Do You?

Now in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there is a pool which in Hebrew is called Bethesda, having five porticoes. In these porticoes lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, limping, or paralyzed. Now a man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. Jesus, upon seeing this man lying there and knowing that he had already been in that condition for a long time, *said to him, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus *said to him, “Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. 

John 5:2-9 NASB

It seems silly to ask someone who has been suffering for over three decades if they would like to get well. One would probably assume that the person would more than want to get well, but would be desperate to be removed from the circumstances of their anguish. But here in John 5, we find Jesus asking this question of just such an individual. And He's asking you the same thing.

"Do you want to get well?"

Six words that cause you to make a decision about your circumstances. "Do you want to get well?" makes you stop and think about what your suffering is doing to you and how healing could change that. It makes you think about how you talk and act and if you are ready to let that narrative go so that a new chapter of your life can begin. "Do you want to get well?" makes you consider letting sickness die so health can live. 

"Do you want to get well?" is not only about physical health, but whatever circumstance you've been defeated by or have been complaining about. 

"Do you want to get over it?"

"Do you want to be in a relationship?"

"Do you want to break that habit?"

What He's really asking you is "Do you want to change?" and do you have faith to believe that your life can be transformed by trusting what only He can give you? Without faith, miracles can't happen. Your impossible situation will remain, and like the man at the pool, you'll continue to sit helplessly as you wait for someone to put you in the water. 

Don't sit around waiting for someone else to make up your mind for you to change. They cannot do it for you. You have to decide you want to change and that you will believe by faith that God can truly do something miraculous for your life. 

So, do you want to get well?