By Pastor Matthew Parra

A man was there who had been ill for 38 years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:5-6

Notice the man, that he was in his crippled condition for the better part of FOUR DECADES and John tells us that Jesus saw him and knew he had been in his condition a LONG TIME. This information sets us up for a question that might seem to some as unnecessary.

Do you want to be made well?

Well, it was a necessary question, and if we think hard enough about it, and consider seriously what John noted about the situation before the question was asked, it makes perfect sense. People are adaptable so they become habituated to their circumstances. No matter how miserable our situation we can get used to it and even in some situations and in some ways comfortable.

Think about it… In his condition no one asked anything of him. No one depended on him. He had no significant responsibilities to bear because he couldn’t bear them. As terrible, difficult, and harrowing as it would have been, his condition came with a freedom from responsibility. If he were to be made well a world of opportunity would be opened to him and with that world of opportunity choices, expectations, obligations, risks, possibilities and pressures he had never faced before would eventually confront him. Of course, he wanted to be made well but did he want what came along with it? That’s really what Jesus was asking. Where much is given, much is required. No more feeling sorry for himself. No more sympathy from strangers. Just a life with full potential and everything that comes with it which is awesome! But also, terrible! Because again, “where much is given, much is required.” So, the question comes down through time to us. Let’s consider seriously our answer. Have we become comfortable in our dysfunction? In our discomfort? In our disillusionment? In our discontent? In our discouragement? Whatever the case, Jesus is asking us, “Do you want to be made well?”