Do you want to be healed?

Do you want to be healed? It’s an odd question that Jesus asks a man in John 5.

Our initial response is, “of course I want to be healed, Lord.” But soon after our initial response, some other things can creep in. After all, the Bible tells us that this man had been under this affliction for 38 years. Habits and mindsets developed over 38 years can be difficult to switch.

This man had likely never known anything but laying down. He had never walked, danced, or ran. He had never picked up a heavy block or carried a bag from one place to the other. He didn’t know how to play games that involved moving his body. He likely didn’t even know what it was like to sit straight up. Here was his chance to change all that — but it would mean changing all that.

When Jesus grants us the healing word of forgiveness, He asks us the same thing. “Do you want to be healed?” Do you? Just like the man in John 5, our initial response it “of course I want to be healed, Lord.” But then other things creep in. How much do we hold on to the sins we commit? How much of our life have they become? How difficult will it be for us to live a new life? Here is our chance to change all of that – but it will mean changing all of that.

Unlike the man’s healing, Christ offers us forgiveness day after day – but that doesn’t change the permanence of it. One day, sin will be conquered and our lives will be changed. The question to ask yourself today is if you really want that. Do you really want to be healed? or are you playing at healing with Jesus? It’s a fair question to ask yourself before you confess.

But when you confess, Christ does promise to heal you. He promises to bring you the healing of His forgiving Word. He promises that His Word will bring you new life, better life, healed life. Do you want to be healed? Why wouldn’t you? Jesus comes to give that to you.