At first glance we might read this account in the gospel of John and ask ourselves, Why would Jesus ask such a strange question? But now read the man's reply to Jesus in John 5:7; "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." The man's reply is even stranger than Jesus question appeared to be. Instead of replying to the One who could heal him that he wanted to be healed, he gave excuses as to why it hadn't already happened! Jesus paid no attention to the man's response, "Jesus said to him, Get up, pick up your pallet and walk." John 5:8. And he did, fully healed!
Over the years doctors are discovering what Jesus knew all along, some disease is brought on in our physical bodies by emotional problems that have never been dealt with. For instance there are definite correlations between; unforgiveness, hatred, guilt, worry, jealousy, and fear to dis--ease in our minds and bodies. Sadly we sometimes cling to the very things that are making us sick because we feel powerless over them. If you don't believe that consider the cases of cirrhosis of the liver, bleeding ulcers, stress headaches, addictions that can lead to all kinds of related physical illnesses etc.
Our Lord Jesus is the only One that knows what lies within us, the things that are hidden from us. And He is the only One who can remove them from our lives, sins that we have lived with for so long that we have grown attached to them without even realizing it. Or they are sins that we are powerless over, and we are prisoners inside our own bodies.
There is hope, there is help for each one of us and His name is Jesus Christ! Read this prophecy from Isaiah concerning Jesus, Isaiah 61:1; "The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is upon Me, for the LORD has anointed Me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent Me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed."
The Lord Jesus is all about setting us free, free from sin, free from bondage to anything or anyone, free from lies, free to love Him and worship Him and to experience the Abundant Life that He promises. "...I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10:10.
We may not be paralyzed, we may not be in prison, but we all have need of Jesus, unless of course you are already living the abundant life as defined by Christ by putting your faith, trust and hope in Him. Maybe you are a believer but you know you aren't living abundantly, then do business with God today. Go to Him today in prayer, enter into His throne of grace and find help in your time of need. He will hear your voice.
If you aren't satisfied with your life surrender it to Christ, ask Him to take over your life and please don't put it off, do it today. Today may be all we have, we are never promised a tomorrow. "Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts." Hebrews 4:7.
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