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?” ~ John 5:5-6ESV
Okay, let’s set the scene here. A feast is being celebrated right now. Everyone should be in a joyful mood—lots of celebrating and food. Family and friends are all around. Yet Jesus is walking through the colonnade, looking at all the sick people lying around waiting to be healed. There was a multitude of invalids, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed.
He’s looking at each one. Inspecting. He’s trying to find something or someone. Then He singles out one guy in particular. This man has been an invalid for thirty-eight years, and Jesus asks him, “Do you want to be healed?”
Right away, the man begins making excuses. I have no one to help me. I can’t get into the water. But that is not what Jesus asked. Jesus’ question was, “Do you want to be healed?”
It’s either yes or no. Sometimes that is how we act. Jesus is saying, “Do you want to be free?” And we find every excuse not to. I’ve done too much wrong. I’ve never been to church. I don’t know how to pray.
But just as that wasn’t what Jesus was asking the sick man 2000 years ago, that’s not what He’s asking us today. Jesus already did the heavy lifting. He already presented the offering, paid the debt, and made the path for us. Jesus is simply asking, do you want to accept the Salvation I am giving you freely? Do you want freedom from your sin? If you do, pray this prayer, and the LORD will forgive you of your sins and forgive you of all unrighteousness.
Dear LORD God, please forgive me of my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. Please give me a heart of flesh instead of a heart of stone that I might love You and Your law. Please renew a right spirit in me that I might be able to follow the path You have set out for me. Please free me from all of my fears and strongholds. In Jesus’ name, I pray, Amen.
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