There’s a story in the gospel of John (5:1-9) about a man who was an invalid for 38 years. He lay by the side of the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, waiting for the water to be stirred up. Apparently, it was the belief of people at that time, that the first person into the pool after the stirring of the water “was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted” (John 5:4). When I read that, my first reaction was to admire that invalid’s tenacity and hopefulness. Thirty-eight years invalid!! I don’t know if he had been waiting there all those 38 years, but I can imagine how much he had longed to be healed. But then when I read further about what happened, I was saddened.
As the story goes, a man approached this invalid and asked him, “Do you want to get well?” This invalid’s reply was “Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Here was a man, trapped in his disability. He liked to be healed, but he knew there was no chance he would be healed. “I want to, but I can’t see it happening. It’s just not possible.” You can almost feel his frustration, and surrender and despair. What a sad and hopeless man he was.
Turns out, that the man who was speaking to the invalid was Jesus, and the invalid had no clue whom he was speaking to. Of course, we all know what happened after that, as Jesus proceeded to heal the invalid without delay.
I want you to hold that image of the hopelessness of this invalid, and shift to another story in the gospels about another invalid.
Blind @ Jericho
In Luke 18:35-43, we hear the story of a blind man, named Bartimaeus, begging along the busy main street of Jericho. Jericho is a bustling town on a major crossroad between Galilee and Jerusalem. Many pilgrims en route to Jerusalem would pass through Jericho.
On this particular occasion of our story, the blind Bartimaeus senses a lot of movement and can hear an unusually large number of people passing by. Bartimaeus is sensitive to these things because he is at risk of being trampled upon by a crowd, and he wants to make sure he’s out of harm’s way. He asks what is happening, and someone replies, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”
Observe the response of blind Bartimaeus the instant he hears that Jesus is passing: Immediately, he calls out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!” And he repeats it, each time louder, so much so that some of the people near him are annoyed and tell him to be quiet. But he will not be deterred and shouts all the more: “Son of David, have mercy on me!!!”
What’s going on here? Here’s how I see this. Bartimaeus is probably not unaware of the latest news. After all, he lives in a busy town where there are a lot of travelers passing through in season and out of season. And being blind, he’s keen on everything that he hears, including stories, rumors, gossips, and the latest happenings, and he picks this up from travelers passing through. In due course, he must have picked up some news about a prophet, a healer named Jesus who was famous in Galilee and who had healed lepers, made the lame walk, the deaf hear, and the blind see. As soon as he learns about this healing of the blind, Bartimaeus is filled with hope. And he is confident that some day, Jesus will pass through Jericho on his way to Jerusalem, because he knows that every Jew goes to Jerusalem, and that all the Galileans pass through Jericho on their way to Jerusalem. Bartimaeus knows that it’s a matter of time before Jesus would pass. He hopes, and he waits, and he positions himself strategically so that he will be there if and when Jesus passes by.
And that’s why, finally, at last, when he hears that it is Jesus who passes by, he makes absolutely sure that he gets the attention of Jesus. His hope has finally arrived, and he can’t let it pass. This is the moment that he has been waiting for, and he yells, “Jesus!!!!!”
Jesus calls Bartimaeus over to him, and asks him, “What do you want me to do for you?” And with a sigh of great relief, Bartimaeus replies: “Lord, I want to see!”
Contrast: The Hopeful vs The Hopeless
I want us to see the contrast between the two men. The invalid who didn’t know about Jesus. And the blind man who knew about Jesus and was long awaiting his arrival. Contrast their disposition and their view of their future before Jesus healed them.
The former was hopeless, and he would wake up each day not expecting anything spectacular. He just wanted the day to end. And even if by chance the water would be stirred, he probably wouldn’t make any effort anymore, seeing that others would yet again beat him to the water.
On the other hand, Bartimaeus was full of hope. He knew that each day would bring him closer to his eventual encounter with Jesus. He knew that it was just a matter of time. He waited patiently with expectant hope. Even though he was blind, and he was an outcast, a beggar, and that there was nothing that he could possibly do to turn his life around. But ever since he learned about Jesus, and the saving power of Jesus, he had hope. No longer did he curse the darkness. No longer did he wallow in self-pity. Instead, it was that hope in the coming of Jesus that allowed him to live through each day, at peace despite his circumstances.
