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THE WAY THAT LEADS TO LIFE

One of my favorite stories in the Gospels is in John 5, where Jesus approached a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years.

Now, I want you to think about this man. When a person has been sick that long, it gets built into their thinking, “I’m paralyzed.” It affected every waking moment - he had been that way for a long time. He had a unique perspective of his situation (and it wasn’t good!). We can all get that way.

He was lying by the pool at the Sheep Gate as the local legend was that once in a while, an angel came down to the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first was made well of whatever disease they had (v. 4).

In the mind of this lame man, that was his answer. His perspective said, “Those waters are the only way I’ll get healed.” The bad news was that someone else always got there before him because he had no one to help him get into the water.

Think about how hopeless that felt! His only way to get healed was blocked because he had no one to help him. That thought ran over and over in his mind, leading to hopelessness. That was his perspective.

One day, Jesus came by, and He asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” Now, the obvious answer to that question is, “YES!” But notice the man answered, “I have no one to put me in the pool.” It’s a strange answer when you think about it. But it reveals his perspective – one holding him in bondage and causing hopelessness.

Do you suppose we all might have a skewed perspective sometimes when it comes to our situation? Do you think there might be another way to look at it? A way that leads to life and healing?

There was, and fortunately, Jesus wasn’t moved by his answer and instead told him,
“Rise, take up your bed, and walk.” The man was healed!