When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been ill a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be well?" John 5:6
This biblical healing story offers many insights into the presence and work of Jesus in our modern day stories. What are some things for us to notice? First of all, when Jesus enters the great city of Jerusalem, where do we find Jesus? Among the outcasts of society: the ill, blind, lame and crippled. This point gives us a good clue as to where Jesus can be found today. Among the same crowd - the ill and isolated, the lost and forsaken, the lonely and all those rejected by society as "unclean" and "unworthy".
Recall that by the authority of the religious leaders, the conditions of the people were believed to be a result of their sinfulness. The healing of the ill man becomes a direct challenge to their authority when this man Jesus displays an authority to forgive and bring healing on the Sabbath day, which violates their laws. Yet, in such dismal circumstances, how could one ever feel hope or love, much less dignity and self-worth? These are all things God wishes us to know and to have for ourselves. Thus, Jesus becomes the deliverer of this message - the Savior of God's people.
Imagine what it must have felt like to be ill for 38 years! And yet, Jesus notices the man and sees that he has been suffering for a long time. He goes to the man and, in effect, asks him to forget about everything around him for a moment -- all the rules of the Sabbath and judgments and opinions casted upon him by society -- and just think about one thing. Do you want to be healed? For this is the only thing that matters. By the authority of Jesus, which comes from God, the man is immediately healed.
This moment of healing for an ill man of 38 years, sparks much anger and hostility among the religious leaders. They question the authority Jesus acts upon, especially in violation of the Sabbath Day laws.
When you go through something that leaves you feeling "crippled", what have you found helpful?
