Do You Want to Get Well?

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

John 5:6

Over the last three days, we have examined two signs from Jesus, and today we move to the third sign, the healing of the paralyzed man at the pool of Bethesda. Yesterday, we concluded by saying that while it is good to plan, we must commit every part of our lives to God because it is Jesus who brings life to any area of our lives. Today, we look at a man who remained in the same situation for thirty-eight years. I am not yet thirty-eight years old, but I can only begin to imagine staying in the same place, doing the same things, for thirty-eight years. This is either a point of no return or a state of hopelessness. But let’s examine this man’s story.

The first thing to note is that there was a pool in Jerusalem, believed to be stirred by an angel at certain times, and whoever entered the pool first would be healed. Many people believed this, which caused an influx of disabled people at the poolside. They all believed that if only they could get into the pool first, they would be healed. Like these people at the pool, many of us have certain beliefs about life. Sometimes we think, if only I could get into the best school, if only I were the best student, if only I got that scholarship, if only I graduated with first class, if only I were in a better family, if only I got that job. We often place our hopes for success on specific things, only to discover that when we achieve them, there is still another goal to aim for.

Earlier in my life, as I described yesterday, I experienced a lot of failures. At that point in my life, I would think, if only my parents could put me in a private school (as I was in a public school), if only my parents had the resources to buy me all I needed (even though I was very unserious), if only I had more intelligent people around me. So many “if onlys”—the list was endless.

This was the same situation with this man. When Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” he responded, “If only someone would help me into the pool.” He had become stuck at a point in life and believed that only one thing could help him: the pool. But he was right in one way: “If only he had Jesus,” because this is the only correct situation to use that phrase, “If only.” Jesus is the only one we need.

Many times, like this man, we become so fixated on certain things in our lives that we neglect the One who is able to help us. Today, Jesus is asking you, “Do you want to get well?” He is here for you, calling out to you, but sometimes we are too focused on what we want that we neglect who we have. Respond to Jesus today. Tell Him what is bothering you, because He is the only one who can truly help. No matter what or who you have placed your hope in, only Jesus has the power to help you. Talk to Jesus today.

PRAYER