Would You Like To Get Well?

May 3, 2016

Would You Like To Get Well?

“One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?”

John 5: 5-6

When you see successful, powerful people in our culture, you generally see them surrounded by other successful and powerful people. Successful church people are no exception. When clergy gather for conferences, there is a certain pecking order, and the ones considered influential and successful generally associate with others deemed in the same category. Every now and then there is an exception to this norm, and someone stands out because they are in no way deferential in choosing their associates. Such people are walking in the steps of Jesus.

Just inside the walls surrounding Jerusalem, near one of the gates, was the pool of Bethesda which had five covered porches. “Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches” (John 5:3). Can you imagine that scene? Images of a big-city, over-crowded Emergency Room come to mind. These people were ignored by others, but when Jesus entered the city gates he immediately went to the pool of Bethesda.

One time Jesus was at a dinner where some of those in attendance were “tax collectors and other disreputable sinners.” When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum? When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do” (Matthew 9:10-12). Perhaps on first reading, Jesus’ response creates an impression that Jesus sees himself as a doctor making house calls. Such a notion may connote that Jesus had a professional detachment from his patients, but such was not the case. Jesus went to the pool of Bethesda, to the dinner at the tax collector Matthew’s house and countless other gatherings because he genuinely loved and cared for the people. The message of the Gospels is that Jesus “gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave” because he wanted to. (Philippians 2:7) For Jesus, it was never about what he had to do to become our Savior; it was always what he got to do, because he loved us.

The almost incomprehensible truth about God is that He does care for me, He is quite fond of me, and not just when I am doing well by whatever standards I impose upon myself. He loves and cares for me with great tenderness each and every time He has lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire and set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. (Psalm 40:2)

Remember this truth about the furious longing of Abba for you the next time life and circumstances seems to have driven you down to the mud and mire, when you can see yourself lying by the pool of Bethesda in hopes an angel will stir the water. When you are wondering if you will find any help, remember that the One who watches over you never slumbers or sleeps. (Psalm 121) Listen until you hear the voice of Jesus say to you, “Would you like to get well?”  

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

·        Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

·        The second edition of First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

·        Meditations on The Story of My Life as told by Jesus Christ has been released as an e-book on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright© 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.