Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:5-6, NKJV)We continue this week with the story of the sick man healed at the Pool of Bethesda. [John 5:1-15].
How Desperate Are You?
This man had been by the pool for not one, two, nor three years, but for thirty-eight (38) years. In all these years, all he was trying to do was get into the water at specific (not all the time, but specific, appointed) times. He was not 100% paralyzed. He could move some. For he said, “…while I am coming, another steps down before me.” (John 5:7, NKJV)
Could this man have done more? Was his situation hopeless? Or was he simply devoid of hope? What could he have done differently? Could he have moved and stayed at the edge of the pool waiting for the next stirring? Could he have hired, with whatever he had left, people to assist? Could he have taken water from the last stirring and trusted it will make a difference, even though it was not the norm?
If Asking Does Not Get It...?
Could he have done a range of other things? The obvious answer is YES! So, why didn't he? The answer to this leads us to the crux of the matter. Why do people do the same old thing yet expect a different result? Jesus, obviously, did not and does not support this path of living. Otherwise, He would not have asked the question.
Otherwise, He would not have given us the second rung in the ladder of praying (desiring, obtaining, and achieving). [Matthew 7:7] If asking ain’t doing it, it’s time to seek. Jesus is asking, "Do you want to be made well?" How much do you really want to get married? How much do you really want to have a baby? How much do you really want to have that job?
Are You Deep?
How much do you really want to have a house of your own? How much do you really want to raise the standard of your living? How much do you really want to move to the next level? How much do you really want…(you can fill in the blanks)? How deep are you? Do you have a desire? Are you deep, or are you merely shallow, moved about by every passing wind?
© 2014 Akin Akinbodunse.
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