What Did Samaritan Woman and Man at Pool of Bethesda Both Do? — Sunday Thought For The Day

I would think that no few people both saved and unsaved alike are familiar with the New Testament account of Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well in the fourth chapter of John Gospel. But what most believers miss is the importance of what the Samaritan woman did after having spent time with Jesus.

We are told: “The woman then left her waterpot, and went her way into the city, and saith unto the men, come see a man, who told me all things that I ever did. Is not this the Christ? Then they went out of the city, and came unto Him.” (John 4:28-30 KJV)

After her encounter with Christ she was unable not to tell others what Jesus had done. She in essence shared her personal experience with Jesus to others and then encouraged them, so they too could experience Him.

Likewise, believers and unbelievers alike are familiar with Jesus healing the man at the “pool of Bethesda.” (See: John 5:1-24) There are two takeaways I want to point out in this man’s personal encounter with Christ. The first takeaway is that Jesus gave the man a choice. The scripture says: “When Jesus saw him [the man] lying there, and knew that he had been thus now a long time, He sayeth unto him, Wilt thou be made well?” (John 5:6 KJV)

Jesus knew that the man had been taken ill for 38 years. (See John 5:5 KJV) But Jesus gave the man a choice of being made whole by saying yes to Jesus’ invitation or choosing to stay ill and depend upon himself and/or others, including myths and mysticisms to get well. The man in John 5:7 (KJV) first explained why he was able to get well in his own strength nor through the help of others. But when he acknowledged yes, he wanted Jesus to make him well, we read in John 5:8 that Jesus healed him. But with the man’s healing came with a solemn warning, which we see in John 5:14 (KJV)

And finally in John 5:15 we read that: “The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who made him well. Why the Jews? Because they were the unbelievers who were gathered in the man’s sphere of association.

Here is my point. When we encounter Jesus in a meaningful and spirit-filled way we cannot help but share our experience with others. We are called to be the “salt of the earth.” We are instructed to let our “light shine.” Without the sharing of what God is doing for us and is doing in us, it is hard to claim we are either salt or light. Because it is by our “fruit” that we are known.

READ: Matthew 5:13-16
13 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men.

14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.