DO YOU REALLY WANT TO GET WELL?

PROCLAMATION

“Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool … called Bethesda … Here a great number of disabled people used to lie … One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there … He asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’ … Then Jesus said to him, ‘Get up!  Pick up your mat and walk.’  At once the man was cured …”  John 5:1-9 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words are from the gospel, the good news regarding Jesus, The Christ, according to the Apostle John and written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  In this chapter, John records the incident with an invalid male at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem.  The man had been affected for thirty-eight years when Jesus saw him and asked him if he wanted to get well.  Rather than answer the question, the man began to offer excuses regarding why he had not gotten well.  The water in the pool had healing power once it had been stirred by an angel and it would heal the first person to enter it. (John 5:4)  Jesus, told the man to get up, pick up his bed and walk and at once he was cured.  This upset the Jewish leaders because it occurred on the Sabbath and it was not lawful to work on the Sabbath. (John 5:9-10)  They wanted to know who told him to pick it up and walk, but he did not know. (John 5:12-13)  Sin may have been the cause of this man’s problem because later Jesus saw him in the temple and told him to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him. (John 5:14)  The remainder of the chapter deals with Jesus offering His justification and authority to do what He did. (John 5:16-47)  Jesus performed His third public miracle and the Jewish leaders wanted to kill Him for it.

 

APPLICATION

All too often we beat around the bush instead answering a direct question.  Frequently we offer excuses for our behavior or our inability to get something done.  Jesus was questioning this man’s faith; He knew that he was sitting by the pool because he wanted to be healed.  Our faith is tested regularly.  We cannot have a testimony without first having gone through a test.  Too many of us are focused on our problems or our situation, and we are waiting for someone to help us.  We do not realize that faith in The Lord God is all that we need.  Jesus, The Christ, is The Son of God.  He can do anything that God, The Father, can do. (John 5:19)  He can give life to whomever He pleases. (John 5:21)  He is omnipotent.  He can heal you.  The question is, do you believe in Him and do you want to be healed?