Revive Us Again: Trusting Over Trying
John 5:2-10 (NKJV)
In Jerusalem, near the Sheep Gate, there was a pool called Bethesda, where the sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed gathered, waiting for the water to be stirred. Tradition held that an angel would come at a certain time, and whoever stepped in first would be healed. Among them was a man who had been afflicted for 38 years. Jesus, seeing his condition, asked, “Do you want to be made well?” The man responded with an excuse, saying he had no one to help him into the pool. Instead of engaging with his reasoning, Jesus simply commanded him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Immediately, the man was healed.
The Sheep Gate was one of ten entrances into Jerusalem. In Nehemiah’s time, it was the first gate rebuilt. It was named for its purpose: leading sheep to the temple for sacrifice. Interestingly, Jesus consistently entered Jerusalem through this very gate, symbolizing His role as the ultimate sacrificial Lamb. Even when He was led to the cross, He passed through the Sheep Gate, marking a place of no return for both sacrificial lambs and abandoned people.
By the time of Jesus, society had relegated the marginalized—the sick, the lame, the forgotten—to this area near the Sheep Gate. These individuals were left on the outskirts, deemed unworthy, kept out of sight. Yet, Jesus chose to meet them there. This moment highlights a profound truth: religious systems may cast people aside, but Jesus brings restoration through relationship, not regulation.
When Jesus asked the paralyzed man if he wanted to be healed, the expected answer would be an immediate yes. Instead, the man presented an excuse: “I have no one to help me.” Over time, he had become so accustomed to his condition that he identified with it. His suffering had become his identity, shaping how he saw himself and the world.
Many people today experience this same struggle. Their identity is wrapped up in their past failures, financial struggles, health issues, or the limitations imposed on them by others. They rehearse their difficulties so often that they begin to believe nothing will ever change. Just like the man at Bethesda, they stay on their metaphorical mat, convinced that healing or breakthrough is beyond their reach.
For 38 years, the man had likely been “trying” to get to the water but never succeeded. When Jesus arrived, everything changed. The healing did not come from the pool—it came from the presence of Jesus.
Many believers today get stuck in a cycle of trying—trying to pray more, trying to be better, trying to live righteously. But Jesus isn’t looking for trying Christians; He’s looking for trusting Christians. The shift from trying to trusting is where revival begins.
God is asking, “Will you trust Me even when you don’t feel like praising? Will you trust Me to restore you when you feel broken? Will you trust Me when others receive the breakthrough you’ve been praying for?” Trusting in God means surrendering our own efforts and allowing His grace to move in our lives.
Jesus told the man not only to walk but also to take up his bed. This instruction holds significance. The mat represents his testimony—a reminder of where he had been and how Jesus had transformed his life. Jesus didn’t want him to leave his past behind in shame but to carry it as a testimony of God’s power.
Every believer has a “mat”—a testimony of where they once were before encountering Jesus. Rather than hiding our past struggles, we are called to carry them as a testament to God’s redemptive power.
The story of the paralyzed man at Bethesda challenges us to move beyond our excuses and trust Jesus fully. Healing and revival do not come through human effort alone but through surrendering to Christ.
Jesus calls each of us to step beyond our limitations. When grace arrives, everything changes. Today, choose to trust Him and experience the revival that only He can bring.
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