Do You Want to Get Well?

Look at the setting of this miracle. It took place just inside the Sheep Gate at the pool called Bethesda. His attention was drawn to a man who had been in need for 38 years. Jesus’ attention was drawn to the man’s obvious frustration in not being healed. Jesus steps in and asks, “Do you want to get well?”

After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids–blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 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?” 7 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.” 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. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.'” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” John 5:1-14

Jesus approached the man with compassion. Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” This may sound like a foolish question, but it is essential to determine if the man was committed to getting well. He did not know Jesus. All he knew was everything else had failed (v. 7). Jesus gave him a simple command in verse 8.

The Pharisees were not happy with what happened (vv. 9-10)

To follow the story, the man went home, put up his bed, and returned to the Temple to worship for the first time in 38 years (v. 14).

Let us examine what the miracle says to us today.

The Miracles of Jesus Depend upon Our Response of Faith

Jesus recognized the royalty of the human will.

Note verse 6.
Unless we want to get well, nothing will be done.
If we really want to help, nothing can prevent God’s power from helping us.

The man recognized his hopelessness. We must acknowledge our hopelessness outside of God’s grace. Jesus confronts us today with the same question He asked that man.

He is asking if we want to live whole, complete lives.
In order to do that we must turn to Jesus in absolute faith.
Like that man, you may have tried and failed many times.
If you will listen to Jesus, He can heal you of your most crippling disease – sin.

Jesus Tells Us What to Do

Jesus did not heal the man on the ground. He was healed as he responded to Jesus’ command, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (v. 8)

Look at the order of events.

“Get up” was the one thing this man could not do. It seemed to be an impossible and unreasonable command. The miracle of salvation is the performance of the impossible and unreasonable.
“Pick up your mat and walk” were commanding words. Jesus makes no provision for failure. Today, many people make provision for failure.
“Walk,” tells us that we cannot expect to be babied, coddled, or pushed in a buggy.

Conclusion

Jesus met the man in the Temple. He issued a command and a warning (v. 14). He reminded the man he was well. He had been changed, healed, and delivered. In verse 14 He told him to “stop sinning.” To continue in sin would be tragic.