Do You Want To Be Well?

By: Lauren Thomas

The book of John does a great job of showing us the realities of human nature. John also does a great job of showing us how Jesus is more than able to overcome these realities. John’s message is this: that Jesus has power over that to which we are powerless.

In John 5, Jesus confronts a man who had been ill for 38 years: “Do you want to be well?”

 

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

John 5:6 ESV

 

The man’s response to this question is more perplexing than Jesus’ absurd question:

 

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

John 6:7 ESV

 

But it makes sense. When our experience in life has been with us for long, we tend to over-identify with it. It wasn’t that this man just had an infirmity, he was his infirmity. That is clear from the fact that instead of taking appropriate responsibility, he resorts to blame: “no one can help me; another gets there first.” Those who take on a victim role abdicate responsibility and blame those around them because they no longer believe that they have any power over their life. The victim role does not carry with it the ability to create solutions to transcend problems.

 

When I have heard this account preached, there is usually a strong emphasis on the man at the pool needing to surrender his victimhood in order to receive healing. And while this is often an important part of moving toward psychological and relational health, the point of this account is more about Jesus’ power to heal than our power to choose healing.

 

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

John 5:8-9 ESV

 

This miracle shows us that Jesus has the power to heal those who have been victimized by life, no matter for how long. Jesus has complete power to heal any who have taken on the identity of their struggle, any who have been labeled by their experience: addict, victim, mentally ill, chronically ill.

 

Do you want to be well? I’ve got good news for you: Jesus has power to make you well.

 

Reflection:

Read this account in John 5:2-9. What does this passage teach you about human nature? What does it teach you about Jesus? In what area of your life have you over-identified with your challenges? Are you blaming or abdicating responsibility? Invite Jesus in.