Do You Want to Get Well?

John 5:1–9

For thirty-eight years, this man had been sick.

Then Jesus walked up to him beside the pool of Bethesda and asked what almost sounds like a strange question:

“Do you want to get well?”

You would think the answer would immediately be YES! But instead, the man began explaining his circumstances. He had nobody to help him into the pool. Every time he tried, someone else got there first. After thirty-eight years, he had become very familiar with all the reasons his situation couldn’t change.

Then Jesus changed the conversation.

He didn’t offer to help him get into the water. He simply said, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” The man had spent years believing the pool was his answer. Jesus showed him that the answer had just walked up and started talking to him.

I wonder how often we do the same thing. We tell Jesus exactly how we think our problem needs to be solved. If this person would change. If this opportunity would happen. If this door would open. If these circumstances were different. Meanwhile, Jesus may be trying to do something we never considered.

Maybe today He’s asking us the same question:

“Do you want to get well?”

Not “Do you have everything figured out?” Not “Do you know how I’m going to do it?” Just—are you willing to trust Me enough to get up when I tell you to walk?

Today’s thought: Have I become so focused on how I think God should answer that I could miss what Jesus is actually asking me to do?

Circle up!

Shannon Formby, Founder of My Faith Journey

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