Published: 1 January 2015
http://harmonypb.org/grace-plus-nothing/2015/jan/1/i-have-no-man/
"After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.” (John 5:1-8)
A new year is dawning for all of us. This is the time of year when many make resolutions to live a better life or seek some form of self-improvement. The text before us today, has a great theme for us to remember today and every other day the rest of the year.
“I have no man."
There is nothing wrong with making new year’s resolutions or setting goals for improvement at any other time. However, we should not forget when we make these declarations that what we need most is Jesus.
This impotent man had been unable to walk for a very long time. He makes this statement in hopelessness. He had been in this condition for years and did not see a way to improve. He was hopeless because he did not know Who was talking to him.
Our condition of weakness may not be as desperate as this man’s but we must realize, just as he did, that we have no hope for improvement in our lives if we have “no man.” The man we need is Jesus.
Perhaps, the best resolution we can make for the new year is to trust in Jesus more and more each day!