Another feast!? Jesus is going to a feast?
I hope I get invited. There’s good food at those feasts.
What do you mean, this story isn’t about the feast? What else could be better than a feast?
Oh. Another miracle, huh? You mean like when Jesus fed all those people?
What do you mean, those weren’t the only miracles Jesus did?
Okay, I’ll listen.
***
When Jesus was in Jerusalem for a feast he stopped by a pool called Bethesda. A great number of disabled people hung out there. An angel went down at a certain time and stirred up the water and whoever stepped in first after that was healed.
***
That sounds like a good place to go swimming.
What do you mean dogs probably weren’t allowed in that pool?
I am listening.
***
One of the people at the pool had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there and learned he’d been in that condition for a long time and he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
The invalid told Jesus that he had no one to help him into the pool, so when the water was stirred someone always beat him into it.
Jesus said to the man, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
The man was immediately made well and he picked up his mat and walked.
***
I bet that man was so happy he ran out and got some fish. And he had so much he shared it with me.
I am not totally focused on fish. Any kind of food will do.
I am listening, but I just had to throw in that fish part.
***
The Jews saw the healed man carrying his mat and they gave him what for because it was the Sabbath and it was against the law to carry a mat on the Sabbath.
But it was one of the laws that people had added to God’s laws.
***
So if people make a law we shouldn’t have to follow it? Like I shouldn’t have to be on a leash?
What do you mean that’s not the same?
***
Jesus was making a point because so many things had been added to the Sabbath that it was impossible to follow them.
But because Jesus was healing on the Sabbath the Jews persecuted him.
***
Does that mean Jesus can’t feed everybody on the Sabbath? I’d better hang out with him on the other days of the week.
bongodogblog 
marina kanavaki
April 21, 2013 at 11:21 am
You are excluded from any law, Bongo!
🙂
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 3:21 pm
Thanks Marina. I think I’ll go out running without my leash now. Oops, I forgot. My person might get lost if I don’t keep her on a leash.
marina kanavaki
April 22, 2013 at 3:04 am
See! Laws are for humans only [even if the affect you too, sometimes]!
🙂
Roberta
April 21, 2013 at 1:51 pm
I’ve always found it interesting that Jesus asked if the man wanted to get well. So many times, we chose the status quo because it’s comfortable and we know what to expect; being healed in any way changes many things for us….there are more fish to come, Bongo.
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 3:24 pm
Roberta, my person says she was discussing this with friends just the other day. Most of the time Jesus told people their faith had healed them, but this man didn’t even know who Jesus was or ask him to be healed. Maybe he was comfortable in his physical disabilities. But I’m still waiting for the fish.
dogloverofmax@gmail.com
April 21, 2013 at 6:44 pm
You really are an amazing story teller! You inspire me! Love your blog!
Bongo
April 21, 2013 at 9:41 pm
Thanks Max.
eripanwkevin
April 22, 2013 at 7:10 am
The swimming pool ” Bethesda” looks very miraculous…..hmmmm Sabbath sounds very strict law….
People still do nothing on the day of Sabbath?
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 12:21 pm
Kevin, Sabbath is a day God set aside for people to rest and worship God. But by Jesus’ time the Jewish religious leaders had added lots of rules to the Sabbath that God never intended. Jesus made a point of healing people on the Sabbath to show that all those man-made rules weren’t necessary or even good. Jesus had several discussions with the religious leaders about the Sabbath and they didn’t like him because of it – and for other reasons too. Orthodox Jews still celebrate the Sabbath on Saturday but most Christians worship on Sunday. When my person was little most stores and restaurants were closed on Sunday, but now most people in this country just think of it as a day to have fun since they don’t have to go to work.
eripanwkevin
April 23, 2013 at 6:23 am
Thank you very much for more information about the Sabbath, Bongo. Hmmm…interesting…that’s why Sunday is “Sunday” that most people don’t work….in Japan many companies are off on Sunday and Saturday, but I’m just wondering if we follow the day of Sabbath on weekend… or it’s just the same by accident…?
Bongo
April 23, 2013 at 3:07 pm
Kevin, many companies here are closed on Saturday and Sunday too. We call it the weekend and many people live for the weekend when they don’t have to go to work.
snoopys@snoopysdogblog
April 22, 2013 at 7:15 am
I don’t think the laws apply to you Bongo – or how else will you get all your mischief done? Tee Hee
Wags to all,
Your pal Snoopy 🙂
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 12:22 pm
Snoopy, you are so right. One of my jobs is to do mischief, so those laws couldn’t possibly apply to me.
FleaByte
April 22, 2013 at 10:00 am
Bongo, I like the way you tell stories. We had fish last night. I’m sorry that I didn’t save you any.
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 12:23 pm
FleaByte, you’re making me drool. Could you please invite me to dinner next time you’re having fish?
Misty Shores Chesapeakes
April 22, 2013 at 2:04 pm
Another great Bible story Bongo!
Bongo
April 22, 2013 at 4:35 pm
Thanks Misty Shores.
colliesofthemeadow
April 27, 2013 at 5:04 am
Ginger says we dont need no laws! Only the laws Ginger writes and of course the ones God gives us. 🙂
Bongo
April 27, 2013 at 1:43 pm
The world would be a better place if all we had were God’s and Ginger’s laws.
angelswhisper2011
April 27, 2013 at 2:16 pm
Bongo, did I hear fish… pawty? I mean it’s Saturday, so there’s fish huh, tomorrow we can rest and follow the law 🙂
Bongo
April 27, 2013 at 10:32 pm
Little Binky, I think we should have fish every day of the week.