Introduction

Some of us walked in today smiling on the outside and stuck on the inside. We know how to look fine, but deep down we feel like that man by the pool—stalled, sidelined, and silently counting the years. We carry mats of memory—old disappointments, long habits, lingering hurts—and we wonder, Will this ever change for me?

John 5 brings us to a porch full of people and a Savior who refuses to pass them by. Five porches, countless needs, and one clear question: “Do you want to be made well?” It’s tender. It’s timely. And it’s terribly honest. Because when Jesus heals, He doesn’t just help our backs and legs; He speaks to our beliefs and longings. He doesn’t just address paralysis in the body; He addresses paralysis in the heart.

You may feel tired or timid. You may have tried, failed, and feared trying again. Hear the whisper above the water’s ripples: “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” With Jesus, one word can end years of waiting. One step of obedience can turn a private healing into a public testimony. He knows how long you’ve been here. He’s not shaming you; He’s shepherding you. He’s not scolding; He’s steadying. He’s not indifferent; He’s intimately aware.

Martyn Lloyd-Jones once said, “Faith is the refusal to panic.” Today, let’s refuse to panic. Let’s refuse the lie that the past must predict the future. Let’s bring Him our mats, our memories, our might-have-beens, and listen for His voice. The porches may be crowded, but His compassion is personal. The wait may be long, but His word is living. And when He speaks, the stuck soul can stand.

Before we read, ask yourself: Where have I been waiting beside the water? What phrase has circled my mind—“I have no one to help me,” “It’s been too long,” “Maybe later”? What might happen if, by grace, I stand when He says stand?

Scripture Reading: John 5:1–47 (KJV)

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 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. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 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? 7 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. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11 He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. 12 Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? 13 And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. 15 The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. 16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17 But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18 Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel. 21 For as the Father raiseth up the dead, and quickeneth them; even so the Son quickeneth whom he will. 22 For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23 That all men should honour the Son, even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him. 24 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life. 25 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The hour is coming, and now is, when the dead shall hear the voice of the Son of God: and they that hear shall live. 26 For as the Father hath life in himself; so hath he given to the Son to have life in himself; 27 And hath given him authority to execute judgment also, because he is the Son of man. 28 Marvel not at this: for the hour is coming, in the which all that are in the graves shall hear his voice, 29 And shall come forth; they that have done good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have done evil, unto the resurrection of damnation. 30 I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me. 31 If I bear witness of myself, my witness is not true. 32 There is another that beareth witness of me; and I know that the witness which he witnesseth of me is true. 33 Ye sent unto John, and he bare witness unto the truth. 34 But I receive not testimony from man: but these things I say, that ye might be saved. 35 He was a burning and a shining light: and ye were willing for a season to rejoice in his light. 36 But I have greater witness than that of John: for the works which the Father hath given me to finish, the same works that I do, bear witness of me, that the Father hath sent me. 37 And the Father himself, which hath sent me, hath borne witness of me. Ye have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his shape. 38 And ye have not his word abiding in you: for whom he hath sent, him ye believe not. 39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. 40 And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life. 41 I receive not honour from men. 42 But I know you, that ye have not the love of God in you. 43 I am come in my Father’s name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive. 44 How can ye believe, which receive honour one of another, and seek not the honour that cometh from God only? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father: there is one that accuseth you, even Moses, in whom ye trust. 46 For had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me: for he wrote of me. 47 But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?

Opening Prayer

Lord Jesus, we come with mats in our hands and hope in our hearts. You see the years we have waited, the words we have spoken over ourselves, the weariness we have worn like a coat. Speak again, Strong Savior. Say to us what You said at Bethesda: “Rise.” By Your Spirit, give us courage to stand, strength to step, and grace to obey. Let Your word cut through our excuses, calm our fears, and call us forward. Turn our healing into a holy headline that points to You. For the glory of the Father, in Your name we pray. Amen.

Jesús confronta la parálisis del corazón y del cuerpo

Jesús llega a un lugar cargado de historia y dolor. Allí hay un hombre con muchos años de limitación física. Jesús lo ve. Lo conoce. Se acerca. No pregunta por detalles médicos. Va directo al centro de la persona. La pregunta que hace toca la voluntad. Toca el deseo. Toca lo que pasa dentro. En esa escena aparece la verdad sobre nuestras inmovilidades visibles y las que no se ven. Hay músculos que no responden. También hay pensamientos que se quedaron quietos hace tiempo.

La mirada de Jesús no es fría. Él sabe cuánto tiempo llevas así. Conoce las razones que te cansan. Conoce las frases que repites sin darte cuenta. Por eso su pregunta tiene peso. Abre una puerta. Invita a nombrar lo que uno quiere. Cuando el corazón se despierta, muchas cosas empiezan a moverse. Cuando la voluntad dice sí, la esperanza toma aire. No es magia. Es encuentro. Es presencia. Es palabra viva que enciende algo por dentro.

