John 5:1-15
“Notice what you notice.” Today we go back to Jerusalem in John’s Gospel. Jesus asked the man at the pool, “Do you want to be healed?” Time and again I have read Jesus’ question and wondered why Jesus would ask that. Surely the man would want to be healed, having spent 38 years lying there. But my Study Bible thought it was a reasonable question. Maybe the man’s illness (and excuse: “…while I am going another steps down before me”) was his best way for dealing with his situation. Not unlike “scam beggars” today, maybe this man did better with his illness than if he had to work his way through life.
The sick man did not know Jesus either before or after his healing. Only when Jesus recognized him in the temple did he finally truly meet his healer. So he rushed off to tell the Jewish leaders that his healer was Jesus, in my mind thinking that he was doing Jesus and the Jewish leaders a favor. I can see the joy in his eyes as he reported this news. And I’m sure the Jewish leaders’ response left him more confused than ever!
Jesus is not limited to asking questions about healing. What might He be asking me (or you) today?
Slava Bohu!