After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

John 5:1-8

This time of year is the turning point any many people’s lives. With the start of a new year, we will start planning for the upcoming year. With that plan often comes resolutions. The text before us today has a great theme for us to remember at the start of a new year, the crossroads of life, and, frankly, every other day of the year!

“I have no man.”

There is nothing wrong with making plans for the future, setting goals, or making resolutions. However, we should not forget when we look to the future that what we need most of all in our lives in Jesus.

This impotent man had been unable to walk for a very long time. He makes this statement in hopelessness. He had been in this condition for years and did not see a way to improve. He was hopeless because he did not know Who was talking to him.

Our condition of weakness may not be as desperate as this man’s but we must realize, just as he did, that we have no hope for improvement or optimism in our lives if we have “no man.” – The man we need is Jesus. With Him any future is bright.