Do you have illnesses you would like healed? Do you suffer with ailments you would like to be relieved of? Are those physical illnesses or ailments? How is your emotional health? How is your spiritual health?
We all face physical illnesses and ailments throughout life. It seems as we get older those ailments become more frequent. We may get to the point that every day is lived with pain in our joints, our back, our neck, or an internal disorder.
Put yourself in the gentleman’s place in today’s passage. He is lying next to the pool called Bethesda. He has been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus walks up to him and asks if he wants to get well. How do you answer that question?
It is easy for us to quickly answer with a resounding, “Yes!” But this gentleman did not. First, he didn’t know who Jesus was. So, he didn’t know His miraculous powers. Second, based on his answer, I believe he got some satisfaction from others feeling sorry for him and providing for him. You see, his answer was that he had no one to put him in the water when it stirred, which would cause him to be cured miraculously. He was making an excuse for not being healed, rather than answering Jesus’ question.
Do we do the same thing? Jesus is always asking us the same question. Do we want to be healed? But Jesus’ question is not so much about physical healing—it’s about spiritual healing. Jesus is willing to heal our souls, make us whole. He is willing to grant us His Spirit to guide us along life’s highway. Are we willing to allow Him to take us by the hand?
As I walk through this world, I see a ton of ailing people. I see them beaten down and broken. I see people who need healing in a bad way. I see people hurting. I see people dealing with anxiety, anger, frustration, and hate. I see people who need compassion, understanding, peace, joy, and love.
Jesus can heal us. He can heal our souls. He can give us the spiritual health we need and long for. What do we need to do to receive healing? We need to submit to Him. We need to answer, “Yes!” He accepts as we are. Yet, He won’t leave us in that state. He will change our lives.
I pray we all accept Jesus’ offer for healing. I pray we decide we want to be healed. I pray each one of us submits to His healing power, allowing Him to heal our souls. Say yes. Accept Jesus’ offer. Find the love you long for. Be made whole. Live the abundant life.
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?”
Marty Pressey 