DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?

John 5:6 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?”

As I sit here and look at this verse of this famous healing Jesus performed I wonder why Jesus had to ask the man this question.  I mean the guy is lying by a miracle healing pool, of course he wants to be well.  At least it seems like he really wants to get well, doesn't it?  I mean he's been there for 38 years so surely that means he wants to get well, right?  

Well I'm not 100% sure he wants to get well, after all why would Jesus ask him this question?  Could it be that he was so wrapped up in his own misery that began to enjoy all the attention he was getting?  Could it be people gave him money because they felt sorry for him?  Could it be that he was glad he had an excuse to just lay around on his mat all day without working?  Could he in his comfort zone and didn't want to risk the unknown by being healed?  

I'm not a mind reader so to answer all those questions would be dumb, but the fact that Jesus even asked the question raises my suspicions that even Jesus was not sure if he really wanted to be healed.  Maybe Jesus asked the question because He wanted to hear what the man had to say after all Jesus knew this man's heart.  He knew this man was full of excuses and reasons.   He knew this man had been living in a life without much faith.  He knew that this man could have done a little more to prove his faith, but instead he was complaining because no one would put him in the pool.

Yes I said complaining.  Maybe it was more like whining, but whatever the case is we sometimes forget that we have a responsibility to do what ever we can to get well.  Whether our healing needs to be physical, emotional or spiritual, there are always things we can do to help in the healing process.  Unfortunately some of us like the attention we get when we are sick or hurting.  We love it when people come us to us and pity us for what we are going through. 

Admit it!  It's the truth!  Yes I totally understand that some of us truly are going through some of the worst times in our lives, but also some of us dwell on it for way too long.  It's like a scab we keep picking at and picking at.  While the wound is trying to heal, we don't allow it too.  The attention is awesome, the way people keep trying to lift us up makes us feel better.  Our excuses excuse us from dealing with the scab and what caused it.

I'm sorry if this sounds harsh but it is as much for me as it is for you.  For way too long I kept picking at the scab of feeling abandoned by my parents when they moved to Arizona.  For way too long I kept lying on my mat by a healing pool waiting for a miracle or for someone else to lift me into the pool to receive my healing.  I kept picking at the scab instead of dealing with my issues and allowing Jesus to heal me.  

I admit the attention I got was amazing.  The pity parties I threw were the best.  I got comfortable with the whining and living in my own comfort zone was awesome.  I didn't want to allow this wound to heal.  Then I heard the words in my ears that Jesus said to this man:

John 5:8   8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 

Notice the exclamation mark?  Jesus didn't sit down and commiserate with him, Jesus didn't tell him how unfair it was that no one would help him into the pool.  He said "Get up!"  In other words, stop whining and complaining.  Stop making excuses!

Listen I have talked with people who are battling cancer for a second time and trust me they are not lying by a pool waiting for someone else to help them.  They are not whining or complaining.  They are trusting in the healing power of Jesus Christ and doing whatever they can to do their part in the healing process.  They are getting up, picking up their mat and going to doctors and nutritionists and taking chemo and whatever else they have to do in order to get well.  They're doing what they can do and trust Jesus to do what they cannot do, heal! 

Lord forgive me for allowing myself to wallow on the mat instead of getting up and getting ready for my healing.  Help me to get up, step up and pick up my mat allowing you to heal me.  I trust in you and rely on you to heal me inside and out, in Jesus name I pray, amen!