Deep Cries Out to You

* Psalm 42:7*

In John 5 we learn that there was a pool, Bethesda, where the sick would wait around, because when the water was stirred by the angel of the Lord, whoever went in first was cured.

There was a man who could not reach the water, because of his sickness. So Jesus approached him and told him to pick up his bed and walk! Jesus didn't carry him to the water - He brought the effectiveness of this water to the man. Let's explore how he did that.

In the chapter before Jesus is talking to a Samaritan woman and says to her 'I will give you fresh and living water.' She was receiving from an Old Testament well, He was offering her His New Testament river! In the Old Testament people lived with visitations from God, but the Samaritan woman and the man by Bethesda got to experience the fullness of God.

Again we see in John 7 from verse 37, He is telling people that the thirsty must come to Jesus. He then says that out of THEIR belly will flow rivers of living water. So when they came to Jesus, not only would this water be available for them to drink but it would flow through and out of them! The water represents the Spirit! 

So if Jesus said the effectiveness, the power of the water is in Him, then as we come to Him the water flows through and out of us. In Colossians 1:27 says that Christ is in us the hope of glory! If Christ offered that water, that Spirit and Christ is in us - then that water is in us! A water, a river that can heal the sick, feed the hungry. Funnily enough, Jesus talks to the disciples about the harvest after He shares the revelation with the Samaritan woman, and then demonstrates the Word by healing the man waiting outside Bethesda. There's people around us waiting to be healed! We need to realise that we have a river inside of us- a river of living water.

But I also believe there needs to be a stirring -  a stirring of that river inside of us. In Songs of Solomon 4 it is said that the Shulamite woman is like a spring closed up (Bishop TD Jakes preaches a good message on this). We can be like a spring and fountain closed up. But then Solomon goes onto say that she is a fountain of living waters, a flowing stream! Does this mirror what Jesus says about us? The Shulamite woman then says let the winds blow upon her garden so her beloved can enjoy the fruits. We want His winds to blow on our garden so our rivers can flow. How can we stir the waters? Through worship and intimacy. In John 4, Jesus links living waters and worship. Let those waters be stirred in worship.

I also had the privilege of going to a friend's baptism on Sunday. Water also points to newness of life. There is new life waiting for us to experience and there is life waiting to come out of us!! Be in that place of worship to let life come out of you :)