Fierce Conversations - a certain man

John 5 records the story of a man healed by Jesus at The Pool of Bethesda. Sick people from Jerusalem would gather at the pool in hopes of being cured of their illnesses. They would lie at one of the five porticos or porches adjacent to the pool, waiting and watching for an angel to stir the water, believing that the first person to step into the water after the angel stirred it would be healed. 

When Jesus approached the man —who had been waiting 38 years to get well—He went straight to the heart of the matter by asking, “Do you want to be healed?” Instead of saying yes, the man makes excuses for why he hasn’t been healed yet, blaming others for his situation. Jesus hadn’t asked why he wasn’t healed, but if he wanted to be healed. Much like that man, we often choose to stay in our mess rather than take steps to improve our circumstances.

However, when we allow Him to work, Jesus brings victims to victory. Jesus isn’t dismissive of the man’s experience; instead, he validates and offers to heal him. Likewise, Jesus offers us hope and healing, but that can only happen when we stop making excuses and start making changes. 

Because the man was convinced the water was his only way out, he almost missed the opportunity to be healed. Similarly, the Pharisees were so rigid and fixated on the rules that they overlooked the fact that the man had been healed - all they cared about was that he was breaking the sabbath. Don’t be blinded by your certainty. Too many of us identify as victims, and instead of seizing opportunities to change our lives, we wallow in self-pity, shrouding ourselves in our pain.

Contrast Jesus’ two encounters with this man. In the first, Jesus tells him to get up and walk. In the second, Jesus says, See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.” Jesus didn’t make the man clean up his life and repent before he’d be healed; instead, He calls the man into repentance. God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance (Romans 2:4). Jesus didn’t just heal the man and leave him spiritually broken but instead healed both his body and soul. 

Jesus finds you. God loves you so much that He seeks you out so that He can redeem you. The question then becomes do you want to be healed? If redemption and healing are promised, are you willing to humble yourself and accept God’s promise of eternal life?

  • What pleases God more? Which is easier? Which is your default response to those far from God? 

    a. Loving people and showing mercy and grace to people in need, OR following a strict list of made rules and regulations? 

    b. Forgiving and loving those who have wounded us, OR making sure that people pay the price for the things they have done to cause those wounds? 

    c. Celebrating what God is doing in and through us, OR condemning those who break the rules?

  • The man had been waiting his whole life to be healed - 38 years. When have you felt that God was waiting too long to do something you’d trusted Him to do? How did you respond? Has He done what you’ve asked? 

  • What do we learn in verse 14 about Jesus’ motive for healing and the next logical step?

  • What was Jesus’ purpose in asking the man if he wanted to be healed? Do you know someone who seems resistant to being healed or is unwilling to make difficult changes in their life? What would you tell them about the benefit of being healed by surrendering to Jesus? 

  • What does Jesus say to the man when He sees him in the Temple? (Verse 14) Does Jesus indicate that the man’s infirmity was a result of sin?

  • Is there something worse than living with a disease or infirmity? Read Matthew 5:29-30. 

  • Why might someone prefer rules and regulations to freedom? In what way are relationships more important than rules and regulations?

Make a Move: 

In what area of your life have you resisted God’s offer of healing? Confess your stubbornness and surrender it to Him. 

Prayer Prompt: 

Father, over and over, You have shown yourself faithful to me. May I show humility by surrendering to You and accepting Your offer of hope and healing through Your Son Jesus. Thank you for the promise that You turn victimhood into victory - may I never cease to be grateful for that. Amen