without first-hand knowledge of the city of Jerusalem, and that the “pool” had only a metaphorical, rather than historical, significance. But in the 19th century, archaeologists discovered the remains of a pool matching the description and location of the pool in John’s Gospel!”
With this archeological evidence we see the pool of Bethesda was used as a place for healing for non-Jews who worship Asclepius as well is for the Jews of Jerusalem. So, when Jesus goes to the Pool, he is witnessing the ancient Greek healing practices of Asclepius, along with Jews who would be there to use the baths for healing or for ritual cleansing. You see, before the Jewish people would visit the nearby Temple area, they would have a ritual cleansing bath in, what is called, a mikveh. Sometimes mikvehs are associated with healing, as well as cleansing. This is explained in a verse that is inserted by later editors of the Gospel, though not included in the earlier manuscripts.
“Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches waiting for a certain movement of the water, for an angel of the Lord came from time to time and stirred up the water. And the first person to step in after the water was stirred was healed of whatever disease he had.”
So, here we have a site that had both Romans and Jews coming for divine intervention! But, apparently this place of healing is not all that successful.
The man who is crippled has been there for 38 years! That is longer than the life expectancy of ancient Israel at the time. What is going on? Here we have Jesus coming to Jerusalem at a Jewish festival where the population of Jews is increased substantially. Festival times are times of strong meaning for the Jewish people. Times of hope and longing for freedom and change. Often we see these are just the time Jesus arrives and fulfills the hopes and longing in miraculous ways.
ME
When archeology affirms what is written in the Bible, what does this mean to you?
Wednesday June 14
When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”
“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Jesus gets to the heart of the matter. He asks the crippled man a rather pointed question.
“Would you like to get well?”
That’s kind of a strange question. If you’re sick, who doesn’t want to get healthy?
Well, don’t answer that question too quickly. The Bible says, Jesus knows this guy. Or at least he knows he has been sick for a long time. If anyone would stop by this particular mikveh at the Pool of Siloam before you go to the Temple, you would probably recognize this guy after a while.
It’s like the same homeless guy you see at the off ramp if you commute on the freeway.
It is fascinating to speculate why Jesus picks this guy to interact with.
It might be like this.
“Would you like to get well?”
Read between the lines.
“Do you really want to be healed or have you given in to the lifestyle of waiting around, being disappointed and then complaining about the fact that you are not healed.”
Indeed, it looks like the man may be experiencing what is called “learned helplessness.” Perhaps you hare familiar with this term. It started with animal studies.
Learned helplessness occurs when an animal is repeatedly subjected to an aversive stimulus that it cannot escape. Eventually, the animal will stop trying to avoid the stimulus and behave as if it is utterly helpless to change the situation. Even when opportunities to escape are presented, this learned helplessness will prevent any action.
People get affected by this, too.
Learned helplessness occurs when people feel that they have no control over their situation, and so they may also begin to behave in a helpless manner. This inaction can lead people to overlook opportunities for relief or change.
You just give in to certain lots in life and don’t try to change them.
In a warped way, learned helplessness makes sense if we don’t want to really change our lives or if we never want to be disappointed or never take a risk again. If you expect the worst things to happen to you this is a way to be ready for an excuse whenever bad things do happen. And it stops us from doing anything where there is actually a chance for change for the better.
Learned helplessness can get in the way of recovery from addiction. Yes, it can become a factor in homelessness. Learned helplessness can also lead to victimization, where when it appears bad things are happening in your life, it is always someone else’s fault. Problem is, when you think of yourself as a victim, then change is rare. And when you learn helplessness, there appears to be little hope.
The man who is at the pool is ready with an excuse.
“I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
But, Jesus doesn’t have time for excuses. With Jesus the new creation has begun.
ME
Have you are anyone you know experienced learned helplessness? What happened?
Thursday June 15
Jesus told him, “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
When Jesus says, “Get up!” it is the same word used for resurrection in the Bible. Egersis. Be raised!
This is a clue to what is happening with Jesus. He is introducing a new way of life.
For instance, he isn’t using the waters of the Pool of Bethesda as a means to heal. That is using part of the old creation to bring healing of disease in the old creation. No, Jesus is giving us a glimpse into the new creation which is coming through him.
Also notice, we don’t even know if the man who is crippled believes he can be healed. He doesn’t even ask. And notice Jesus doesn’t pray for the man. He just stakes the claim.
Get up, pick up your mat, and walk!
And lo and behold…that’s enough.
ME
How are these events different than what we would expect in terms of healing and the Bible?
Friday June 16
Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!
Well, it appears the man must have believe because he does obey the command of Jesus. “Be raised!”
There it is! Now, the Jewish crowds see God breaking in through Jesus, again. And now, even the worshipers of Asclepius can see it. These non-Jews have hopes and longings, too. But, they are looking in the wrong places. This man, Jesus, has authority and power.
This will become quite ironic some day soon. Why? Because one of the other titles they give to Asclepius is “Soter,” which means…“Savior.”
So, when someone is sick we pray for them. Rightfully so.
And they do get better. In one way for another. Spiritually and emotionally when we are encouraged by the presence of God, this affects physical healing. So through prayer things can happen we are not even aware of. Other times there may be full healing. Sometimes this is gradual. Other times, a person may die on earth, but they are fully healed in the heavenly dimension. But there is also a time, on rarer occasions, where healing does happen spontaneously. Boom!
I know this because I have seen this with my own eyes.
For instance, I remember a friend of mine had sciatica. We were at dinner with other people attending a conference. My friend could hardly walk, he was in so much pain. So, he said would probably have to leave. I sensed the Lord wasn’t telling me to pray for him. He had something else in mind.
So, I looked at my friend and asked. “Do you want to be healed?”
He said, “Yes, I want to be healed.”
I said, “Ok you’re healed.”
Then he looked at me kin of strange and then said, “Wait a minute! It worked! I’m healed!”
Then he stood in the middle of the whole group of people, briefly explained what had just happened and started hopping up and down!
Months later, he still had no sciatica.
Now, this doesn’t happen all the time.
But it happens.
The new creation is already entering our world.
Heaven and Earth are already intersecting with Jesus and Jesus is with us now. And when you are filled by his Spirit, when you pray, expect him to show up.
If he doesn’t show up in the way you think he should, don’t give up. He may be working on a different time schedule than you are. Jesus may be working at a different level you are not even aware of. But, keep at it. Keep praying. Keep expecting him to bring good out of bad. Don’t give in to learned helplessness. Don’t give up, period. Just keep at it.
Healing may be just around the corner and, even if it is not today, healing will come some day. This is God’s promise. We can depend on it.
ME
When have you seen changes when you prayed for healing for yourself or someone else?