You’ve been dealing with something for a long time.
Not days. Not weeks. Years.
You’ve prayed. You’ve hoped. You’ve tried to figure it out.
And now it just feels like… this is how it is.
So when you hear about healing, something in you pushes back.
If it was going to happen, wouldn’t it have happened by now?
Let’s see what the Scripture actually says.
John 5:6–9 (KJV)
“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”
Start with the question.
“Wilt thou be made whole?”
That sounds simple.
But it’s not.
Jesus is not asking if the man wants relief for a moment.
He’s asking if he’s ready for a complete change.
Because after 38 years, this condition wasn’t just physical.
It became part of his identity.
Do you see that?
The man doesn’t answer yes.
He explains why it hasn’t happened.
“I have no man… another steppeth down before me.”
He points to the system.
The method.
The limitation.
He’s focused on how healing is supposed to happen.
That’s not what you expected, is it?
Then Jesus speaks.
“Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”
No process.
No waiting for the water.
No help from others.
Just a command.
And notice this.
Jesus tells him to do something before anything changes.
“Rise…”
That requires movement.
Before he feels different.
Before he sees proof.
Do you see where this starts?
“And immediately the man was made whole…”
The result follows the response.
Not the other way around.
Now look at the setting.
This is the pool of Bethesda.
A place filled with sick people.
All waiting for a moment.
A stirring of water.
A chance to be first.
So the whole environment is built on competition and timing.
You either make it… or you miss it.
That shapes how this man thinks.
He believes healing is limited.
That it depends on access.
On opportunity.
On someone helping him.
But Jesus steps into that environment and ignores the system completely.
He doesn’t work within it.
He speaks over it.
That changes the meaning of everything here.
Because now the question isn’t about access.
It’s about response.
You see this same idea in other places.
In Acts 3:6 (KJV)
“Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk.”
Again, a command comes first.
Then the man responds.
Then strength comes.
And in James 2:17 (KJV)
“Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.”
Faith moves.
Not after it sees.
But because it trusts.
And in Mark 9:23 (KJV)
“If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.”
The limitation isn’t the situation.
It’s what you believe about it.
Now sit with this for a second.
This man had a reason for why nothing changed.
And it made sense.
No help.
Too slow.
Always missing the moment.
But that explanation kept him stuck in the same place.
Is that what’s been happening for you?
Have you built a solid reason for why things haven’t changed?
And now that reason feels more real than the possibility that it could?
Because Jesus didn’t argue with his explanation.
He didn’t fix the system.
He gave him something to act on.
“Rise.”
That’s where the shift happens.
Not in the environment.
In the response.
So what does this look like for you?
It’s not ignoring reality.
It’s not pretending something isn’t there.
It’s choosing to respond to what Jesus says, even when your past says otherwise.
It’s letting go of the “this is how it’s always been” mindset.
And taking a step anyway.
Even if it feels unfamiliar.
Even if it feels risky.
So in that moment where your mind goes back to the same explanation…
What would it look like for you to respond to His word instead?
Because the man didn’t get a new system.
He got a word.
And when he responded to it…
Everything changed.
So here’s the question that stays with you.
Are you waiting for the right conditions…
or are you ready to respond to what He already said?
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |
