“One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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 5:5,6
 Over the past two days, I’ve shared that the Pool of Bethesda is best known as the setting in the story from John 5, where an invalid man was trying to get well for 38 years. The scripture states “Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 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. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.” Jesus asked the invalid man, “Do you want to get well?”
The question, Do you want to get well? haunts me because I can clearly see that the man at the pools of Bethesda wanted to be well. It is likely that Jesus knew something about this man. Maybe he wanted to get well, and maybe he didn’t. Maybe over the 38 years, he had made friends at this place. Maybe he thought that if he was healed, he wouldn’t be able to hang out with his people anymore even though they were not good for him. Friend, often, the people you love and care for will keep you ill or trapped. As a result, it shouldn’t be surprising that the man didn’t want to give up his community in exchange for healing when it was offered to him. Whether it is illness, past hurts, or vices in your life, there is no doubt that God wants you to exchange them for a better life! Jesus is able to make you well. |
Prayer
Father, assist me in disconnecting from situations that have me trapped.
Reflection
In your life, have you traded God’s goodness for illness, past hurts, or vices?
If you’re unable to attend your local church or need some additional weekly inspiration, be sure to tune into Hour of Power every Sunday morning at 11:00 a.m. PT on TBN or watch online at hourofpower.org/episode.
