Did Jesus Really Say That to a Sick Man?

Crowds of sick people gathered superstitiously around a pool hoping the water would mysteriously stir so they could climb in and be healed (John 5:1-15).(1)

One man had been sick for thirty-six years. How many thousands of days had someone carried his bed to this pool in hopes he’d walk away? 

Jesus sees the man and asks, “Would you like to get well?”

Did Jesus really ask that?

Isn't that kind of a no-brainer?

No. 

Jesus knew that not everyone genuinely wants to get well and give up their addictions, bitterness, and self-pity. Not everyone wants to take responsibility for their lives and walk in Christ's freedom.

Jesus didn't ask every sick man this question, but He saw this man's heart. 

After healing him, He warned him:

“Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.”(2)

Perhaps something is crippling your walk with the Lord and Jesus is asking, "Would you like to get well?" 

How will you answer?
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Read the others in this series: "Did God Really Say That?"

(1) From IVP New Testament Commentary: "Jesus is back in Jerusalem at an unspecified feast. He visits a pool at the northeast corner of the city where people with various illnesses gathered to seek healing. This pool was actually two large trapezoid-shaped pools with a twenty-one-foot-wide space between them. The whole structure was enclosed by porches on each side, with a fifth porch over the area dividing the two pools. The water was occasionally disturbed, perhaps from an underground source such as a spring with irregular flow or drainage from another pool. People believed one could be healed by getting into the pool when this disturbance occurred. It is implied that at least some of those who got into the pool when it was stirred actually were healed (5:7)."
(2) While some sickness is caused by sin (James 5:16), not all is caused by sin. Jesus clearly says so in John 9:1-3. God is glorified when people are healed and also glorified when people persevere in faith despite their handicaps and sickness (See 1 Timothy 5:23, Does Faith Heal Us? and  Wheelchair Miracle).

God's Commands Empower Us!

Rules!

We overlook them, sidestep them, ignore them, and rebel against them.

As a writer I must constantly be aware of English grammar and punctuation rules. Or perhaps I should say American grammar and punctuation rules since they vary slightly from one English-speaking country to another.

When surveyed, a group of well-known writers agreed that grammar rules were sensible, necessary, and even "empowering."(1)

And that brings me to God's "rules" for life.

Have you ever thought about the purpose of God's commands? They're not only sensible, loving, and necessary, they're also empowering.

Even more important: they aren't man-made. They're inspired and designed specifically for our benefit.  So let's never ignore, excuse, or doubt them.

“As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love." John 15:9-10
based on a devotion first posted in 2012
(1) Mark Garvey, Stylized, Simon and Shuster, New York, 2009, p. 46.

Behind-the-Scene Prayer Warriors

She wasn’t fashionable or famous.

She wasn’t wealthy or well-known. 

But there will be a special place in heaven for simple farm wives like my Grandma Burton. 

She loved her family and she loved her Lord…and she prayed. 

I wonder how many things I owe to my grandma’s prayers. When I get to heaven, I think Jesus will open my eyes so I can see, and I will be even more amazed and grateful than I am now. 

Dear Christian, if you are praying, your role in life is significant. 

Don’t compare yourself to others. Realize that great work is done in the prayer closets of quiet, unknown Christians - praying mothers, fathers, grandparents, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, sons, daughters, neighbors, friends.

Colossians 4:2: Devote yourselves to prayer, being watchful and thankful.

James 5:16: The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:17: Never stop praying. 

To do a short Bible study on this devotion, check out today's Bite Size Bible Study.
If you'd like to read more 1-minute devotions about prayer, check out the Prayer Archive. Read one each day before your prayer time and give your prayer life a boost!

Satan's Twists & Turns

Satan loves twisting Scripture to tempt our selfish desires.

His success is dependent on our lack of Scripture knowledge.

He'll encourage us to live worldly lives by emphasizing Ephesians 2:8-9 and telling us “works” is a dirty word. (See Works is not a Dirty Word)

He'll hope we don't read the very next verse Ephesians 2:10 that says we're created for good works.

If he wants us to hang out with bad influences, he'll remind us that Christ met with unsavory characters (Mark 2:13-17).

He’ll leave off the part that Christ always confronted sinners when He was with them and "hung out” mostly with His disciples (e.g. John 5:14). He won't mention Scriptures about avoiding bad influences (1 Corinthians 15:33; 4 Types of People to Avoid).

Satan tempts us by sharing part of the truth and manipulating our selfish desires.

So how do we overcome Satan’s temptations? We study all of Scripture, accept all of Scripture (2 Timothy 2:15), and deny selfish desires (Matthew 16:24).
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These devotions also address this subject:
Half-Truths
3 Keys to Defeating Satan - Strike First

Don't Believe Anything That Contradicts Scripture

Many false philosophies have found their way into our churches, and some Christians are defending them with reckless confidence.

“The wise are cautious and avoid danger; fools plunge ahead with reckless confidence."  Proverbs 14:16

The only way we can hope to mature in Christ is to trust God's wisdom, not human wisdom.

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” Proverbs 3:5

And no matter how appealing these philosophies sound, we must never accept views that contradict Scripture.

Once we accept even slight errors, we lose our discernment and run the risk of being taken captive by every whim of human thought (1 Corinthians 3:19; Colossians 2:8).

This is a good proverb to remember:

Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Proverbs 18:2

And this is a good one to memorize:

"Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still; teach the righteous and they will add to their learning." Proverbs 9:9

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I have recently encountered a number of professing Christians who  defend false beliefs even when confronted with Scriptural proof that their beliefs contradict God's Word. Dear Christians, may we never have that kind of "reckless confidence"!