After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath (John 5:1 – 9).

The Pool of Bethesda is located in the ancient city by the Sheep Gate. So, I imagine all of the disheartened people are sitting around, and every once in a while, the shepherds would bring their sheep to get a little drink of water. This is not a fun place to be. This is not your desired location. You don’t go to the Pool of Bethesda unless you have to. All these people are hurting. They are struggling. Jesus was walking along one day and finds one particular man who is known as ”the man at the Pool of Bethesda.” We don’t know his name.

Out of all the people who were at the pool, Jesus zeroed in on ”the one.” Jesus has always been about the one. He has always been about the individual, about personal needs.

Every one of us is an individual in the sight of God. That’s why, Luke 15:4 – 7, describes for us a powerful parable told by Jesus. Jesus leaves the ninety-nine sheep to go find one that has strayed. Jesus sees you, an individual. He sees your hurt. He sees where you’re struggling, when you’re lonely, where you’re uneasy and uncomfortable.

For thirty-eight years this man had lived in this condition. Thirty-eight years! It is 13,870 days of hopelessness. Jesus approaches this man; the man did not approach Jesus. He doesn’t even know who Jesus is. Jesus comes to him. He seeks him out.

The reason Jesus seeks people out is because He cares. If Jesus didn’t care, He wouldn’t be seeking you. He wouldn’t be coming after you. Jesus approached this man because He cared. When the Bible tells us Jesus sees me, it doesn’t mean Jesus is just checking out the environment. No, Jesus sees because He cares. This Advent season Jesus sees you.