When a man spends his life alone it seems like he shrivels up inside. We all need somebody.”
–Elmer Kelton (Badger Boy)
“Look on my right hand and see, for there is no one who acknowledges me; refuge has failed me; no one cares for my soul.”
–Psalm 142:4 (NKJV)
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“Have you ever been lonely,
Have you ever been blue?”
–Billy Hill
Perhaps you can relate to the lyrics above of the old country song. There are many “lonely” people in the world. I intentionally placed the quotation marks around “lonely” because there can be many kinds of loneliness, and many different circumstances. There are some who are truly by themselves in the world. There are others, who even in the midst of a crowd, feel isolated and lonely.
I was reading last week in John and a particular few words stuck out. John, chapter five begins with the man at the Pool of Bethesda. There is much to be said about that place, the mystery of it, the superstition that surrounded it. It was a blend of Hebrew and Greek folklore and paganism where we find a man lying there who had a condition for thirty-eight years. Read the story that gives the setting and the question that Jesus asked. Now, focus on the response by the man.
“The sick man answered Him, ‘Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.'” (John 5:7, NKJV) The ESV translates it, “no one.” In other words, the man was alone. There are many things I don’t understand about the workings of God. Here Jesus was walking among several who were afflicted, yet there is no mention of anyone else being healed. His focus was solely upon the man lying there.
Charles Swindoll points out the meaning of the name, “Bethesda.” He mentions that it is a kind of play on words. Bethesda means, “house of grace” or “house of outpouring”. Hmmm, “house of grace” — where was the grace surrounding the pool? Superstition? The only one to find grace that day was the man to whom Jesus addressed. The outpouring–not yet, for the Holy Spirit had not yet come.
But here we see a man, most probably in desperation and despair, seeking to be healed. Jesus saw his heart. He saw the faith that was there even though it was misguided. I am reminded of the lyrics,
“No one ever cared for me like Jesus;
There’s no other friend so kind as He.
No one else could take the sin and darkness from me;
O how much He cared for me.”
–Charles Frederick Weigle
Upon reading some about Weigle, I found that his ministry often took him away from home. One day when he arrived home he found his wife and daughter gone; they did not want to endure the life in a minister’s family, but wanted to indulge in the world. He went into deep depression and three years later his wife died. In his misery he wondered if anyone cared for him…then, ah then, the love of Jesus flooded his soul.
Perhaps you are in circumstances where you feel all alone. You are not. Maybe the world you once knew is crashing down around you and you don’t know what to do. Jesus is there and He knows. Perhaps you are estranged from someone in your family. But you are not estranged from the heavenly Father. You may be depressed, sickness may have brought you low, there seems to be no cure. Ah, but Jesus is there–the Great Physician.
Others may pass you by, maybe even those thought to be religious like the priest and the Levite in the story of the Good Samaritan. Friends, or those you thought were friends have ignored you in your troubles and needs. There is one–the loving Jesus–who is singling you out. He is focusing on you. Look to Him and you find that there is someone there in your time of need.