Ezekiel 47: 1-9, 12; [1] And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and behold waters issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the east: for the forefront, of the house looked toward the east: but the waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of the altar. [2] And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me to turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked toward the east: and behold there ran out waters on the right side. [3] And when the man that had the line in his hand went out towards the east, he measured a thousand cubits: and he brought me through the water up to the ankles. [4] And again he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water up to the knees. [5] And he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water up to the loins. And he measured a thousand, and it was a torrent, which I could not pass over: for the waters were risen so as to make a deep torrent, which could not be passed over.
[1] "Waters"... These waters are not to be understood literally (for there were none such that flowed from the temple); but mystically, of the baptism of Christ, and of his doctrine and his grace: the trees that grow on the banks are Christian virtues: the fishes are Christians, that spiritually live in and by these holy waters.
[6] And he said to me: Surely thou hast seen, O son of man. And he brought me out, and he caused me to turn to the bank of the torrent. [7] And when I had turned myself, behold on the bank of the torrent were very many trees on both sides. [8] And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be healed. [9] And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after these waters shall come thither, and they shall be healed, and all things shall live to which the torrent shall come.
[12] And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow all trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their fruit shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits, because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for medicine.
John 5: 1-3, 5-16; [1] After these things was a festival day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [2] Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches. [3] In these lay a great multitude of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered; waiting for the moving of the water.
[2] "Probatica"... That is, the sheep pond; either so called, because the sheep were washed therein, that were to be offered up in sacrifice in the temple, or because it was near the sheep gate. That this was a pond where miracles were wrought is evident from the sacred text; and also that the water had no natural virtue to heal, as one only of those put in after the motion of the water was restored to health; for if the water had the healing quality, the others would have the like benefit, being put into it about the same time.
[5] And there was a certain man there, that had been eight and thirty years under his infirmity. [6] Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, he saith to him: Wilt thou be made whole? [7] The infirm man answered him: Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another goeth down before me. [8] Jesus saith to him: Arise, take up thy bed, and walk. [9] And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed, and walked. And it was the sabbath that day. [10] The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for thee to take up thy bed.
[11] He answered them: He that made me whole, he said to me, Take up thy bed, and walk. [12] They asked him therefore: Who is that man who said to thee, Take up thy bed, and walk?
Understand: We read from the prophet that there will be a torrent of water that will be for the healing for all of those who believe, we see in the Gospel of John that there is a pool of water that when it is stirred up by an angel that it contains healing powers and for all of those who believe and immerse themselves in it they are healed.
We see Jesus the Christ healing simply by His word or His touch or by being touched by someone. I ti s by their faith or belief that they are healed, how many times did Jesus say; "go, your faith has made you whole"? Everything throughout the prophets and the New Testament where restoration to God or healing is concerned, is based on the belief of those who are restored to God or healed.
Before there was a written Word there was a spoken Word. Then the Word was written because of man's sin, our Creator chose to no longer come and walk with us but we were left with a written Word to understand, true to mankind's nature of listening to the deceiver, man chose to make the written Word things that it was not meant to be.
So the Word became flesh and walked among man again in the flesh and taught and showed by example what the meaning of these written words were. You must understand; this living Word is the same Word that was written, it is the same Word that was spoken in the beginning of creation, the Word of God has never changed, the Word of God is life eternal for those who choose life. Jesus the Christ showed us how we are to understand the Word and how we are to live.
We have the choice to choose life with God or life without God, either way the soul never dies, this is our free will choice. Jesus Christ said it Himself, I will give water so that no one will thirst again, He is that "living water" that "torrent" that heals, He is the Living Word of God, His flesh was the final sacrifice that defeated death, man has over come sin and death, we must make a choice to follow or not.
We will be celebrating the resurrection soon enough, this is what Christianity is based upon, without the resurrection there is no Christianity, there is no defeat of death. What will you be doing on that day? Will you be choosing life?
Pray: Heavenly Father, through Your Word, Your Only Begotten Son, my Lord and Savior, Jesus the Christ, I have salvation. Help me to realize the truth of this and help my faith to grow so that I may be a living witness to the risen Christ. Through His holy name, Jesus I pray. Amen
In Christ,
Monk Michael
