Grow Through The Gospels - John 5

Read: John 5

John 5:5-6 "One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?'"

Think

The pool of Bethesda, located near the north part of the Temple Mount, was surrounded by "porches" filled with invalids hoping for a miracle. Among them was a man who had been unable to walk for 38 years. When Jesus saw him, he asked, "Do you want to get well?"

It seemed like a straightforward question that should have required a straightforward answer. But instead of simply saying yes, the man replied with a complaint: "Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another step down before me" (v. 7). His response showed his sense of defeat and hopelessness. Despite his long wait by the pool, he felt abandoned and too slow to receive help, revealing a sense of resignation and frustration.

Jesus' question wasn't complex, but the man, who had been there so long, interpreted it as a critique rather than an offer of healing. He felt ashamed and disheartened, unable to see that his Savior stood right before him. While he focused on the water of Bethesda, he missed the One who created the water itself, standing by his side, ready to heal.

We often find ourselves in similar situations, looking for satisfaction in the wrong places. We exchange the Creator for his creation, seeking fulfillment in temporary solutions rather than God himself. Like the man by the pool, we can be blind to the presence of our Savior. Yet, Jesus doesn't leave us in our confusion. He told the man, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk," and he was immediately healed (v. 8).

Each of us has our version of Bethesda, waiting for healing, stuck in our circumstances and self-pity. But Jesus comes to us, offering the living water that truly satisfies us. He asks, "Do you want to be healed?”

Apply

Recognize where you are weak and struggle, and express today your needs to Jesus. Acknowledge your dependence on him for true healing and fulfillment.

Pray

Heavenly Father, I have often sought satisfaction in things and people instead of you. Help me to focus on you and turn to you first in my need. Teach me to rely on your strength and to find true healing in your presence. In Jesus’ name. Amen.