Text: John 5:1-18
“He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29
“You’re never as honest as you are with your search engine,” said a Google data editor. That’s where you really get a sense of what people genuinely care about and want to know—and not just how they’re presenting themselves to the rest of the world.
In a year that tested so many, what were people typing into that little search box on their browser the most? Apparently, the world searched “how to heal” more than ever in the past. Whether for mental health reasons, overcoming physical illnesses, restoring broken relationships, or finding ways to come back stronger, people want to know how to… heal.
In John 5, we read a story about an invalid who I’m sure would’ve been using his phone to search “how to heal” had he been given that technology. The Greek term used in this passage for “invalid” can be translated infirmity, paralyzed, lame, feeble, extremely weak, or disabled. This man was in a miserable condition, but the text says that Jesus “knew” (v.6) that he had already been there a long time. What words of encouragement! Jesus didn’t just happen upon the man’s plight randomly, He knew of this man’s weakness all along. So He fixes His eyes on the man and asks this sincere question: “Do you want to be healed?”
Jesus knew that not every sick person wants to be made well; not every debilitated person wants the truth, the responsibility, the expectations, or the accountability that comes with being made whole. Before Jesus heals the man physically, he examines his heart. Do you want to be healed? From the response the man gives, we can see that he could be suffering from a weakened faith as well as feeble legs. “I have no one” to help me, says the man. Plus, I just can’t catch a break here… whenever the healing waters are stirred up someone always beats me to the pool. Can you sense the discouragement in this man’s reply? Maybe even some self-pity?
Do you want to be healed? Sometimes that question might sound something like this: Do you want to forgive? Do you want to let go of that anger? Do you want to give up control? Do you want to surrender that addiction? Do you want to make peace with that person? Do you want to become more disciplined in your diet and exercise? Do you want to turn off the binge watching and spend more time in Bible reading, worship, and prayer?
I love how Jesus cuts through all the man’s excuses, and potentially a victim-mentality, to show him that everything he needs to be healed is standing right in front of him—namely, in the person of Christ. He doesn’t just repair his legs; He rebuilds his faith and restores his hope by dealing with the heart first. “Get up, take up your bed, and walk,” Jesus tells the man. At once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and suddenly walked out of there on a mission like parishioners making a beeline for the buffet when church lets out on Sunday. Perhaps.
No matter how bad of a hand you have been dealt, be encouraged by the fact that your hand doesn’t surprise God. He’s known your hand long before you ever looked at the cards. He knows what you are up against. He wants to show Himself strong by overcoming the odds stacked against you. Are you willing to hope, believe, rise, be healed, and dream big again this New Year?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness in our lives. Even in our weakness and our feebleness, you never forsake us. Jesus, we cast off our excuses, our self-pity, our victim-mentality, and our doubts and fears. We hear you asking, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ Google can’t heal us. The world can’t heal us. We can’t heal ourselves. We need you to be our Healer. Do the work in us that only You can do. Make us new. Make us free. Make us wholly yours. We pray in your blessed name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
- When have you felt like life dealt you a bad hand?
- How long had the man in this story been an invalid? (John 5:5)
- What did Jesus tell the man he had healed when he encountered him a second time? (v.14) Why is this significant?
- How did the religious leaders respond to this man’s healing? When has someone tried to squelch your freedom in Christ with religious rules or regulations?
- In what way has Jesus healed you? In what ways do you still need healing?
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.
Text: John 5:1-18
“He gives strength to the weary, and increases the power of the weak.” —Isaiah 40:29
“You’re never as honest as you are with your search engine,” said a Google data editor. That’s where you really get a sense of what people genuinely care about and want to know—and not just how they’re presenting themselves to the rest of the world.
In a year that tested so many, what were people typing into that little search box on their browser the most? Apparently, the world searched “how to heal” more than ever in the past. Whether for mental health reasons, overcoming physical illnesses, restoring broken relationships, or finding ways to come back stronger, people want to know how to… heal.
In John 5, we read a story about an invalid who I’m sure would’ve been using his phone to search “how to heal” had he been given that technology. The Greek term used in this passage for “invalid” can be translated infirmity, paralyzed, lame, feeble, extremely weak, or disabled. This man was in a miserable condition, but the text says that Jesus “knew” (v.6) that he had already been there a long time. What words of encouragement! Jesus didn’t just happen upon the man’s plight randomly, He knew of this man’s weakness all along. So He fixes His eyes on the man and asks this sincere question: “Do you want to be healed?”
Jesus knew that not every sick person wants to be made well; not every debilitated person wants the truth, the responsibility, the expectations, or the accountability that comes with being made whole. Before Jesus heals the man physically, he examines his heart. Do you want to be healed? From the response the man gives, we can see that he could be suffering from a weakened faith as well as feeble legs. “I have no one” to help me, says the man. Plus, I just can’t catch a break here… whenever the healing waters are stirred up someone always beats me to the pool. Can you sense the discouragement in this man’s reply? Maybe even some self-pity?
Do you want to be healed? Sometimes that question might sound something like this: Do you want to forgive? Do you want to let go of that anger? Do you want to give up control? Do you want to surrender that addiction? Do you want to make peace with that person? Do you want to become more disciplined in your diet and exercise? Do you want to turn off the binge watching and spend more time in Bible reading, worship, and prayer?
I love how Jesus cuts through all the man’s excuses, and potentially a victim-mentality, to show him that everything he needs to be healed is standing right in front of him—namely, in the person of Christ. He doesn’t just repair his legs; He rebuilds his faith and restores his hope by dealing with the heart first. “Get up, take up your bed, and walk,” Jesus tells the man. At once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and suddenly walked out of there on a mission like parishioners making a beeline for the buffet when church lets out on Sunday. Perhaps.
No matter how bad of a hand you have been dealt, be encouraged by the fact that your hand doesn’t surprise God. He’s known your hand long before you ever looked at the cards. He knows what you are up against. He wants to show Himself strong by overcoming the odds stacked against you. Are you willing to hope, believe, rise, be healed, and dream big again this New Year?
PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank you for your faithfulness in our lives. Even in our weakness and our feebleness, you never forsake us. Jesus, we cast off our excuses, our self-pity, our victim-mentality, and our doubts and fears. We hear you asking, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ Google can’t heal us. The world can’t heal us. We can’t heal ourselves. We need you to be our Healer. Do the work in us that only You can do. Make us new. Make us free. Make us wholly yours. We pray in your blessed name, Amen.
Questions for Reflection and/or Group Discussion
Subscribe to “Abiding In Him” and get the latest devotional in your Inbox once a week.