MESSAGE FROM THE ALTAR DEVOTIONAL SERVICE. 27/06/2021 HOPE FOR THE HOPELESS.

JOHN 5: 1-9.1. After this, Jesus went to Jerusalem for a religious festival.2. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there is a pool with five porches; in Hebrew, it is called Bethzatha.3. A large crowd of sick people were lying in the porches — the blind, the lame, and the paralysed.5. A man was there who had been I’ll for 38 years.6. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been I’ll for such a long time; so he asked him, “Do you want to get well ?”7. The sick man answered, “Sir, I have no one here to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up; while I am trying to get in, somebody else gets there first.8. Jesus said to him, ” Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”9. Immediately the man got well; he picked up his mat and started walking.(GOOD NEWS BIBLE) In summary, Jesus healed a man whose case was really and seemingly hopeless. Jesus brought succour to a man who had resigned to fate. Jesus became Someone to this man who had no one. Jesus helped this man who could not be party to the festivities around him because of his discomfiting immobility. This man who could not have an encounter with the miracle performing angel had an unexpected and unsolicited encounter with the Lord of Angels, Jesus Christ. This man who had been written off, even by himself, became a celebrity. A hopeless case became the reference point for Divine intervention in sordid situations. The name of the man in the narrative in the Bible was never mentioned. This story is not just about a disabled man in Jerusalem. This story is not just about a pool in Jerusalem either. This story is not just about the past events only. This story is more than meets the eyes. Looking deeper into the mirror, one sees that the man actually has a name — yours. The man really has a face — mine. The man has a problem — just like ours. Though Jesus Christ was in Jerusalem for the festival, He did not go there to feast; to draw crowd around Him; to teach disciples or to frolic with dignitaries. No, Jesus Christ was aware of the endless waves of groans coming from the camps of the destitute. Jesus Christ saw beyond the festival and into the world of the societal dregs; into the lives of the ostracized and hopeless living in tattered penury. Jesus Christ recognised the ignored. Jesus Christ felt the hurt of these ones who probably already felt abandoned by God ! And Jesus Christ brought succour. Jesus Christ is with the sick to heal. Jesus Christ is walking slowly and carefully among the beggars and the blind. Jesus Christ suffers when we suffer. Jesus Christ cares for us more than any one cares. Jesus Christ lived and lives forever. Jesus Christ is Compassion. The Bible makes it clear that anyone whose life is not holy will never see God. Hebrews 12:14. That’s our predicament. Only the holy will see God. Only the perfect will make heaven. But, our righteousness is filthiness before God. Now, you see why we are like the paralysed man. We’re the invalid and we’re trapped – no one around to assist us. We have no solution for our situation. We’re the wounded and weary. We’re the one lying on the ground, hopelessly. We don’t have what it takes to be healed. Our only hope is that God will do for us what He did for the man at Bethesda; that He steps into our ward of hurt and helplessness; into our world of insecurity and trepidation. We need Jesus Christ in our lives. We need the righteousness of Jesus Christ to make eternity in bliss; and we need Jesus Christ as the Solution to our situations. We need to surrender to His Lordship. Jesus Christ is standing by the door. He wants to come in and give His peace NOW. Jesus Christ is the Hope of the Hopeless. Whatever your predicament may be now, may the King of kings; the Lord of lords; the Unchanging Changer , Jesus Christ, visit you NOW to wipe away your tears of sorrow and turn your gloom to bloom.Amen.