When was the last time you opened your Facebook or Instagram feed and felt a pinch of envy?
Or drove by the gates of that fancy neighborhood and thought, “Must be nice to live there.”
Or looked at someone and felt annoyed they always seem to have the perfect life.
Sometimes it can seem like everyone else has…
a better house.
a newer car.
a dreamier boyfriend.
a stronger marriage.
an easier time getting pregnant.
better-behaved kids or grandkids.
a perfectly-trained dog that doesn’t have accidents in the house. (Hershey, hint, hint).
less debt.
more income.
an easier transition to empty-nesting.
a larger retirement account.
less worries.
fewer concerns.
a better life.
Maybe I’m the only one who feels jealousy.
If you’re human, sooner or later, you’ll experience the twinges of the green eye.
In Day 9 of the #LentChallenge of #Beloved, we dive into the deep end of the pool of comparison—literally.
In John 5:1-17, we walk toward the pool of Bethesda. The sight stops us in our tracks.
A child missing a hand.
A blind elderly man.
A woman covered in open wounds.
A grandmother with three curled fingers remaining.
And many more…
All wait for the moment the water stirs. The first to touch will walk in full health again.
Reading this story, I always focused on the man who became well again.
But I never saw all those precious humans gathered, waiting, competing.
This gruesome competition is The Race to the Ripple.
Whoever splashes first dances away a victor.
The rest feel defeated, left in their own pools of suffering. More times than any can count.
Imagine the jealousy, the envy toward the one who walked away whole.
Yet one man doesn’t race to the ripple. He’s intercepted by Jesus with a 7-word question:
Do you want to get well again?
Soooooo much packed into sooooo few words.
That’s the question that penetrates my heart.
When it comes to the jealousy toward those who work less for more, who live bigger, better lives, whose shortcuts seem to pay off, it’s easy for my eyes to turn jade(d) with envy.
(Writing tip: Thought about using emerald, but jade offered a double plan on the meaning).
But Jesus asks, “Do you want to get well again?”
Healing never happens by looking at everyone else, their possessions, their accomplishments, the social media likes and shares and ratings and lists and promotions.
Healing awaits in Jesus.
I sense the Holy Spirit nudging, “If you want to get well again, stop looking to them and start looking to me.”
I am to pick up my bed—the place where I’ve nestled in disempowering beliefs, resentment, and contempt—and follow Christ.
Leave the place I’ve nestled to find the True Nest.
To walk lighter and more joyful. Where others’ success incites celebration. Where joy triumphs.
This is what I least wanted to read but most need to hear.
Now let me ask you:
What did you least want to read but most need to hear in today’s reading?
(If you have any questions post them below. We’ll be collecting and gathering responses for insight from New Testament scholar, Craig Blomberg in the upcoming weeks).
Day Nine: John 5:1-17 Discussion Questions:
- Margaret describes the envy stirred up by social media and fancy neighborhoods. What places or actions stir jealousy in you?
- What steps can you take to remove yourself from those sources of jealousy?
- What does it look like for you to answer Jesus’ invitation: Do you want to get well again?
- Using the Color Method, what stood out to you most from today’s reading?
- What do you find most challenging about today’s reading? What do you find most comforting about today’s reading?
Resources:
- The Gospel According to John – Leon Morris
- The Gospel of John – Craig S. Keener
- John – Andreas J. Kostenberger
- Fight Back With Joy:Celebrate More, Regret Less, Stare Down Your Greatest Fears – Margaret Feinberg
Need to catch up? See below for previous blog posts during our Lenten season:
Day 1 | John 1:1-18 | Ash Wednesday: Your Invitation to Discover the Beloved
Day 2 | John 1:19-34 | This One Question Will Leave You Undone
Day 3 | John 1: 35-51 | What to Tell Your Children Before It’s Too Late
Day 4 | John 2:1-12 | The Shocking Miracle of Water Becoming Wine
Day 7 | John 3:22-36 | There’s a Hidden Slip N’ Slide in the Bible — I Found It!
Day 9 | John 5:1-17 | How to Overcome Jealousy
Day 12 | John 6:15-35 | What to Do When You Doubt God
Day 14 | John 7:1-39 | What’s the Difference Between Dead and Living Water?
Day 16 | John 8:1-1 | You Stumped Me… Again
Day 17 | John 8:12-59 | 7 Surprises in the Gospel of John
Day 18 | John 9 | What does spiritual blindness really cost you?
Day 22 | John 12:1-11 | What’s Your Signature Spiritual Scent?
