At the pool of Bethesda “lay a
great multitude of sick people, blind, lamb, and paralyzed”, and Jesus, without
explanation, healed only one man. Often when Jesus arrived in an area all the
sick and afflicted from the surrounding villages would come to Him. Scripture
states at times He healed them “all”, and other times He healed “many”, but not
“all.” There are nine passages where great multitudes of the sick and afflicted
“pressed about Him (Jesus) to touch Him”, as with the women with the “issue of
blood” who wanted to touch the “hem of His garment”, a direct reference to the rabbinical
teaching that the Messiah’s Prayer Shaw would possess healing power – clearly misplaced
faith. Jesus healed the man at the Pool of Bethesda and a man who was blind
from birth, and scripture clearly states neither of these man knew who healed
them -- knew who Jesus was -- so much for faith always being a prerequisite for
healing. We will never understand... in this life, why God chooses to heal
some... and not to heal others, but we
do know it is His choice... a purposeful choice.
We often try to qualify why God
doesn’t meet our healing expectation that healing is an entitlement, blaming
sin, lack of faith, sowing and reaping... judging ourselves or others when our
expectations are in error. Sometimes God chooses not to reveal His works for
reasons known only to Himself. We could speculate on why... but why does
nothing to ease the pain and suffering even if we knew. Better to focus on
Who... Who is with us: “Fear not, For I Am with you.” Our loving, caring Father
is with us... now that is something to shout about! And know one very important
thing: God will produce eternal good out of all that a saint suffers. Rather than speculate maybe we should just
take God at His word -- remember “The secret things belong to the Lord” -- thank
Him for the opportunity to suffer for His namesake, and go forward with great
expectant faith that God is not through with us yet... for He isn’t! And
remember, we don’t know why Hebrews chapter eleven lauds as great people of
faith saints who were tortured, scourged, imprisoned, stoned, sawed in two,
slain with the sword, destitute, afflicted, tormented, and homeless. Even great
faith does not provide an automatic exemption from hardship, trials, tragedy,
adversity or affliction. God allowed the Apostle Paul to be afflicted with diseased
eyes then task him with writing most of the New Testament. Remember this is the
man whose sweat rags brought special miracles to the sick and afflicted -- who even
raised the dead -- and yet he was reduced to using a scribe to record God’s
word for mankind. We don’t know Why... But we know Who... And we know His grace
is sufficient...
“THE SECRET THINGS BELONG TO THE LORD”
(Jn. 5:1-15, 9:1-40; Mk. 1;32-34; Is. 41:10; Rom.
8:28; Deut. 29:29; Heb. 11:35-40)
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