Healing in Our Weakest Moments

Do You Desire to be Healed?

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

What a powerful scene. A man is sitting by an area known for healing and he has been an invalid for thirty-eight years. Jesus noticed him and heard his story. Then Jesus asked him a somewhat strange question, “Do you want to get well?”

“Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath.—John 5:1–9

Now, you may think he answers with a quick and obvious yes, but instead he gives Jesus an excuse for why he cannot: that it’s not fair, he can’t get to the healing waters. Have you ever done that? Given Jesus excuses as to why you cannot do something? Well, Jesus tells the man to take his mat and get up and walk and he is completely healed after thirty-eight years!

Jesus Died for Healing for All—Even if We Don’t Like the Person

When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. —Luke 22:49-51

This is another fascinating miracle that happens while Jesus is being arrested in the garden. Peter is upset obviously with what is happening and he takes his sword and cuts off one of the soldier’s ears. Jesus is not happy with Peter, tells him “No more of this” and then He heals the soldiers EAR. Imagine this scene. The soldier that came to arrest Jesus, I doubt he believed Jesus was the Messiah. I doubt the soldier was “saved” and he didn’t have much faith. But, the Lord healed him anyway.

“While we were still sinning, He died for us” and “He loved us first.” It’s that perfect love that allows us to come to Him. Tell Him "Thank you".