Day 23 | John 12:12-50 | Here is a Method That is Helping Me Relinquish Control
Day 25 | John 15:1-11 | What Does a Vinter See in John 15?
Day 29 | John 16:1-15 | Little Known Ways to Be of Good Cheer
Day 31 | John 17 | The Truth About Soul Talk
Day 33 | John 18:12-40 | Was it Judas or Satan Working through Judas?
Day 35 | John 19:16-30 | What’s a Woman’s Role?
Day 39 | John 21:1-14 | Why is the Weight of the Wait So Heavy on Good Friday?
Day 40 | John 21:15-25 | The Most Powerful Lesson I Learned During Lent
I noticed only Jesus’s name is mentioned. He is the healer who loves and shows compassion on those who need healing. So many to heal, and so I wonder why he chooses this man to heal – because he had been ill for so long, so it seemed impossible? God can do the impossible. I also noticed the timing of The healing. Jesus was present when the water stirred, and it was the Sabbath. The healed man carried his bed and walked – a miracle to be celebrated – and the Jews focus on the man carrying his bed and walking – breaking a rule -instead of the healing. That’s why “the Jews persecuted him” – for healing someone!
Wonderful revelation, Dawn! So much happening in this story. Thanks for sharing. Hugs!
I also noticed that true Living Water shows up by the water.
The Pool of Bethesda will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the exact location on my Holy Land pilgrimage where I read John 5:1-17 to my travel group. Since I’ve matured in my spiritual journey, I have begun to see the subtle nuances and Holy nuggets of wisdom. In today’s passage, we read about people in the HABIT of sitting beside this pool of water hoping, expecting, wishing for a miraculous healing drop. Then Jesus asks, “Do you want to get well?” and puts the decision back on us. You, me, and the folks waiting at the water. Jesus reminds how comfortable I am being stuck. Whatever “stuck” looks like for you, it’s comfortable. It was once an annoying habit, but then it became a daily ritual and it felt comfortable. Comfortable can be dangerous, even debilitating. For this man, he had 38 years experience of being comfortable stuck in his habits. I believe God meets us where we are but loves us TOO MUCH for us to stay there. Life begins outside our comfort zone!
I also appreciate the Phillips translation (never heard of it till now) used in today’s reading and it’s language used when Jesus humbly slipped away from the crowds to avoid being identified as the miracle worker then INTENTIONALLY finding the man later to finish His lesson. Not only did Jesus intentionally seek this man, HE FOUND HIM. You cannot hide from God!
So much goodness in these verses!
Hugs,
Nicole
Thank you for sharing, Nicole! Beautiful reflection. Hugs!
I am sitting with and pondering that there is so much “water” so far in the Gospel of John. There is the obvious fact that Jesus calls himself “living water” but something is tugging at me to sit with this for a bit.
Thank you for such powerful insights and guidance Margaret.
Great observation, Lisa! Excited to see what the Lord reveals to you! Hugs!
First thing that I noticed was that the man had been an invalid for 38 years. 2 years away from 40. Some of the most significant journeys in the Holy scriptures tend to take 40 years. if we focus on the most well known journey, that of the journey to the Promised Land, it took 40 years. Life itself is like a journey to the promised land where each new chapter of our lives will go through a process similar to the journey to the promised land. We go through challenges along the journey, filled with ups and downs, small victories along the way.
The man did not respond directly to Jesus when asked if he wanted healing, he simply provided an excuse why he hadn’t yet been healed. We too do this, like you said Margaret, we look at other people’s facebook posts, instagram, twitter and sometimes get a twinge of envy and instead of doing something about it, we make excuses as to why it hasn’t yet happened for us, instead of acknowledging how we feel and offering it to Jesus for Him to assist us.
This man did not have to do the same thing that everyone before him had done in order to get healing nor was he healed the same way by the Lord’s angel. He was healed by the Lord Himself, Jesus Christ, who simply spoke healing into his life. It reminds me of something that one preacher said. He said, as a Christian, sometimes you need to wait patiently for your turn. You may start at point A with someone and within a year they have moved to point B and you are still at point A. In five years’time, you are still at point C whilst they are at point T but because Jesus works differently, He may take you from point C straight to point V. The journey of 38 years for you and a journey of 40 years for the other person.
Great reminder, Sam!
I found it very interesting that the sick man never asked for healing… yet that’s exactly what Jesus gave him. Maybe he didn’t ask because he just got tired of the wait as he was never able to get to the pool. If that is the case, then why did he stay there? Also, interesting that Jesus came to him and asked him if he wanted to “get well again”. This seems to imply he had been well at some point prior to his current condition. This is a bit puzzling to me. Any insight?