Compassion

September 24, 2010


John 5:1-17

V 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years

I am amazed at the contrast between Jesus and the Jews. Of course, there really isn’t any comparison between the two but in this story the fact that Jesus is compassionate and the Jews are not is glaringly obvious. This man had lived his life for 38 years with some sort of disability; in this day in time to live to be 38 was in and of itself unusual but to do so with an infirmity is even more so. According to the passage, he would go to this pool and would try to be the first one in. It was believed that the first one in when the waters were stirred would be healed. Yet, this man was never first. I can’t help thinking that no one knew of this man’s plight. No one knew that he needed help. Yet, no one came to him; no one offered him an ounce of compassion. Until he meets Jesus, and is healed. The Jewish hierarchy of the day has nothing to say except to condemn Jesus for healing on a Sabbath, and reprimand this man for carrying his bed roll. What? Yet, are we different. How many times have we ignored someone who needed help? How many times have we begrudged someone something because we thought they didn’t need it or worse wished we had it? Unfortunately, I’m afraid that on occasion we have a lot in common with the Jews.