Seeking Jesus First - February 25, 2026
“The Place of Mercy”
Please Read John 5:1–9 (NKJV)
Reflection
Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the great feasts of the Jews, where the Law required all able-bodied males to appear before the Lord (Exodus 23:14–17; Deuteronomy 16:16). These pilgrimage festivals—Passover (with Unleavened Bread), the Feast of Weeks (Pentecost), and the Feast of Tabernacles—were times of celebration, remembrance, and gathering in God's presence. Though John does not name this particular feast, it drew crowds to the city, including many who were desperate for mercy.
At the Pool of Bethesda—meaning "House of Mercy" in Hebrew—Jesus found a place filled with suffering. A great multitude of the sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed lay under the five porches, hoping for healing. They gathered here because of a hope that an angel would stir the waters, and the first person to enter afterward would be made well. Amid this longing for mercy, one man had waited thirty-eight years—an invalid with no one to help him into the pool. Every time the water moved, someone else stepped ahead.
Here, at the very "House of Mercy," true mercy arrived in person. Jesus saw the man, knew the length of his affliction, and asked a piercing question: “Do you want to be made well?” The man's answer revealed his hopelessness—he had no helper. But Jesus bypassed the pool, the stirring, and the competition entirely. With authority, He commanded, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” Immediately the man was healed. No water was needed; no angel stirred. Jesus Himself was the mercy the man had waited for all those years.
In the Kingdom life, we often wait for circumstances to change, for help from others, or for the right moment. Yet the word of God is not bound by systems or superstitions. His mercy is direct, personal, and immediate. John's Gospel reveals who Jesus is—the One who brings wholeness where mercy has been longed for but never fully found. This healing points to greater truth: in Christ, mercy is not scarce or conditional; it is abundant and freely given to those who receive Him.
Application
Today, consider your own places of waiting. Is there an area of life—physical, emotional, relational—where you've felt stuck for years, hoping for the "right conditions" to change? Bring that longing to Jesus. Hear the Word of The LORD, “Do you want to be made well?” Let His question stir faith, not frustration. Rise in agreement with His word, even if it means leaving old ways behind (like the bed that once defined the man). Share this encounter—your testimony of Jesus' direct mercy can encourage others who feel overlooked or helpless.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for being present in the places of our deepest need, where mercy seems distant. You see our long afflictions and know our hopelessness. Today, we say yes—we want to be made well. Speak Your word of healing and command us to rise. Help us leave behind what has bound us and walk in the freedom You give. May Your mercy flow through us to others, revealing Your Kingdom in everyday places. In Christ we pray, giving thanks for The Word of The LORD.