The 38-year old Cripple

The story of the 38-year cripple is found in John 5:1-15. The man had been an invalid for 38 years, lying by the pool of Bethesda waiting for someone to help him into the water. When Jesus saw him lying there, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" The man replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. Someone always gets there ahead of me."

Jesus then told him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." Immediately, the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. This was a miraculous healing, and it caused quite a stir among the people who witnessed it.

Here are some key teachings we can learn from this story:

1. Jesus is the source of healing. The man had been lying there for 38 years, waiting for someone to help him into the water. But it was Jesus who healed him, not the water. This shows us that our ultimate source of healing and help is Jesus, not other people or things.

2. Jesus sees our suffering. The man had been lying there for a long time, and no one had helped him. But Jesus saw him and had compassion on him. This reminds us that Jesus sees our pain and suffering, even when others do not.

3. Faith is important. When Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well, the man did not express any faith or belief that Jesus could help him. But Jesus healed him anyway. This shows us that faith is not a requirement for healing, but it can help us to receive the blessings that God wants to give us.

4. Obstacles can be overcome. The man had a physical disability that prevented him from getting into the pool. But Jesus was able to heal him and give him the ability to walk. This teaches us that no matter what obstacles we face, with Jesus' help, we can overcome them.

5. Jesus has the power to transform our lives. The man's healing was not just physical, it was also spiritual. He had been a cripple for 38 years, but now he was able to walk and live a new life. This teaches us that Jesus has the power to transform our lives in ways we never thought possible.

In conclusion, the story of the 38-year cripple teaches us about Jesus' power to heal, his compassion for those who suffer, and his ability to transform our lives. It also reminds us that faith is important, obstacles can be overcome, and Jesus is the ultimate source of help and healing.