Do I Want It?

PASSAGE FOR THE DAY:

1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 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?”

7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”

8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.

The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?”

13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.

14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.

16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.”18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.

24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.

28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.

31 “If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is true.

33 “You have sent to John and he has testified to the truth. 34 Not that I accept human testimony; but I mention it that you may be saved. 35 John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light.

36 “I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to finish—the very works that I am doing—testify that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, 38 nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. 39 You study the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life. These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.

41 “I do not accept glory from human beings, 42 but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. 44 How can you believe since you accept glory from one another but do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 “But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. 46 If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. 47 But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?” (John 5:1-47, NIV)

REFLECTIONS:

The beginning of John chapter 5 finds Jesus at the Pool of Bethesda with multitudes of people wishing to be healed by the waters.  Jesus sees a particular man who has been sick for a long time and heals him.  This healing takes place on the Sabbath, which of course riles the Jews, and Jesus spends the remainder of chapter 5 speaking to them about who He is, and what His work is about.  It’s a wonderful passage about God as the Father, Jesus as the Son, and the life-giving things that come out of the unity of their relationship.  Jesus also says some pretty pointed things to the Jews about their faith, or lack thereof.  Please take the time to read the entire chapter—it’s loaded with good stuff. 

I want to focus my thoughts though on this early part of the chapter where Jesus encounters the sick man.  After reading this a few times there’s one thing I can say—I’m a sick woman.   Jesus dealt with this man’s physical infirmities but the implications for our spiritual health are so important here.  Jesus approaches this man and asks what seems to be an odd question (because wouldn’t the answer be obvious), “Do you want to be made well?”  This man has been sick for 38 years.  That’s a long time.  Long enough to be well rooted in a comfortable (or at least familiar, predictable, content) way of life involving his infirmity.  What would this man have to lose by being healed?  Are there benefits that he would have felt he was giving up?  The man’s response is as odd as the question Jesus asked him (because wouldn’t the answer be obvious)?  Instead of a quick and hearty “Yes!” he lays blame on others for his state of being. 

I look at my life and see infirmities everywhere.  I’ll give a quick example.  I struggle with pride.  That’s what it comes down to.  I’m stubborn and argumentative and like being right.  How long have I struggled with this?  Like the sick man, it’s been a long time.  It’s deep.  It’s wide.  It’s ugly.  And then Jesus steps up and asks, “Do you want to be made well?”  Do I?  Do I want to learn to keep my mouth shut, to be wrong and humbled in front of people, to let others have the last word?  To not blame others or put things off on them to make myself look better or appear right?  Well, with all my brokenness and sadness and guilt, I say “Yes!”  And it’s funny how Jesus works.  I have a friend who over the past few months has been calling me out on this stuff.  And as hard as it is to hear pretty much every time, I’m glad for it.  I know my friend would say the difference has been inconsequential but I know that at least it’s on my mind and in my heart to change.  And no, my healing in this hasn’t been immediate, but it’s coming.  I want it.  I don’t want to be content or comfortable with my pride, or any other spiritual infirmity that I have.  I think this was the root of Jesus’ question to the man.  If in our heart of hearts we’re content to stay where we are then there can be no change.  No healing.  So the question is, do I want it?  Yes, Lord.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER:

• People at the Pool were living in a first-come, first-served world.  Not much has changed.  What are the “pools” that I hope to be the first in for perceived benefits?
• The first ones in the Pool were more than likely the stronger, healthier of the sick.  For years the man watched others getting ahead of him.  What hopes died and what bitterness grew in this man, and what areas of my life do I see these same things in?
• How does blaming others interfere with true healing?

PRAYER:

Lord I am so thankful that You approach me asking if I want to be made well.  I don’t even have to seek You because You already know my infirmities and come offering healing.  I thank you for putting people in my life who love me and correct me and want to see me made well.  Lord I pray that You continue to work in me to heal these places that so desperately need change, that You would continue to shine light on those dark places, and that my continued answer will be “Yes!” to the life-giving work of Jesus.

WHO AM I?

I’m Jennifer and I love being out with my kids soaking up all the beauty that God made.  I’ll be glad when some cooler weather hits though!