“Do you want to get well?”
This was Jesus‘s invitation to an invalid of 38 years.
An invitation indeed.
“Do you want to get well?“ I think Jesus knew the answer.
“Do you want to get well?“ I think he asked that because he wanted to heal him. It wasn’t a game, he wasn’t trying to make it difficult- it was hard enough.
Hey do you want to get well? I think the man at the pool lived with his desire to be free from sickness for so long and he tried so many times that when Jesus asked him it felt so far away. I don’t think he knew how that could happen, maybe he had given up.
“Do you want to get well?” That’s our invitation too. And he already knows our answer but he still asks, he still invites us.
When I read this I feel Jesus’ compassion. I am in the process of being healed emotionally.
Jesus invites me over and again. His question stirs me, it moves something around in me.
Yes. I do want to be healed. But I don’t know how. And sometimes it’s too hard.
He invites me again. I too am like this man at the pool. But just like him Jesus says to me in the most miraculous way “Get up! Pick up your mat, and walk.”
In emotional healing though- picking up my mat and walking looks much different. After walking again I have to pick up quite a few mats. This process of picking up all the mats I’ve been laying on is taking years.
Nonetheless the invitation comes over and over again. Because Jesus wants to heal me. I am being healed. I want to be healed more.
John 5:5-9
I absolutely love this point of view. Jesus is kindly and excitedly inviting this man to be healed. Thank you for revealing to us one more amazing quality of our good and generous Lord Jesus.
He is telling you it’s ok that you have “mats” he will heal you as you pick them up and walk. He knows your heart and your struggle! He really is so good! Thank you for sharing and reminding us his heart is always to heal us and he knows! Love you Erica!!