John 5:5-9 (NKJV) 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.
On our way back from Utah, we were listening to a sermon on this passage from. The pastor was talking about the healing power of Jesus. He spoke of the many times He healed someone physically, and spiritually. He spoke about how He used methods unique to each individual situation.
There’s no way to be certain of Jesus’ tone or inflection in His question to the man, but I’m going to insert one. As I read this, I hear Jesus asking, “do you WANT to be made well?” Jesus isn’t asking the man why he hasn’t been successful in his attempts to be healed. He wants to know if the man wants it. This aroused a deep intrigue in me.
How often are we afflicted by something, physical, emotional and/or spiritual and wonder why we cannot be made well, or at least get past it? Allow Jesus to ask,”do you WANT to be made well?” Well, do you? Really? Do you?
I think in a great many instances, people cling to hurt, physical limitation or illness, emotional trauma, spiritual deficit, anguish and even sin, because they identify with it. People identify them with it. It can even be an escape from responsibility or reality.
Now, before the hate emails begin to fly, let me finish. I’m painting with a broad brush. I in no way mean to imply that every pain or illness suffered is controlled solely by oneself, nor am I implying that simply wishing it to be gone will make it so. What I am stating, as I believe Jesus is stating in His question, is do you really WANT to be well. This question applies to all the above mentioned conditions and a host of so many more. If you do not WANT to be made well, I don’t think you will be. If you don’t WANT Jesus to intervene in your life, on your behalf, I don’t believe He will.
Matthew 11:28 (NKJV) Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Wanting something is not enough, but wanting is the place to begin. Jesus wants us to be made well, physically, emotionally, spiritually, but we must WANT it. We must come to Him. The man by the pool had suffered for 38 years. He had reasons why He suffered. Jesus simply asked, “do you WANT to be made well”? He commanded the man to rise and after 38 years, he obeyed Jesus’ voice, chose to be made well and walked away.
We all have something that afflicts us, illness, pain, emotional scars, sin. What are you afflicted by? Do you WANT to be made well? Answer Jesus’ question, then obey His voice. That’s the place to start. May God bless each and everyone of you and have a safe and glorious weekend.
In full pursuit of the greatest Trophy,
Scott Pace
