Don’t you love easy questions? Sometimes we are hammered with difficult questions that can take time and much thought to contemplate and respond. Jesus asked an easy question in John 5:6, “Do you want to be made well?” It was a question posed to a man who had been plagued with an infirmity for a period of 38 years. Can you imagine suffering for that long and someone coming and asking you if you want to be well? It’s seemingly a ‘no-brainer.’ How fortunate that the One asking the question that day could actually make him physically well! How fortunate for us that if we want to be made spiritually well, through and because of Jesus, we too can actually be made well! Let’s break the question down:
Do You…
This man had the personal choice to make. When we think about this man being physically sick, if we were in his position, we know that it is a no-brainer, of course we would want to be well. However, when it comes to salvation, it should be the same – it should be a given, everyone should want to be saved. But, we are talking about a choice; we are talking about an individual choice. The invitation of Jesus and Holy Spirit is open, “Come!” (Matthew 11:28-30; Revelation 22:17).
Do You Want To Be Made…
Oh, what a desire this man had – and so must we! We need to understand that salvation is not anything that we can ever earn or deserve. God demonstrated His love to us in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:6-8). The process of salvation was put in place by the Lord and His willingness to die for us. We must understand that if we desire to be made well, we must obey the Lord and His plan of salvation. Jesus is the author of eternal salvation to all who obey Him – Hebrews 5:9. Therefore, it is not up to me to determine what I must do to be saved or listen to the teachings of men. Jesus has provided a way for us to be made well and we must obey Him!
Do You Want To Be Made Well?
This implies that one is sick. Jesus did not ask a person without illness if they wanted to be made well, but went to the sick to ask the question. Jesus did not ask the man if he knew he was sick – the man obviously knew his condition. The difference is that many in our world need it to be pointed out to them. They are lost and they need to come to that recognition. As Christians, someone loved us enough to help us find the love of God through Jesus by sharing the gospel. We were invited to ‘reason together’ (Isaiah 1:18-20). We are commanded to do the same (Mark 16:15-16). What joy we should never lose to know there is a way to be made well!
In John 5, we see that after being asked if he wanted to be well, the man responded that it was his desire to be well. Jesus told him to get up take his bed and walk. He responded in obedience. Jesus is still asking the same question today – but with spiritual application.
Do you want to be made well? Come to Jesus in faith (Romans 10:17; Hebrews 11:6; John 8:24), repentance (Acts 17:30; Acts 2:38) and baptism (Acts 22:16; Romans 6:3-6; 1 Peter 3:21). You can be made well!
-Adam Orr
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