In the multitude he lay there

In the multitude he lay there

With a sickness many years;

Impotent and lying helpless

Ever fraught with many fears.

Waiting for the water’s moving

Waiting for the angel’s stir;

Powerless to move

however

Helpless

hopeless

lying there.

At this pool how clear the picture

Of the hopeless case of all

Who are seeking self-perfection

To recover from the fall.

Though the law is good and holy

Flesh

to keep the law

is dead;

What we need is not religion

But the Word of life instead.

Though it’s feast day

he’s not happy

Though the Sabbath

there’s no rest;

Lying in his poor condition

Miserable and sore depressed.

At that moment Jesus saw him

Knowing he was thus so long.

“Will you be made whole?” He asked him

“Healed and walking

well and strong?”

Though he told his hopeless story

Scarce believing what he’d heard

Yet

soon to his feet arising

He received the living word.

This is all our situation

We—like him—were lying there

In the sheep-fold of religion

Under law’s prevailing care.

While we yet were weak and helpless

Christ the Son of God did come.

By His word we’re now enlivened;

He’s the life-imparting One!

Hallelujah for this Jesus

He’s the Word of life to men;

From law’s bondage He releases

Death is turned to life again!