Loneliness is the world’s saddest disease and goes hand in hand with hopelessness. I have sat in a room full of people and felt so lonely and so in need of a friend. Today I was thinking about this while listening to music written from a lonely heart and suddenly realized, if I am listening to their song, they were lonely once too. I suddenly realized I was not the only lonely one and in fact there are thousands like me. Perhaps, as I have, you have thought that even if someone were to be-friend me, how could they possibly help my complicated heart and life. Probably they could not. Would I be asking too much of them?
Jesus was walking alone one Sabbath morning, in Jerusalem through the place called the Pool of Bethesda, during the Feast of Weeks (#Pentecost). I think his mind must have been on a future “Feast of Weeks” when three years from then He would have ascended to heaven to his Father’s throne to show Him the nail marks in His hands and the wounds in his side, emblems of a conquering Prince. Only by His death could He avail to receive and open to us the Lamb’s Book of Life. During that feast, three years down the road, He would impart to us the Gift of the Spirit and begin to read the Book of Life, telling us about the Mystery, revealed in these last times to us, regarding the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world. And receiving from His Father power, riches, and wisdom, and strength and honor, and glory, and blessing He would then impart these to us, His blood purchased possession, making us a royal priesthood and of His household in the family of God. (Revelation 5:9-12, 1 Peter 1,:18,19, Romans 16:25,26)
#John5 The gospel of John chapter Five tells us that as Jesus was walking, He found Himself at the pool in a place called House of Mercy where multitudes of powerless people lay sick and dying waiting for the season of the moving of the water (spiritually representing the gift of the Spirit – John 7:38,39) because whoever first stepped in could be healed of whatever disease he had. Oh, how Jesus wanted to heal every one of them right then. But rather than to stir up the rulers and bring His own death sooner than God’s timing foretold, He refrained and stood before only one. The worst case in the porch, one who had been ill for thirty-eight years. The powerless man looks up into the kindest, compassionate face he ever looked upon. And Jesus says, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
The response of the powerless man is the response of every human heart on this earth. “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Spiritually, he just told Jesus, I need a man to get me to the Presence of God. It is a dog eat dog world, and even if I had a man to get me there, it would be a race to see who could get there first. Isn’t that the truth. We can be sitting in a House of Mercy, a church. And we can be the sick, powerless one in such need of God’s healing Presence. But the selfishness and bigotry and rivalry going on around us can work to prevent us from ever reaching the Presence of God. The truth is, without Jesus there is no man to save us. (#Isaiah59:16, John 14:6, Acts 4:12). Even if we are unselfish and kind, we of our own character or our own power, cannot give life or healing ( Acts 3:12,16).
Jesus doesn’t ask the man to believe. He doesn’t require baptism. He doesn’t wait. He just says “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” And the powerless man, immediately receives power and is made whole, takes up his bed and does walk. Wait. Is it that simple? Just that the impotent man expressed his need of a man. And the Man was right there ready to impart His special healing, saving, Divine power.
It was this story that helped me to understand what happened during another #FeastofWeeks or 10 days before #Pentecost three years later during the life of Christ. In this prophecy we see Christ as He ascends from this earth to the the throne of His Father. We see impotent or powerless men who need a man.
And I saw in the right hand of him that sat on the throne a book written within and on the backside, sealed with seven seals.
2And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?
3And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
4And I wept much, because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
5And one of the elders saith unto me, Weep not: behold, the Lion of the tribe of Juda, the Root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to loose the seven seals thereof.
6And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.
7And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the throne.
8And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four andtwenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.
9And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation;
10And hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth.
11And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;
12Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.
13And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
14And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org/Revelation-Chapter-5/
My husband often traveled as our children were growing up. Sometimes when I would need him, I would tell the girls in exasperation, "I need a man!" They would say, "Who better it be?" I would say, "It better be Daddy!" The truth is we as humans needed a man to save us. But not just any man can impart life or healing or hope. Only one specific man could do it, the Man Jesus Christ. This is where I begin to tell you my story which revolves around HIS STORY – The Testimony of Jesus Christ or the Spirit of Prophecy. I hope to share with you the Story of Jesus as we walk through Prophecy Made Proph-easy.