Building One Another  

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. I Thessalonians 5:11

Be a Bethesda!

Dear Friend -

Jesus heals a man lying by the Pool of Bethesda who turns out to be a whiney, spineless person.

Upon receiving an outright miracle, he shows no gratitude. In return for his mercy, Jesus gets nothing but trouble. Why did Jesus heal this one?

Bethesda is a beautiful name in the Bible that combines two words, the first being beth meaning house, such as in Beth-lehem – house of bread.

The second is hesed, so Bethesda means House of Hesed or house of mercy,

Hesed means, “I will never withdraw my love from you. As the Paul was to say, “If we are faithless, he remains is faithful, because he cannot deny himself.” 2 Tim. 2:13

So, why did Jesus heal a whiney, spineless, ingrate lying by the Pool of Bethesda?

The answer is gigantic. Jesus wants us to know that no matter what our inner weakness has been, no matter how we have messed up or have even turned our backs on him, Jesus, himself, is the House of Hesed, always holding onto you so that you may turn to hold onto him.

One more matter. We are to grow the likeness of Jesus through the Spirit of Jesus. That means, YOU, too, are to be a House of Hesed to the people in your life.

Offer them the same faithful mercy our Lord has given you, for that leads to joy!

Joy to you – Stan  

© Copyright 2025 E. Stanley Ott

1. Who are people in your life who have been a House of Hesed to you, and why?
2. In what ways is Jesus your House of Hesed? What does this mean for you if you have fallen into behaviors far from Jesus?
3. For whom may you be a House of Hesed, offering God's mercy and your mercy and forgiveness, even when its not deserved?
4. Ask our Lord to fill you with God's love and to love others through you with very mercy God has shown you.

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