When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6 A couple of days ago I was seeking God for understanding and wisdom regarding a circumstance. I wanted to know how to pray for a particular person. Immediately the word victim flashed before my eyes. I was puzzled because this word didn’t make sense to me at the time. Then, before my thought could finish, the word victim mentality flashed before my eyes. I was intrigued on why I would see this after I asked God how to pray for a person. So, me having the investigator spirit, I wanted to know what God’s word had to say about victim mentality. The world has plenty to say about this topic but,only His word was sufficient for me. The Lord led me to the story of the man at the Bethesda pool in Jerusalem. For reference read (John 5:1-20). Now, Jesus saw the man and already knew his condition. There was no need to ask him about it. This really touched me because Jesus already knows about our conditions. What condition(s) are you struggling with today? What needs to be made well/healed? In the story Jesus understood that the man had been in this condition for a long time. Sometimes our conditions or circumstances have been with us for a long time and we are struggling daily. Here is the part that had me perplexed...when Jesus asked the man “Do you want to made well?” Now, let’s pause here for a moment. This seems like a weird question for Jesus to ask this man who he knew had been this way for a long time. Who in their right mind wouldn’t want to be made well? So, the question becomes why did Jesus ask the man this question. It wasn’t because he didn’t know the answer. Maybe Jesus wanted the man to really ask himself the question. Maybe Jesus knew that there were other opportunities to be made well and he hadn’t taken them. Sometimes we have dealt with a condition or circumstance for so long. We can find ourselves adapting to it. When the time to be made well comes we opt out of it because our conditions/circumstances have become our new norm. We are accustomed to the benefits and consequences of the condition. We have developed routines and schedules around the conditions/circumstances. So, the question was necessary, because Jesus wanted to know was he ready to be made well. Are you ready to made well/healed? We can say we want to be made well/heal but, in reality we are not truly ready to give up what comes with not being healed. The sympathy, the empathy,or the friends that feed off of your need to be needed. There are so many more but, these are just a few. Now, the answer that the man gave Jesus had nothing to do with his own actions, but the actions of others. He stated to Jesus (John 5:7) “ Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming , another steps down before me.” Have there been moments when you focused on the actions of others regarding your own healing? When have you placed blame on what someone else didn’t do, and this is the reason that you are not made well/healed? There comes a point when we all have to take accountability for your healing. Ask Jesus to make you well/heal you. Ask Jesus what process does he desire for you to complete to be made well/healed. Then, you have to be willing to follow the instructions of Jesus. You have to be ready for change. The question I ask today is the same question that Jesus asked the man at the Bethesda pool. “Do you want to be made well?” Be Encouraged, Shaneen |
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