“Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
John 5:3-8 (NIV)
The pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, was known for its healing properties during the time of Jesus. It’s hard to imagine that for thirty eight years, one man could never once get into that pool. Multitudes of other sick, blind and lame people managed to get into those waters, for decades, except one man.
I think sometimes we all have moments when we feel like that one person who didn’t get an answer to a prayer or the help from others that we need. Situations in our lives can leave us feeling alone, or that we missed out in receiving some type of support that others around us all seem to have.
Whether we need physical healing or a relationship restored, a loved one to return to the faith, or a financial miracle, Satan, the enemy of all souls, is trying to erode our faith and destroy our spiritual self image, and get us to feel forsaken by God.
The paralytic in the gospel story clearly had many issues with what people didn’t do for him. He hung out at that site for 38 years, probably longer than anyone else there. There was a large number of desperate people lying around that pool, but Jesus approached only one man. God sees and knows what we are feeling deep within, and He draws particularly close to those who feel forsaken in this world.
It’s interesting to me that when Jesus asked the man if he wants to get well, instead of answering Him with a resounding “Yes!”, he proceeded to tell Jesus about all the people who didn’t help him over those thirty eight years.
The strategy of the enemy was to make the paralytic dwell on all the reasons for failure, and the people who hurt him or let him down. By not letting go of the disappointments of his past, he also didn’t make any progress. After thirty eight years, the man’s spiritual identity and self image was more paralyzed than his body.
Maybe that’s why Jesus asked him if he wants to be healed. He brought the man’s attention from his past to the present moment. There is a time for everyone to finally let go of whatever happened in the past and hear what Jesus is saying here and now.
Jesus said to the paralytic, “Get up and walk!” At the words of Jesus, the man was instantly healed as blood re-circulated in his legs, nerves were rejuvenated and muscles were strengthened after decades of not moving. Strength once again flowed through his body, and he stood up after thirty eight years and walked. That’s the power of the love of God and the words of Jesus.
We all need reminding of who we are in Christ and to Christ. He loves us and sees us as individuals among the crowd. He knows when we are crippled with doubts, guilt or anxiety. He is telling us that He has loved us throughout our past and that we were worth dying for. Today, we are reminded of who we are in Christ and to rise up.
Jesus also tells us who we are not. We are not the sum of our past failures and mistakes, or the names and titles that others have called us. We are not defined by any missed opportunities or the medical diagnosis we were given. We have never been forsaken or forgotten by God. Jesus walks over to us where we are and says, “Get up and walk!”
We were meant to walk in the power of being a child of God. We are His beloved children, redeemed with precious blood, living by faith and His Spirit dwells in us. He told us that we will do even greater works through Him. Jesus conquered hell, death and all the power that sin could ever have over us.
We will have moments where we doubt our identity in Christ and struggle to keep our hope, but then we will resist the devil, and rise up, because of what Jesus says to us,
“Get up, take up your mat and walk!”
We are chosen, crucified with Christ, forgiven, resurrected with Him and living in victory through Him who loves us, and intercedes for us daily. Nothing can ever separate us from the love of Christ. (Romans 8:35)
Lord, let us all get up and walk in our true identity as one of your beloved children, because of the power of your love, forgiveness and eternal sacrifice for us. Amen