When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, wilt thou be made whole? — John 5:6 KJV
“I’ll never make it in,” he probably groaned to himself. After thirty-eight years, I imagine he’d grown tired of watching others celebrate their good fortune and leave one by one. He was right on the edge of the pool and still too slow. To this man, it didn’t seem fair that people with other types of disabilities and diseases were with him in the same group. After all, he was crippled and couldn’t even stand or walk. It seemed to him they had an unfair advantage, and he should have gotten a head start. There he was, laying there for all those years, focused on only one thing—getting into the pool when the angel came by and stirred the water.
Suddenly, a stranger appeared in front of him from out of nowhere. “Wilt thou be made whole?” the stranger asked (John 5:6 KJV).
What kind of ridiculous question is that? The man might’ve thought to himself. Why else would I be lying here all these years? But, trying to be friendly, he explained to the stranger about the angel and how he had no one to help him, and he was a little too slow by himself.
Then the stranger told him to rise, take up his bed, and walk. Immediately, the man was able to walk.
After leaving the pool, the officials stopped him for breaking the law by carrying his bed on the Sabbath. When questioned about who healed him, he didn't even know. Later, the stranger found the formerly crippled man in the temple and warned him about future sin and something worse happening to him. The man then went to the officials and told them who healed him. It was a man called Jesus.
How many times have we been to that place? There, in our hopeless situation, because life was unfair. We watched the wicked prosper, and people who, in our opinion, didn’t deserve blessings receive them anyway. And it seemed like everyone else had it better than us. But to be fair, we must ask ourselves, “How many people did Jesus pass by to get to me and meet my needs?” That’s what he did at the pool. He passed by all the multitudes to get to one man. Jesus personally attended to the man who couldn’t help himself.
Think about all the times you couldn’t help yourself. Things seemed to be going from bad to worse. You looked up in desperation, and there in front of you was Jesus. He passed by all the others to come and help you. Jesus already knows how long you’ve been in your battle. He knows your situation and doesn’t want or need an explanation. All he needs to know is you want help and want it bad enough to trust and obey him.
It would be best to trust God because sometimes life isn’t fair.
Jesus made a man who hadn’t walked in at least thirty-eight years walk again without therapy. What do you think he can’t handle for you? He’s already made the offer, so rise and walk.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thank you for answering my prayers many times. Please forgive me for dismissing the power you’ve demonstrated in my day-to-day life. Please open my eyes to see how you’ve protected, cared for, and provided for me. Amen.
Your turn: Are there times when you neglect to thank God for all he has done for you? How do you turn things around when this happens? Do you have a testimony of God working in your life to share?
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