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“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?’ ‘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.” (John 5:3-9)

Observations:

What stuck out to me was Jesus’ question “Do you want to get well?” to the man that had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

This person has been disabled for a long time. Now here comes Jesus who asks the man if he wants to get well.

What would be going through the man’s mind?

All the times he was hoping to get healed in the thirty-eight years but never could. He tried but someone else would always get ahead in front of him. After awhile it can become really discouraging and the man could have succumbed to ‘learned helplessness’. Yet, he still remains there even in his helplessness and hopelessness.

He answers Jesus with the declarative statement, “‘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.” (John 5:7)

Now Jesus takes the initiative to make him well because the man has a desire to get well.

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.” (John 5:8-9)

It became very significant to me the process that happened for the man to get healed.

Stage 1: “Do you want to get well?”

Stage 2: Yeah, but there is no one to help me get well.

Stage 3: The Great Physician comes to his rescue.

Stage 4: The man gets cured.

Jesus did not just go to the man and heal him but wanted to know if the man wanted to get well. Jesus decided to interact with the man and based on the man’s response, Jesus healed him.

I saw important implications for our own lives here.

No matter what a person is going through and no matter how long that person is going through that circumstance whether it is a disability, disease, etc, healing should never be overlooked and given up on.

The disabled man was invalid for thirty-eight years and one day he was instantly healed. There is hope ahead and it is in Jesus Christ. Jesus took the initiative to come and heal the man personally.

Whatever is mentioned in the Bible, I believe there is a reason for it. In this case, thirty-eight years has significance. Just because those years went by does not mean the man was without hope. Hope was to come and it came with Jesus. The man still had to desire the healing and the desire to get well. Once he expressed that desire to Jesus, Jesus took care of the rest. It is as if he received a new life and new birth. The life he had known was filled with disability but after Jesus interacted with him, he had a new physical birth.

I ask you now friend, how’s your day?

Dear friend, the man’s day was pretty bad for him for thirty-eight years and then one day it was as if he received a new day in his life. He could do things he could never have done. He had the desire to get well and Jesus took care of the rest.

No matter what you are going through or faced with, please do not give up. There is hope and light ahead of the tunnel. Whether you are faced with disability, disease, decisions, etc that impact your life, you do not have to face it alone but with the One who wants to face it with you and help you.

Who would not want to get well! Jesus wants you to be well and loves you so much. Yes, He does! If you have not turned to Him, won’t you turn to Him now! He wants to heal you and I know He can. Don’t let time constraints stop you from seeking Jesus and don’t let the days that go by without any change discourage you for I know my Redeemer lives and lives to give you Life. He wants you to have Abundant Life.

I do believe no matter what we face, Jesus can give us the strength and endurance to get through. In His timing, I do believe healing also comes according to His perfect will!

I have experienced Jesus’ healing in my own life. My life was limited in what I could eat and do because of asthma. I had severe bouts of asthma at times and even had to be rushed to the hospital once. Then, one day I heard about this Jesus who healed multitudes who were sick. I also remembered a Bible verse that had said that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

I was not a Christian then but Hindu by birth. Yet, I was learning about Jesus from my mommy who converted to become a follower of Jesus Christ.

I said to myself, if Jesus is the same yesterday, today, tomorrow as the Bible states then what He did then, He could do now. So I decided to give my life to Jesus Christ as my mommy prayed with me.

You know what happened?

I was healed of my asthma and have been able to do stuff I never could have done. I am even able to sprint and run distances, eat foods I never could eat, etc. I have even ran blocks to catch buses that did not stop. One of the drivers told me that I should run track. Jesus healed me of my asthma. Yes, He did friend! His healing took over my life. I wanted to get well and Jesus took care of the rest. I have not had to take any type of medication for years and years.

I know healing, hope, and help comes from Jesus and I also know it is in His timing. I also understand that He allows things to happen that I wish were not the case at times but even through those circumstances, He gives us the strength and willingness to bear.

My older brother has a speech disability. I have prayed for his healing and I know Jesus has the power to heal him. Yet, at this time he is not completely healed.

Does it mean that Jesus does not love Him or care for Him?

Jesus loves my brother so much and has got him through so many areas of his life and blessed him in so many areas of his life. My brother is also strong in the Lord even in his disability and believes the Lord Jesus can heal him in His timing.

I cannot answer why one is healed and another is not healed right away. What I can answer is that Jesus Christ loves humanity and time is no constraint for Him. I cannot understand the Lord's ways. His ways are beyond my comprehension but His love is so near!

Jesus loves you friend and wants you to have abundant life. More than anything He wants you to be well spiritually.

Do you want to get well spiritually this day?

No matter what you have done or where you have been, Jesus reaches out to you. Jesus wants to give you a new life. Your new life in Christ can happen now. You can be well! Yes, you can friend! Even if the disability, disease, decision was your fault, the Lord Jesus can rectify it. If you read the passage on, it will be revealed that something the man did caused his disability and yet Jesus in His mercy heals me and then warns him. So if you believe what you are going through is your fault, please still don't give up. Jesus loves you and wants the best for you. Yes, He does friend!

May this day be the best day of your life as you allow Jesus Christ to lead you in your life and receive the abundant life, He wants to give you!

Make this your prayer:

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I learned today how you healed the man that was sick for thirty-eight years. In an instant, he was cured when he interacted with you. You made him well. Oh Lord, you know the things that bind me and hold me captive. You know how many times I have messed up and what I have done. You know that I am not happy with the things I have done. I want to be well physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I cannot on my own and need you Jesus. On this day, please Jesus come into my heart and make my heart your home please Jesus. Lord reign in me, reign in your power over all my dreams and in my darkest hours. I want you to be more to me than any earthy things. I want you to be the Lord of all I am and I give myself to you. I am so sorry for my sins and ask you to forgive me please. You won’t interfere in my life and make me well without my desire to get well. So now, I want to get well. I wait on you Lord for your help. Please help me and guide me. Thank you Jesus for your healing! I thank you for coming into my life. Thank you for making my heart your home and living in me. This is so cool Jesus. I acknowledge you as my Lord and personal Savior. Thank you for dying for my sin and coming back to life to save me. Your blood shed on the cross has forgiven all my sin as I acknowledge and accept your gift of grace. Thank you Jesus you have heard my prayer and answered me. Thank you for being part of my life. Please guide me and lead me Jesus. Thank you Jesus! In Your Precious Holy Name I Pray! Amen!

Friend, this is the best day of your life. Being a follower of Christ maybe new to you or a rededication experience! No matter what, you have made the best decision of your life. You do need help to grow in your Christian walk. We all do! If you need someone to talk to, study the Bible with, find Bible believing church to be part of, let me know. You can email me at rcrst6@pitt.edu or call me at my cell at 412-720-4579. I will try to get back to you as soon as I can.

Love in Christ,
Ramesh

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OCTOBER 05 2003

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