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The lame man who had no friends – Beena Didi
Dear child, the cold winter inDelhiis getting over. Winter is a terrible time for poor homeless people. The people who most suffer are the sick and old among them. But God wants us to care for them. When Jesus was in the world He always cared and helped such poor, needy and sick people. Here is one such incident where Jesus helps an old sick man who had no friend.
It was a holiday in the city ofJerusalem, which is a day for resting and visiting friends. Many people said, “Let’s go to the pool ofBethesdaand visit our friends who are sick.” Sick people used to stay near the pool. It was believed that when the angel of the Lord stirs the water whoever jumps into the pool would get healed.
Jesus also went to the pool. When He got there, He saw a big crowd of sick people and visitors. Some of the sick people were blind. Others were lame and crippled. Some were so sick that they couldn’t even move. All of them stayed close to the pool. They were all waiting to get into the water when it bubbled.
At the pool Jesus saw a sick man who had no friends. The man had been sick for a long, long time. Besides, he didn’t have any friends or brothers or sisters who could help him into the water when it bubbled. All he could do was lie there on his blanket, day after day, wishing that someone would help him.
Worst of all, the man felt bad when he thought of the many wrong things he had done before he got sick. Maybe he thought God was punishing him. Jesus stopped and talked to the man. “Do you want to get well?” Jesus asked him.
“Sir, how can I get well?” the man answered. “I don’t have any friends to help me into the pool. And when the water starts to bubble, somebody else always gets ahead of me.” The man was very desperate about his condition.
Jesus looked at the man and said with a strong voice: “Get up, pick up your blanket, and walk.” Nobody has spoken to the sick man like this before. He was surprised, and looked at Jesus with wonder.
As soon as Jesus said this, the man’s sick body became well. He felt strong all over. Up from the ground he jumped. And, picking up his blanket, he began to walk. He could hardly believe what had happened! He was so happy that he began to run around the whole place.
Later on, Jesus saw the man again. “Now that you are well,” Jesus said to him, “don’t do bad things again. Use your healthy body to thank God and to be kind to other people.” Jesus healed the man and helped him to live a normal life.
The man was glad to be well. He was happy that Jesus was his Friend. From then on he wanted to do only good things. He also decided to help others who are suffering.
Dear child, like Jesus who helped the sick man who had no friend, we also should help others who are sick or in need. Let us pray: “Dear Jesus, help me to help the sick and suffering people in whatever way I can. Amen.” May God bless you!
