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August 14 Daily Devotional

More Than a Man

Frans Bakker

Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool. —John 5:7

Bible Reading

John 5:1–9

Devotional

The thirty-eight-year-old sick man at the pool of Bethesda had no man to help him. But then Christ appeared to this helpless man on one of the porches of Bethesda. He walked past all those who had help from people to find this one man in his hopelessness. Christ came especially for him. The man did not know Christ, but Christ knew him. To those who know not Christ, He makes Himself known. “When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path” (Ps. 142:3). It was by God’s grace that other people were withheld from helping him, so that room would be made in his life for help from above. What a blessing when God keeps people away to make room for Himself!

The thirty-eight-year-old sick man was more blessed than all the others who sought healing at the pool of Bethesda, because when Christ stood beside him, then he had a Man who was at the same time God. He was a Man who could understand him better than all men, for He bore our sicknesses (Matt. 8:17). He was at the same time God, powerful to deliver according to soul and body. “I have no man.” The sick man, who had no man, received more than a man. Jesus, in His love, sought the man out. He had not called for Jesus.

How blessed are those who cannot be helped by others anymore, nor can they help themselves. The Lord seeks them, even if they have been miserable for thirtyeight years. The Lord comes in His time. He comes when our troubles seem more and more hopeless. “Wilt thou be made whole?” That is a question to someone who does not dare think any more about redemption and who yet crawls in vain to find it.

There is redemption, but that can never be because of man, but only because of Him who descended into the misery of man. In the depths of hell He was also alone. All who belonged to Him slept, fled, and denied Him. Jesus had no man. On the cross He did not even have His God. Therefore the helpless man would receive more than a man, both in life and in death.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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