Do You Want To Get Well?

We are almost to Easter and that means we are almost to the end of our Questions GOD Asks Us message series. This past Sunday we explored John 5.1-14 and Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” If you happened to miss the message, you can watch it by clicking here.

The context for this question occurred at the Pool of Bethesda, which was just outside of Jerusalem, and was believed to have healing powers. People would wait at the edge of the pool for the waters to get stirred and once they were, the first person was believed to be healed. A man who had been paralyzed for 38-years sat alongside the pool and was confronted by Jesus who asked the question, “Do you want to get well?”

Initially, we would expect a resolute “yes” answer to that question, but the man’s response takes more of the form of an excuse. He blames others for not helping him get into the water. Where we ourselves might expect a resolute “yes” answer if we were asked the same question, we often fall into a similar pattern of passing off responsibility to someone else. Jesus’ response to the paralytic, therefore, is really fascinating to me: “Take up your mat and walk.” So put yourself on his mat…if Jesus were to come to you in the midst of your spiritual, physical, mental, or emotional paralysis, what would He challenge you to do? How would you respond?

Jesus’ command must have elicited a crisis of belief for this man; for 38 years he was unable to walk, and all of a sudden, he is being told to walk. Fortunately the scripture tells us that he did indeed get up and walk, but even attempting to stand must have been a challenge. His life – and I think it is safe to assume his identity, too – had been tied up in his paralysis. To get up and walk forced him to embrace a new identity and a new reality. This can be a challenge for anyone whose “infirmities” become an identity. I believe Jesus knew that, and for that reason, wanted to set him free. So as I think about Jesus’ question, I think we could also understand it as asking, “Do you want to be free?” Free from paralysis? Free from other’s expectations? Free from other’s judgment? Do you want to be free? If so, what would that look like in your life?

This takes on an even more critical understanding in the times when we pray for healing, but it does not come according to our expectations. GOD wants us to be whole, but in reality, we won’t achieve full healing and wholeness on this side of heaven. We just won’t. So taking a new approach to understanding GOD’s presence in our lives is critical…GOD wants us to experience freedom in Him in spite of our infirmities…in spite of our difficulties! GOD wants us to know the power behind in gracious presence, even when it feels like everything is against us. Paul wrote about this as he relayed GOD’s answer to his for removing the “thorn” in his flesh: “‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.” (2 Corinthians 12.9-10)

We might be inclined to think that our weaknesses inhibit GOD’s power, but the opposite is true…we can come to better understand GOD’s powerful and amazing grace when we turn our weaknesses, ailments, and infirmities to Him, and allow our excuses to become expressions of faith. It is amazing the freedom we can gain when we allow GOD’s presence and power to fill and transform us, and yes, even in our weaknesses.

What is GOD calling you to do? How have you been challenged to stand up and take that first step of faith? If Jesus were to ask you if you want to be well, what else would that entail? And how could you possibly experience freedom in the Lord if the power He manifests in you does not come in a particular kind of expected healing, but in the freedom to stand up, step out, and serve Him despite whatever it is you might otherwise think is holding you back.

So, do you want to get well? Do you?