"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?' v6 John 5:1-15. NKJV
This man had been disabled for thirty eight years and day after day, he took his place by the pool waiting for the moving of the water. It was a tradition that an angel would stir the water up and the first person to step into the pool, would be healed - totally. Unfortunately for this man, he could never make it owing to his condition so he always missed out.
William Barclay comments, 'The man had waited for thirty eight years and it might well have been that hope had died and left behind a passive and dull despair.'
William Barclay, The Gospel of John Commentary
Actually, it may have been that the man was content to lay there, after all, if he was healed he would have to find a job to provide for himself. He had never been used to that. I remember a time about thirty years ago, when my wife and I had been ministering to a lady with a severe disability. Immediately, she told us that she didn't wish to be healed as she would lose all of her benefits. Unbelievable, but some people are like this.
This man however, was adamant that he wanted to be healed and he gave Jesus his 100% attention and consequently, he was instantly made well. William Barclay continues, 'The first essential towards receiving the power of Jesus, is to have an intense desire for it. Jesus says, 'Do you really want to be changed?' If in our inmost hearts we are content to stay as we are, there can be no change for us.'
The lady that my wife and I spoke with, was firmly saying, I don't want to get well.' There was no intense desire for healing as it would be too costly for her. On the other hand, this man was totally committed to it, whatever it would cost him. He valued his health.
When it comes down to a deep-rooted illness or disability, we need to have that intense desire to be healed. This is not the time for doubt to be allowed to enter into the situation. There is no room for, 'Hopefully, I'll be healed, but if not, I'll still believe in God.' There's no faith in such a statement. Scripture tells us, 'For we walk by faith, not by sight.' 2 Corinthians 5:7. And we serve a God, 'who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist, as though they did.' Romans 4:17.
When we are ill, good health does not exist, that is why we have to believe and agree with God’s Word and call good health into being. Do you want to be made well? Then you need to believe these scriptures.
Copyriight 2020 Grahame Howard
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