No…not the kind of pool you are thinking of. We went to the pool of Bethesda mentioned in John 5. This is the story of Jesus healing a lame man on the Sabbath. The man has been waiting by this pool that some thought had the power to heal when stirred by an angel. Whether his was true or not the man was never able to make it. Jesus asked him, “do you want to be healed?”. Jesus then healed him and they both got in trouble. The man for carrying his mat and Jesus for healing him. It seems that everywhere we go in this city Jesus got in trouble for something. But He always came back. The relentless love of Jesus! He keeps on healing. He keeps on loving. He keeps on coming back.
Our guide keeps reminding us that Jesus came at least once a year since He was 8 days old and probably more. Why would He do that? He wasn’t welcomed with open arms until the Sunday before they crucified Him. It is almost as if He had a mission. A mission that wasn’t about us loving Him but about Him loving us. Being in Israel seems to keep reinforcing the truth that God has a plan. He has always had a plan. He still has a plan. And that plan includes you. Like it or not He continues to reveal Himself to you. He keeps coming back.
You know, He is the same today. He keeps on loving you no matter how many times you deny Him…ask Peter. He keeps on calling you no matter how far you run…ask Jonah. He keeps on reaching out to heal you if you just look to Him instead of waiting for some magical turn of events that may never come…ask this man at the pool of Bethesda.
Keep praying! More later!