Do You Want to Get Well? Jesus posed this question to a man who had been crippled for 38 years. Now imagine if Jesus came to you with this question but instead of “get well,” asks if you want to:
- Get a job?
- Get out of debt?
- Heal your marriage?
- Be freed from addiction?
- Be cured from your illness?
Basically, he’s offering, “Do you want [insert miracle here]?”
How would you respond? “Yes!” correct? But that’s not what happened in this story, which is found in the Gospel of John, Chapter 5. When Jesus saw the crippled man, He approached him and asked, “Do you want to get well?” The man’s answer: “Sir, I have no one to help me…”
Wait a minute. Did he hear the question?
It’s so hard to look past our circumstances in the midst of trials, pain, and challenges. And, let’s give this guy some grace; after all, he had been crippled for 38 years. Yet, when his miracle arrived, he didn’t even notice. Instead, he remained caught up in his circumstances and blamed others for his difficulties. Jesus then looks directly at the man and commands him, “Stand up! Pick up your mat and walk.” Instantly, the man was healed!
But because it was the Sabbath, when the religious rulers saw the man, they rebuked him for carrying his mat, which they considered a violation of the Sabbath. The man quickly responded, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’” The religious rulers demanded to know who told him to carry his mat but the man didn’t know. Later that same day, Jesus saw the man who He had healed and warned him, “Now you are well. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” The man, now able to identify Jesus, immediately ran (on his new legs, mind you!) to the religious rulers to tell them it was Jesus who healed him and, consequently, that it was Jesus who is to blame for causing him to violate their rules.
How sad! Other than the man’s physical condition, nothing had changed. He received the miracle but missed the Message! Not only that, he missed the Messenger Himself! After 38 years, he could now walk but instead of using those legs to follow, honor, and show his gratitude to Jesus, he chose to continue walking in darkness, refusing to acknowledge his sins and still blaming others for his situation.
Jesus declares, “I am the Light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the Light of life.” John 8:12
Jesus may choose to cure our circumstances but He is far more concerned about curing our hearts. Do you want to get well?
Shadia Hrichi
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If there is any evidence that my heart has been purified even a tiny ounce, I know that it was God working in my life. But I want so much for the work to continue.
Amen! And His work will continue! God, who is outside of time, has already promised us, “…He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil 1:6
Gratefulness and thanksgiving to God have to be deeply imprinted in our hearts so that once restored, we will not go astray but will continue to honour God. Thanks for insightful sharing, Shadia.