1 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.” (John 5:1-7 – English Standand Version)
Here was a man who had been sick for 38 years. This man was lying by a pool, called Bethesda, for a long time. Jesus knew this man’ situation and asked, “do you want to be healed?” This question may sound silly. For a man who has been sick for 38 years, isn’t it obvious that he wants to be healed? Why would Jesus ask this question? We may encounter many different problems/struggles in life. The problem may be with us for many many years, 10 years, 15 years, or even longer. When we are dealing with the same problem for 38 years, we may not only get frustrated, we may also want to give up. Thing doesn’t change in the past 38 years. Why would the situation suddenly change now? Jesus asks a very deep question. “Do you truly want to be healed?” “Do you truly believe you will be healed?” “Have you given up yet?” This man had not given up. He did believe he could be healed. He even had a solution. He believed that he will be healed if he is put into the pool when the water is stirred up. It’s not difficult for us to think of a solution. When we are in need of money, we can cut our expenses, or borrow money, or gain extra income. When we are sick, we can see a doctor, or take some Tylenol or doing nothing and rest. We have our own ways of solving a problem. And sometimes, we get stuck with our solutions. We may get stuck with that ONE solution that we believe in. “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord. “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.” (Isaiah 55:8) When we focus only on our solutions, we can never see His.
“Do you want to be healed?” (John 5:6)
