This is the painting "Pool of Bethesda" by Carl Bloch. BYU has it on exhibit. I got to see it back when I was a student at BYU taking human civilizations class. I saw it again last weekend, Easter weekend. I not only love the story, but I love the painting. I think Bloch captures the emotion and the magnitude of the miracle performed by Jesus Christ at the pool side. From the commentary I listened to on the iPad during my tour of the exhibit, I heard a very interesting point. The man with the red cap is looking towards the still waters, when right behind him is the Living Waters. There is also a distinct contrast of light and dark.
Yesterday I was kayaking on Lady Bird Lake with a good friend. He was talking science as he always does, and I was enjoying listening as we paddled along. He talked about how the energy to do everything in this world comes from the sun and the sun setting off electric activity. It is how things are powered, even how we have energy to move muscles and power a kayak down the river. (Although he used much more correct terms for the specifics.) Then he linked it to how the Savior is the light and life of this world. What a great comparison!
I was sitting here preparing my temple prep Sunday school lesson, reading about the word of wisdom and staring outside at the plants, the flowers, the wind, the birds, and the sunlight...the light...and yesterday's conversation came back to me.
I am grateful for the Light of the World! I am grateful for the Savior's ability to reach out to the one, the man at the pool of Bethesda, the blind man on the street, the lepers, the woman with an issue of blood, the families and friends of David Anaman and Christine Ball, the lonely, the heartbroken, the oppressed...the Light of the World truly does have power to effect and strengthen all of us as we paddle down the Lady Bird Lakes of our life.
