Tajima church Dec. 1, 2019
Rev. R Ishida
" From Capharnaum in Galilee To Bethesda in Jerusalem "
John 5:1---9
Most of Jesus' activities are mainly in Galilee. According to the Bible, he was living in Capharnaum after having moved from Nazareth. Mark writes as this: He was at home for a considerable time. On the Sabbath he would often teach and heal many people in need and in trouble around there. Every word and deed of his is suitable for the word “Capharnaum”, The name is derived from Hebrew caphar(village) and nahum(naham). Nahum means comfort. It is named for a man. But we are not sure if he built the village on not. At the same time, we can read it as “the village of comfort”.
In the OT nahum means “comfort”, “consolation”, “encouragement”, “inspiring” and “stirring up”. Namely, unfailing grace(love) of God. The word is dominantly used for His steadfast love in the OT. The love of God is not only for Israelites but also for gentiles(ethnos). By Jesus' being here, we can say, the word gains the original meaning again. The village is now really the place of unfailing love because Jesus is at home.
This time, Jesus went to Jerusalem, according to John 5:1 to 9. On the way, he came to Bethesda with a pool, It had a lot of handicapped lying alongside of the pool. Bethesda means house of unfailing love of God like the case of Capharnaum. In another reading we see “Bethzatha”. Which means “house of olive”. You know what olive means? You remember Noah, I guess. Olive is a symbol of good and joyful hope.
But John tells us what happened here. There had been and has been a miracle present for an only person, and many have left in misery, not in His love. John goes on. An angel of the Lord went down at certain season into the pool, and troubled the water, whoever stepped in first into the pool after the troubling of water healed of whatever diseases he had.
Who do you think here are? We see a quite a few people of invalids, blind, lame, paralyzed lying here. They are so called “the lost” and “the microi”. They are “the small”. They have been lost. But now Jesus stopped here and gave hope to live in his steadfast grace and mercy.
They were those who sat in the region and shadow of death(Mt.4:16). But now Jesus is here, in front of them, with unfailing love.
The story goes on:
A man who Jesus is talking to says: “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirring up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
The thing happened to him has been happening to every person lying here, without only one. Therefore, I think, John's report is terrible, cruel and miserable. Bethesda should be The House of Comfort for everyone.
Now we see God's grace newly through Jesus' presence. Jesus has come and is in Capharnaum, in Bethesda and in the shadow of death of today's, and also in your and our church, and in you, and at your home. Every place Jesus comes and is the very place of Capharnaum and of Bethesda.
The house of yours and ours is now the house of mercy and grace because Jesus is with you and us.