Stepping In Front

2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 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.

 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 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? 7 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.

 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked …  (John 5: 2-8)

There are abundant lessons in these verses. Verse 7 stood out to me recently. The man tries to get to the water to be cured but someone always “steppeth down before me.” 

How often do I hinder someone’s progress because I'm focused on my own task at hand and clueless about the people around me? How often does someone need assistance and I'm unaware because I'm so focused on what I'm doing? 

I need to do better and be better - more mindful of the progress someone else is trying to make - more mindful of the assistance someone might need. More like Christ.

Click here for Carl Bloch painting