Do want to be made well?

John 5:5-9: “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.”

After Jesus finished traveling through Samaria, He went up to Jerusalem to celebrate a Jewish feast. While He was traveling, He walked through the sheep gate where there was a pool. This pool was special. Legend has it that an angle would stir the water and if you were the first one in the water, you would be healed. So no doubt, this was a hang out for those with infirmities. A man was there hoping to be one of the lucky ones. He was afflicted for 38 years with the same problem. The people in his life got him to the pool but he could never pull himself when the angel would stir the water. This man’s condition was pathetic, and he was hoping on a mythical chance that his healing would come. He did not know that his condition was going to change forever. As Jesus approached this man, He asks him the most unusual question. "Do you want to be made well?"

"Do you want to be made well?" This was a question that this man alone could answer. Why did Jesus ask him this question? Because sometimes we like to wallow in our own pity. We like the attention, we like the pain and we like to dodge the real issues in our life. Jesus asked him this question, "Do you want to be made well?" and the man did not say yes, no, or even maybe. He said I could not get to the water, because of other people. He gave an excuse that did not answer the question So Jesus made him choose, Jesus said, “if you really want to be healed, get up and walk” Ok sir, here is your opportunity, Jesus just took away all of your excuses. This man seized that opportunity and obeyed what Jesus commanded, and was healed.
Many of us were in similar conditions, we were not lame or had any physical infirmity, but we were infirm. Our sickness however was in our hearts. Jesus approaches us and asks us, "Do you want to be made well?” It is a choice that we make. Every person must make that decision. Once we make that decision then we live each day after that walking in the knowledge that Jesus healed our broken spirits, and now we seek daily to live for Him. If you have not been made whole, Jesus is asking you today, "Do you want to be made well?"

Tomorrows Readings:
Old Testament: 11 Kings 12-14 New Testament John 5:25-47