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?” John 5:6 (NIV)
Jesus comes across this man by the pool in Bethesda. He sees that the man has been crippled for 38 years. Obviously His heart goes out to the man. But there is one question that Jesus feels He needs to ask first. Do we find it strange that Jesus ask him if he wants to get well?
How can the man respond to this? Isn´t the answer obvious? What about us? When we are approached by Jesus, what does He want to know from us? Could His question be similar? Is Jesus standing nearby right now waiting for an answer from us? Do we expect that the answer is obvious too? Do we think we really want to be healed by Jesus Christ? How are we demonstrating it?
Do most of us just lay there year after year each one near our own Pool of Bethesda? Have we come near to the water but lack the impulse to dive into deep spiritual waters? Have we become so accustomed to our illness that we have given up trying to come any closer to God? Have we lost any hope for ever rising up to walk with the Lord? Were there times where we did try? Did we make several attempts to commit to the task and throw ourselves into a deep and intimate relationship with God? Did we dedicate time to prayer? Did we study the word diligently? When we realized that our condition was serious, did it look like there was no Way we would ever be able to drag ourselves any closer or deeper into Him? Over time, did we lose the urge to pull ourselves to our knees? Now does it seem a distant and impossible dream to ever receive healing? Does it seem impossible to think that we can actually be rid of this sickness which inflicts us and keeps us from a healthy and abundant life with the Lord? Have we lost the hope of returning home to our Father? Does is seem so distant to think that we could be leaping with joy and celebrating with all the family of saints today? Could we be reveling in our restored health if we actually did want Jesus to heal us?
So as Jesus waits for His answer from us today, what shall we say to Him? Do we really want to be healed? How are we going to respond to our Saviour right now?
Dear Jesus, it hurts us to think that You may have doubts about whether or not we truly want to be healed. Please shine Your Light into our hearts today. Help us to see if we do truly want You to help us. Show us if there are secret places in our hearts that are reluctant to plunge completely into You. We know that we will never be able to go home to our Father in the condition we are now. But please help us to make our plea for healing be heard! Let it be sincere! Help us want to be healed today! Give us the gift of perseverance to keep coming to You, our Living Water. Help us dive deep into the pool of Your love! Have mercy on us and heal us we pray!
Amen
Searching For Christ 
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