“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?” (Jn 5:6)
This is the story of a man who was paralyzed for 38 years (Jn 5:1-15). He was lying down by the pool of Bethesda, in Jerusalem. There was crowd of people there. Most of them were very sick and dying. Jesus passes thru the crowd and comes to this man. Jesus asks him: ‘Do you want to be made well?’ This is a ‘strange’ question. Why does Jesus ask a sick man if he wants to be well? Why does Jesus ask a blind man if he wants to see? Why does Jesus ask a poor man if he wants money? For us these questions seem unnecessary. But Jesus does everything with a purpose in mind. Every miracle must bring glory to God. The longer the wait, the greater the glory!

The reason why Jesus asked the man who has been waiting for 38 years in that situation if he wants healing is because that means a total change of life style. For example, you have always been poor, not able to feed or pay house rent. Then suddenly you become the owner of a mansion!!! Think of it… You who have never been married suddenly the best Christian man you know, that handsome and rich man says he wants to marry you. How will you feel? You who never had a child, suddenly you are pregnant with triplets. Try to imagine the change in your life…

If you depend on people for feeding, for prayers or for help, every moment of your life, you accept defeat and doubt as normal. But God loves you. For as long as you are alive and praying, anything can happen! God still works His wonders among men! In the midst of that crowd of hundreds of sick people, Jesus finds this man. He heals only this man. This is grace. This is peculiar love. No man can buy it with money. In that crowd, Jesus can locate you! After many years of knowing that you are dying, captive to incurable disease or slave to a hopeless situation… will you still trust God for a miracle? Sarah was ninety when she became pregnant with Isaac. What if she said to God: ‘I wanted to be a mother all these years. But now I am too old. I don’t want a baby again…’ Many people reject God’s gift because they think that they are too old to enjoy life! What a loss of opportunity!

The miracle has happened! You suddenly become well. Now you need to change! You need to work and take responsibility for your life. From a beggar you now become the boss! You need to choose today! Jesus heals so that you become holy. Jesus saves you to become sanctified. Many people once they are healed, they use their health to go back to the world. Jesus warns anyone who prays for a miracle to use the new health and the new riches to remain in the faith and serve God more than before! If not, a worse thing may happen!

There is a demon called ‘Begging’. Another one is called ‘Complaining’. You need to let go of those demons! Stop begging men! Stop complaining! Pray to God! You must give your life to Christ! Your healer must become your Savior and Lord! You become filled with the Holy Spirit who is a generous Spirit! Walk by faith! You are strong enough to make others strong! You are rich enough to bless others with your money! You become spiritually mature to be able to pray for others in their need. Are you willing to be made whole? Do you really want this miracle of a changed life? Are you willing to pay the price to be a blessing to others? Then Jesus will come and touch you. He knows everything and everybody. His power has no measure. The suffering may be long but the healing is immediate. Come back with your testimony! Glory to God!