Do You Want To Be Made Well

John 5:1-8 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”

Pastor Phil and his wife were traveling this weekend to see family, so Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Chaplin, Pastor Mike Reed graciously stepping in on short notice to lead our Sunday Worship and preach a thought-provoking Sermon on the above Bible passage. I deeply appreciate the lending of a Christian brotherly hand to the call and swift response in our time of need. Here are my notes and thoughts on Pastor Mike’s message.

During Jesus’ three and a half year ministry on earth, he healed literally thousands of sick, injured and handicapped people. The Lord healed everyone who came to Him and refused nobody. One such miraculous healing by Jesus is recorded at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem. But this one was different, because the man healed did not go looking for Jesus. Many of us today were not looking for Jesus either. The story doesn't tell what the infirmity was that afflicted the man for 38 years, laying at the side of the healing pool. That was not the issue.

Now here’s an interesting question: Do you think that maybe he didn’t want to get well? When Jesus asked this man if he wanted to be made well, he didn’t say “yes”. Do you know other people today who do not want to get well?  There are lots of reasons why some folks don’t want be healed (physically, mentally or spiritually). Here are a couple: (1) Some get used to their condition and do not know any other way. (2) Some hang onto them because they have become comfortable with them and the hurting.  In this man’s case, Jesus wanted this man out of his past and into another, new area. Notice also, Jesus didn’t say that the water would heal him and help him in. It wasn’t about some miracle water. And at what point was he healed … when Jesus said, “get up and walk” or when the man stood up? Jesus wants to see what we will do. When we respond to Jesus, then miracles happen. Romans 10:17 says: ^“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith comes through hearing the Word of God. Titus 1:1b-3 proclaims “according to the faith of God’s elect and the acknowledgment of the truth which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life which God, who cannot lie, promised before time began, but has in due time manifested His word through preaching, which was committed to me according to the commandment of God our Savior.” Church preaching and Bible Studies are critical for our faith.

Realistically, sometimes people don’t get healed. God’s answer to our prayer requests for healing can either be (1) Yes, (2) No; I have a better idea, or (3) Wait for a “yes” or “no”. Our human perspective of death is that it is the worst case scenario. But to God, death is being in the presence with the Lord, with a new body in heaven. We are looking forward to meeting the Lord, but not the process of death. To Jesus’ followers, the crucifixion of Christ was the end of their hope, but after His resurrection, it means salvation from that greatest day on earth. Yes, sometimes God has a better idea, so we should pray that His Will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Remember, Jesus’ flock knows His voice and follows Him. The Good Shepherd sometimes has to teach a rebellious sheep of His to depend on Him. Sheep tend to wander and get lost; are we not inclined to pray more when we are ill or have troubles in life? We have to know Jesus. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so if we were to die today, where will we be one second after? Your and me heart will stop one day, but will we wake up in heaven? Blessed assurance is blessed insurance, because with the Savior of the world, Heaven is in the benefits plan of the child of God. But here and now, the Good Shepherd lays down His life for His sheep … Jesus cares.

John 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

God puts us into ministry positions here. And, though every one of us is called to ministry, we have to respond. Those who do not know the Lord and have “saving” faith in Jesus Christ will have live life to its full and experience eternity in Hell. Is this what we want for them and is that truly compassion? Like the man at the pool of Bethesda, the Lord Jesus wants to see what we will do. You and I have people in our lives that will only listen to us, to heat that God’s love is constant, perfect and never-ending. That man, sick for 38 years, is like a lot of people we know. Invite them here with you to church next Sunday and/or a Bible Study during the week. Churches grow by teaching the Word of God. God doesn’t save us to be undercover “Secret Agents” for Christ. Ask: “Can I pray for you?” Even when rejected, they know that you care. They know that you love them with the love of God through Christ Jesus. We are living proof that God can use anybody. Jesus is asking all those lost, sick and dying in sin, “Do you want to be made well?” 

In Christ, Brian