What should we do?
It’s good to reflect on the contrasts between the lives of these two invalids, and to consider what contributed to Bartimaeus’s peaceful hope. I believe God has a lesson here for those of us who already know Jesus, and who daily encounter people who are silently bearing the burden of an uncertain and hopeless future. People need to know what Jesus can and will do.
“‘Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.’ How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can anyone preach unless they are sent? As it is written: ‘How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!’”
(Rom 10:13-15)
This is a great reminder that we must keep hoping… and it is only by hoping for the RIGHT thing that we will receive the fullness of joy.
Bartimeus knew about Jesus.. In being hopeful, he waits.. for good things to come his way..
He was not just hopeful but a patient man , and persevering..
By his perseverance or patience,as scripture says, “ he will gain possesion of his soul”..
Truly, he knew how to wait for the right time, hopeful for “ good things to come his way.. and it did🤗Blessed is the man who waits on the Lord.Amen🙏🙏🙏
Thanks for the wonderful discussion. Also to add, I think the other distinct difference between the invalid person by the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem and the blind person in Jericho is that the latter knows who he wants to wait. The blind man knows Jesus, the one who heals! So with expectant hope he waited on the road knowing that one of these days the Son of David will pass by. And he will ask Jesus to heal him. On the other hand, the invalid person does not know who he is waiting, is it Jesus or someone who can put him in the pool, or anyone who can just see him. That for 38years nothing has been changed in his situation. All because he doesn’t know who Jesus is.
The same way with us. While the grace of God is waiting for us, we need to take a personal action to have that. We need to believe and have a personal relationship with God. If we don’t purposely seek for Jesus in our difficulties and trials, we would not see Him. We would not be able to enjoy the grace that He has promised to give those who believe in Him. Seek Jesus. He restores. He heals. HE LOVES US.
More power Bro. Eddie. GOD bless.
Thanks Kuya Eddie for the very insightful discussion on hopefulness vs helplessness. Beautiful contrast and analogy.
I would want to link these 2 stories to your Seek the Lord activity. The invalid beside Bethesda pool did not have a chance to hear about Jesus & seek the Lord because he was immobile majority of his life? Victim of circumstances? How can he seek the Lord then? He was most likely with other immobile persons and some other sick or disabled but are somehow mobile. Did he had a chance to hear about Jesus but did not see it as important because he was focus on the healing pool?
While Bartimeus heard about Jesus among the travelers and started to seek more stories about Jesus until he was convinced that Jesus was his chance to see. Then the build-up of Bartimeus’ hope that is now directed towards Jesus.
While the invalid man beside Bethesda pool was still hoping to be healed if only he can get into the pool. Same with other invalids who were always beaten to the pool by the sick but mobile ones. Lucky for him Jesus healed him.
The contrast between these two characters resonates what most of us are going thru or are feeling right now. The pandemic can either make you hopeful or helpless.
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Thank you Kuya Eddie.
Salamat po Tito Ed. Such a good reminder that even in these dark times, God will come… even if we acknoledge Him or not.
We only have to be like Bartimaeus… hopeful despite the seeming hopelessness.
God has everything under control.
Thank you for this deep insight, Kuya Eddie. It is a good reminder of our great hope that others need to have as well. To follow God is to speak about Him.
I think your article teaches me that, even if we know God is Sovereign and all knowing, he still wants us to pursue Him and ask for all things we desire and hope for in our lives. Very instructive. Thanks for sharing. God bless
Thanks for sharing this reflection. After reading this two things came to mind: 1.) It was the Lord’s will that both men were completely healed though each of the invalids were coming from a different disposition- the invalid man was hopeless while the blind man of Jericho was hopeful; yet, both desired to be healed so Jesus had mercy on them and healed them; 2.) we who have heard the good news of the Gospel are called to share the good news to those who have not heard it so we can spread hope to all. Who knows we can be the only hope to someone who is groping in darkness or is immobile for years.