“Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6)
This Jesus asked the paralyzed man outside the pool of Bethesda — a man who suffered for nearly four decades, without a friend to carry him to the water. He certainly had a need to be healed. But the question posed here is one of DESIRE, and the answer reveals the stark difference between belief and unbelief.
Already at this point in John’s gospel there’s a division between those who desire healing and salvation, and those who don’t. Elsewhere in the gospels, when the Pharisees criticize Jesus for spending time with sinners, Jesus reminds them that only those who are sick need a physician. Those who are “well,” who don’t acknowledge their need, don’t desire a savior.
But for those who do, Jesus satisfies that desire with his own desire to heal and to save. That’s the relationship Jesus has with his people; our desires and his are fulfilled in the wondrous work of salvation.
If the marks of true belief are NEED and DESIRE, then may my answer to Jesus’ question ever and always be “Yes!”
Thank you Bryan.
Thinking about how the man in the pool of Bethesda responded to Jesus’ question with the reason why he thought he couldn’t be healed instead of just saying ‘yes’.
Still thinking about it…?
Yes and amen!