Wanting It

Sometimes we miss the point of the question.

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" 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 making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me." - John 5:6-7

The Jesus of John's Gospel is not one to waste words.

Yes, he often repeats himself, as he does when he tells his disciples that he is the bread of life, but when he asks a question, it is usually to teach us something about ourselves, regardless of where the question is directed.

In this case, Jesus asks the man if he wants to be made well.

Knowing the man has been there a long time, the implication is that he may not want to be healed, since he has not made his way to the waters.

If he wanted it badly enough, wouldn't he have found a way to get there?

The man answers with what sounds like an excuse.  No one helps me.  Someone always cuts me off and takes my place.

In other words, it is not my fault.  I am the victim here.

Seemingly as proof that the man had it within his own power to be healed, Jesus tells him to get up and walk.

John gives us the signs Jesus performed, not so much to show us how powerful Jesus is, but to show us how powerful our own faith is.

There just might be more to our abilities than we know, especially if we believe in God, His Spirit and ourselves.

So, while wanting it may not be enough, having faith and not wanting to work for it may have the same result as not wanting it at all.

So, the lesson here may be it is up to us to align ourselves with God and work at it, being ready to push ourselves to do what we may fear we cannot do, what others may tell us we aren't capable of doing.

And won't they be surprised when we do it?

More to come...