Jesus was heading to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals in John 5, when He came across a healing pool – common to a great number of disabled people. There was one such man that had been this way for 38 years. “When Jesus saw him lying there and knew he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)
It seems like an obvious question doesn’t it? Who, in his situation, wouldn’t want to get well?
And yet Jesus asks. Waiting for a response.
““Sir,” the sick man answered, “I don’t have a man to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” (verse 7)
Can you imagine the disappointment this man must’ve faced, over and over? Desperate for healing, but having no one there to help him get into the waters in time. And by the sounds of it, he tried over and over, but someone always beat him to it.
I think at times, we can have the same view as the paralyzed man, that the only way God’s going to work in us is how he’s done it with other people. But, thankfully, He doesn’t always work the same way!
While after 38 years of living without the ability to walk, Jesus shows up one day to change his life.
Isn’t it interesting how Jesus regularly invites us to participate in things where our dependency relies on Him alone. Sometimes we don’t need someone else to carry us to what’s next, we just need Him. Just like the paralyzed man ultimately didn’t end up needing another man to receive his healing – He only needed Jesus.
““Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk!” Instantly the man got well, picked up his mat and started to walk.” (verses 8-9)
When Jesus interrupts our life… it’s up to us whether we’ll take His hand and submit to His plans over ours. To engage with what He’s offered us – even if it’s not what we were expecting. To choose to follow through with obedience – even if it’s not what we had planned. Jesus isn’t a ‘slot-machine’ God, and He often asks us to trust Him and His ways to get from where we were to where He wants us to be.
Jesus doesn’t desire to leave us the way He found us. He’s reaching out His hand, waiting for us to accept the invitation to participate in what He has next for us.
An abundant life comes from following Him.
Trusting Him for our healing.
Leaning on Him alone for the future.
And obeying His directions.
So, even if you’ve felt stuck, for what seems like forever…and you can’t see a way through…there is still hope. Jesus has a plan.
Get up. Pick up your mat and walk!
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