David Bahn – Reflections

John 5:1-9

¹After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

²Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

When Jesus sees this man at the pool called Bethesda, he asks the man if he wants to be healed. This is an invitation to dance. Jesus has the power to heal. The man somehow actively participates in that healing by means of his active faith. There is a line between the power, goodness and invitation of God and the will of man. That line is a dance.

When we ignore the power of God we forfeit his gifts. When we refuse his invitation we leave the gifts unopened and neglected. But when faith meets God’s invitation with trust and love, a delightful dance unfolds.

Faith never demands God’s favor. We do not cause God to love us. Nor do we create his promise by our faith. But faith does listen carefully for God’s invitation. Faith senses the subtle move of God’s leading. Faith and God’s goodness dance. Sometimes faith will whisper into the ear of God, “Let’s go over there.” And God leads us that way. Sometimes faith looks longingly into the heart of God to catch a glimpse of God’s love and holds that vision close. God leads. Faith follows. It is a dance.

On one occasion a lame man was healed and he went dancing – literally (Acts 3:6-9). Where is God inviting you to dance today? Where is he inviting you to participate with him in the dance of life?