Think of how much money is spent on health and wellness, cosmetics, and plastic surgery so that people may look and feel younger.
It’s often said that age is just an illusion.
Though in a fresh breath of honesty, one of my church members said to me one day, “Age isn’t just an illusion.”
Indeed, it’s not. Age is an accounting of the number of days a person has walked this planet.
Whether a person looks or feels younger, 100 years walking this planet is still 100 years walking this planet.
Imagine if a person could receive renewed life, restored youthfulness, and stave off death.
People would go to incredibly great lengths to obtain such things, spending whatever they can, going through whatever difficulties come their way to achieve youthful vitality.
In the Gospel of John, some people believed they found where such a place existed, a sort of Fountain of Youth.
Multitudes went to a pool called Bethesda, that was located in the city of Jerusalem.
They hoped that by taking a dip in the water, they would be healed of their sicknesses.
When Jesus was in Jerusalem for a Jewish feast, He walked by the pool.
He came across a man, and he knew that the man had been there a long time.
The man had suffered some form of affliction in his legs, that prevented him from walking.
Every time he tried to get into the pool, before he could get there, someone else would cut in front of him.
It seems the hope of healing was beginning to fade for the man, but perhaps Jesus would help him get into the pool.
Jesus didn’t.
Instead, He told the man, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” (John 5:8)
The man picked up his bed and walked.
This shows that Jesus can and does promise newness of life.
With a word He forgives sins, removes death’s sting, and gives eternal life through faith.
Travis Lauterbach is the pastor of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church located in the Falcon Ridge Business Park in Mesquite, NV.
