John 5:8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
The story of the invalid man at the pool of Bethesda is a vivid example of God's mercy at work. I noticed that most of the healing miracles that Jesus performed were based on the faith of those that needed healing. Jesus often said, 'be it unto you according to your faith'. The case of the man at the pool of Bethesda was totally different. I doubt if he had faith. Why did I say so? When Jesus came to him, he began to complain.
Maybe he didn't know he was standing before the man that can create and destroy. He felt frustrated because no one was there to help him into the pool whenever the angel came to stir the water. Jesus did not see any iota of faith in him. To avoid hearing too much complaint, Jesus in his own mercy told him to get up and walk. That was a miracle that happened because of God's mercy not on the basis of faith. Don't get me wrong, faith is important. It is a must but sometimes, when God decides to do a miracle in your life based on his sovereignty, your lack of faith can't stop him. An old man in ministry who was a fasting machine told a congregation about how he could fast better than a prominent preacher in town. He concluded his statement by saying the mercy of God was what the other man enjoyed because he could fast more than him yet he was not known.
Blind Bartimeaus understood the mercy of God could settle his case. He cried for mercy when he heard Jesus was passing by. Mercy of God can give a man what he doesn't deserve, mercy can make a man that doesn't know how to pray to live in realm of possibilities. Mercy can cancel the repercussion of sin and make you live as a free man. How do you explain the case of a lady that aborted severally even to a point where doctors confirmed her womb is damaged yet she started making babies like pig immediately after marriage? Whereas some ladies married as virgins with all organs intact yet they didn't conceive. Please, who should conceive first? sometimes, the mercy of God is 'unfair'. Mercy is an act of God's sovereignty that we all need.
father, have mercy on me (mention the areas where you need mercy).