Ever been thirsty? I mean, really thirsty? I haven’t done it for years, but I remember bailing hay
in the July heat-and stacking the bails in the hay loft. It was stifling up there. You would break
out into a sweat just being there, let alone stacking bales. By the time I was done, my clothes
were soaked in sweat- and I was thirsty. I didn’t go to the house for a glass of lemonade in ice
cubes- I went straight for the hydrant and drank deeply from the hose. And then I drenched my
head with cool water from the hose- and then I drank deeply again until I was not thirsty
anymore.
Sometimes, going through difficult times in life is like working in a hay loft on a hot day in July.
You can get dehydrated- thirsty for some good news- any good news. We need to go straight to
the source and drink deeply the living water of Jesus Himself.
Today it is trendy to carry around a bottle of water everywhere you go, afraid we might get
dehydrated before we get home. Don’t misunderstand me- it is good advice to stay hydrated, but
few people these days are in danger of dying of thirst.
It makes me wonder- what if we had the same concern for the hydration of our souls as we have
for our bodies? What if we carried around God’s word with us everywhere we go- in our hearts
as well as our bibles- ready to take a sip of cool, refreshing, living water before we ever get to
the point of being desperate for a drink? What if we were ready to share the good news of God’s
word with someone we meet along the way who was thirsty for some good news? What if we
thought of evangelism in that way? Think of the difference that would make.
One day, as Jesus was walking along a pool in Jerusalem called the pool of Bethsaida- and there
he saw a man lying by the pool who had been sick for thirty-eight years. After all those years he
had largely given up hope- and what little hope he had left was misplaced hope. You see, he was
waiting for an angel to come down to the pool un-announced, anytime- and stir the water- and as
rumor had it, whoever stepped into the pool first would be healed of whatever sickness they had.
He was not alone. Surrounding the pool everywhere you looked lay sick and despondent people-
paralytics, invalids, and the blind. All competing with each other to be the first in the pool- all
relying on their ability to beat everyone else into the pool first. But for this man, he knew there
was no way he could succeed alone. He was without hope.
The bible tells us that we cannot heal ourselves or save ourselves. No amount of will power or
discipline or competition to be better than someone else can save us. But then, just when we
begin to feel all alone and forsaken, we realize we aren’t alone. Jesus has come to us- just as we
are- when we cannot come to him. In fact- He has been there all along.
And then He asks us a question that strikes at the very core of our heats- “Do you want to be
healed? And you cry out- Lord- you know I do! “then take your eyes off the pool and trust me.
Rise up, take up your pallet and walk.”
One cold winter’s night, angels proclaimed to shepherds: “be not afraid; for behold, I bring you
good news of a great joy which will come to all the people- for to you is born this day in the city
of David Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
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