La respuesta del hombre enfermo muestra cadenas internas. Habla de su soledad. Habla de su falta de ayuda. Habla de otros que siempre llegan antes. Esas frases revelan una forma de ver la vida. Revelan resignación. Revelan comparación. Revelan una espera que se volvió sistema. También aparece la creencia popular sobre el agua que se movía en ciertas temporadas. Allí hay reglas, rankings y apuros. Allí hay una carrera por lograr lo que solo unos pocos alcanzan. En medio de esas voces, Jesús habla con autoridad. Ya no importa la escalera. Ya no importan los turnos. La fuente verdadera está frente a él. La palabra de Cristo no compite con otros remedios. Tiene vida. Crea posibilidad. Abre una senda nueva en plena zona de fracaso.

Esa forma de hablar de Jesús no aplasta. Levanta. Quita peso. Ordena la atención. En vez de repetir explicaciones, el hombre recibe una instrucción clara. Una frase sencilla que llama a una acción sencilla. No es un plan largo. No es un ritual. Es un paso. La fe escucha. La fe da ese paso. La fe se apoya en lo que Él dice. El cuerpo responde a una orden que nace del corazón que cree. Y todo ocurre en un momento común del calendario. No hay escenario preparado. No hay música de fondo. Solo la autoridad del Hijo que da vida.

La obediencia trae una consecuencia pública. El hombre ya no está en el suelo. Ahora carga aquello que antes lo cargaba. La gente lo ve. Algunos se quedan en el detalle del día. Discuten lo permitido. Hacen preguntas sobre normas. Esa reacción no anula el milagro. De hecho, lo pone a la vista. La obra de Jesús se sostiene sola. Habla por sí misma. El hombre solo necesita repetir lo que escuchó y lo que vivió. Esa es la fuerza de un testimonio sencillo. Una voz que dice: Él me habló. Yo obedecí. Y ahora camino.

Más tarde, Jesús lo encuentra en el templo. No es un cierre casual. Es intencional. Hay una palabra nueva. Una llamada a una vida limpia. Cristo atiende la salud del cuerpo. También atiende la salud del alma. Señala el rumbo que cuida el regalo recibido. Advierte sobre un mal mayor. Lo hace con amor real. Lo hace como quien quiere preservar, no perder. La gracia que levanta también ordena. La misericordia que restaura también enseña. La santidad no es peso extra. Es guardia que protege la vida que acaba de empezar.

En esa segunda conversación se ve el alcance de la obra de Jesús. Sanar no es solo mover piernas. Sanar es aprender a vivir frente a Dios. Sanar es decir sí a una nueva manera de pensar, sentir y decidir. El Hijo no actúa aislado. Actúa en plena sintonía con el Padre. Por eso su voz trae vida. Por eso su juicio es justo. Por eso su invitación es seria. Cuando Él habla, los que escuchan pasan de muerte a vida. Ese paso es real. No se limita a un instante en la orilla de un estanque. Se extiende a toda la existencia.

La escena también expone lo que frena la fe. La búsqueda de aprobación humana. El honor que va de uno a otro. Las reglas sin amor. La lectura de las Escrituras sin encuentro con Aquel de quien ellas hablan. Jesús no pide aplausos. Jesús ofrece vida. Su obra es un testigo mayor que cualquier firma. Sus hechos confirman su origen. Su comunión con el Padre sostiene cada palabra. Esta verdad pone el alma en su sitio. Pone a las personas delante de una decisión clara: escuchar y creer.

La voz de Cristo alcanza a los que están en tumbas. Así lo dice en el pasaje. Esa autoridad no es pequeña. Toca lo último. Toca lo imposible. Si esa voz puede llamar a los muertos, también puede encender una voluntad apagada. También puede deshacer hábitos viejos. También puede dar fuerza para pequeñas obediencias que cambian el día a día. No es teoría. Es poder en acción. Es gracia que trabaja en lo profundo y también en lo visible.

Por eso tiene sentido pedir lo que Él pide. Caminar en lo que Él manda. Ajustar la vida a su palabra. Guardar el corazón del pecado que roba lo que Él da. Y cuando la presión sube, recordar quién está hablando. El Hijo amado del Padre. El juez justo. El dador de vida. A Él le importa nuestra historia. A Él no se le escapa ningún detalle. Con Él, la inmovilidad pierde terreno.

Este pasaje nos enseña a escuchar la pregunta que despierta el querer. A dejar explicaciones que se volvieron refugio. A responder con un paso concreto. A abrazar la santidad que cuida lo recibido. Y a mantener la mirada en la autoridad de Jesús que opera con la misma obra del Padre. Allí el corazón se suelta. Allí el cuerpo encuentra fuerza. Allí la vida avanza, aun cuando el entorno no cambie. Porque su palabra sostiene lo que ordena. Y su gracia completa lo que empieza.

La palabra de Cristo levántate y anda rompe años de estancamiento

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