You are seen
In the midst of a crowd or on your own
I love reading Scripture over and over again throughout my life. No matter how many times I’ve read a particular passage, I see something new.
It is always inspiring to me how differently Scripture hits us at various times in our lives.
That God knew exactly how to write so that it could impact us specifically on each portion of our life’s journey we’re on when we read it.
God is indeed good. All the time. All the time. God is good.
Scripture:
After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
John 5:1-7
Observation:
There were FIVE porches full of ill people at the pool of Bethesda when Jesus arrived. In order to be healed one had to be in the water first after the angel stirred it. Jesus saw a man, one man out of FIVE full porches. He’d been ill for 38 years. When Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made whole, his response was that he had no one to help him to the pool. No one. He was alone. On his own. Unable to reach the healing waters. How long of those 38 years had he been sitting by the well alone — yearning, needing to be healed with no friend or loved one to help him into the water?! Of the multitude of sick people at the pool — Jesus chose to heal him. Jesus chose someone who had no one to count on, no support - a man completely alone in need of healing.
Application:
While reading this familiar passage of Scripture, I see two applications. The first is to ensure that no one in our circle - or encounters - is alone and in need. Whether it be healing that prayer to the Lord can bring, material need that we can help fill, support for a difficult life journey, etc. No one should have no one in life. Secondly, Jesus sees us. Even when we are alone or just feel alone. He will be there with us, no matter what we’re facing, no matter where we are; Jesus sees us. In the midst of a crowd. In a corner all alone. We are seen. He longs to come alongside us, to walk the journey with us, to carry us when needed, to heal us — mind, body and soul. We don’t have to live life broken and/or alone. Jesus is near and He sees us. We can choose deep friendship and the complete healing only He can give. The question is, will we choose to be alone in this life or draw near to He who sees us and is waiting for us to see Him?
Kneeling:
Father, give me eyes to see those in my circle and my days that are in need. Let no one feel or be alone with a need that I can help fill. Thank You for seeing me always. On days when I feel so very alone - even when I choose to be so. I pray for healing in my life and those I love. May minds be made clear, bodies be healed as only can be done by You and souls be set free to live life abundantly!
P.S. This isn’t the first time that I’ve written about the beauty of God seeing us when we feel unseen. If you’d like to read about another portion of Scripture that I wrote about, click here.