I’ve said this before and I do believe it to be true, “We grow inch by inch, not foot by foot.” This sentiment is meant to encourage when growth feels stagnant or slow. It’s meant as a reminder that real growth takes time, and sometimes lots of it. As someone who does not remember a life before Jesus, I often feel I should be further along in my faith journey. I often mentally beat myself up for the lack of maturity or growth that has taken place over the years. I can usually point to a few areas I know I have made progress, only to be discouraged when that “thing” rears its ugly head again, and I find myself realizing I haven’t grown as much as I had hoped.  

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In today’s Scripture, we zoom in on a man who had lain by a pool called Bethesda, which was believed to have healing powers. Many invalids lay by the pool, hoping to be the first to get to it when the water bubbled. This man lay by the pool, and Scripture tells us he had been in that place for thirty-eight years! (vs. 5) We don’t know any more about him than this. We don’t know how long he had lived before the cause of his presence there, or if he remembered an active life before his malady. One thing we do know is that 38 years is not a short time to hope for healing. Jesus asks this man an interesting question: “Do you want to be healed?” What a thought. He had lain there for 38 years, and Jesus asked the obvious. We can speculate on the tone of this man’s response, that he was whining or enjoying his life laying around, but I think this question packs a punch, especially if you put yourself in his place.  

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In my own life, I think of all the ways I’ve cried out to God, “Help me be more faithful in studying your Word,” or “Help me to trust you when things feel out of focus.” These are good prayers, and we should want all the good things God can do in our lives, but the question remains, “Do you want to be healed?” See, healing is going to require change, even intentional action. Healing may change your sense of purpose, your routine, or your location. It may change the way you see yourself, or the way others see you. In effect, I think Jesus is asking, do you realize what healing will change for you? Do you still want it? It is easy to get comfortable in our discomfort. To think “this is just the way life is.”  

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By contrast, we look at Isaiah 61:4, which says, “They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations” (ESV). Who is “They”? Looking back in verses 1-3, we can see it says this message is for the poor, the brokenhearted, the captives, those who mourn. In even the loosest sense, do any of these words describe you? I know I sometimes feel captive to bad habits I have! These people are all of us. Looking back at verse four, what are “they” doing? Building up ancient ruins, raising up former devastations, repairing ruined cities – and don’t miss this last one – “the devastations of many generations.” Why is it that we expect ourselves to fix something that has been going on for generations? Here’s a newsflash – we can’t! Generations have taught us that we won’t, but Jesus comes to this one man in a sea of invalids, those who are poor, broken-hearted, captive, or mourning, and asks, “Do you want to be healed?” This is Jesus recognizing this man’s 38-year struggle of trying. This man knows at this point, he cannot obtain healing on his own. Jesus’ question isn’t a condemnation of this man’s lack of ability to get in the water; Jesus knows he cannot get there himself either. Jesus is asking, will you allow me to radically change your life? Because if I interfere here, you will not be the same.  

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One thing we don’t see in this story is transformational healing, how this man’s life was literally changed forever beyond his physical healing. He likely rebuilt his life under a whole new identity. Instead of “the man who lays by the pool of Bethesda,” he became “the man that Jesus healed.” But his healing required action. Jesus said, “Get up, take your bed and walk.” He could have just laid there, said, “I can’t,” and ignored Jesus’ invitation for radical restoration. That’s not what happened. He was healed, and with healing comes rebuilding and restoring. Jesus does the healing, but the testimony of our healing starts with our response to Jesus.

Reflect on this today: Do you want to be healed? How long have you been “waiting for healing?” Has it been almost four decades? Maybe your malady isn’t a physical one, but all the same, you’re captive to it. You’re broken-hearted over it. God’s message of hope to rebuild years of devastation is for you – to fix what is broken. What action is Jesus telling you to take to “Get up, take up your bed and walk” in obedience?