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house of mercy

John 5:2
"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches."

Jesus called on Mary Magdalene to be the first eyewitness to His resurrection! Our GOD is more patient and care-filled than we give Him credit for! Jesus lingered at the tomb to comfort the broken heart of someone He cares about. He did not have to do that. He gently guided her to think, to remember His teachings on this subject. This is who our GOD is. Isn't Jesus who everyone is looking for? This is the question we all need to answer. The question Jesus asked Mary, "Who are you looking for?"

Today we turn to more verses in the Gospel of John that demonstrate the compassion of our Lord and Savior. In Hebrew, "Bethesda" means "house of mercy" or "house of grace." The Bethesda Pool is described as having five porticoes. Scholars dismiss this as an unhistorical literary creation. Until recent years, when this site was excavated, it revealed a rectangular pool with two basins separated by a wall. Making it a five-sided pool, with each side having its own portico. This pool was a "mikveh." which is a Jewish ritual bath. Where ceremonies of purification are performed. In this pool, people believed that when the water bubbled up, the first person in the water would be healed. So, there are lots of people here hoping to win the lottery of bubbling water. With many people here waiting and not "winning", they turned to begging. Making this place known for both suffering and hope. Into this situation the Son of God stepped...
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