The Source and Implications of Cure

This week we have been discussing our weaknesses and sin...not the most pleasant or popular topic in our world today, but so critical to our lives and overall health and well-being as children of God.  While recently perusing the gospel of John, I read a familiar story about Jesus healing the lame man at the pool of Bethesda.  However, for the first time, several truths jumped out at me that became immediately applicable to my own life, and I hope, to yours.  Let me explain as we consider the following text from John 5:1-9:

"After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, 'Do you want to be healed?' The sick man answered him, 'Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.' Jesus said to him, 'Get up, take up your bed, and walk. And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked."

Photo courtesy of Ids.org

Now, what was so puzzling to me about this encounter is that Jesus actually asks the lame man, "Do you want to be healed?" (verse 6; other translations state, "Do you want to be well?").  What a strange question to ask!  I mean, this man has been lame for 38 years(!) and has been lounging by this pool for some time it seems, presumably wanting and waiting to go into its healing waters and be restored to good health.  But Jesus does not assume this.  Instead, in His usual fashion, Jesus cuts straight to the matter of this man's heart...not just his health.  You see, there are implications in the cure. Oftentimes, we get so comfortable with our sin/fears/weaknesses/addictions that if we were honest with ourselves, we look to them to serve a purpose in our lives apart from Christ.  If I reject the fear, then I might be asked to do something I am not comfortable with for the Lord, and be expected to carry it through.  If I shed the weight, someone might notice me...and hurt me...again.  If I turn from the bottle, I may crack under the stress and pressure of my job.  If I say "no" to my boyfriend, he might leave me.  Are we truly eager to be cured?  Do we want to be healed...or just be happy?  Because the cure of Christ is a total heart transformation...not just a tweaking of our circumstances with the goal of bringing us comfort and ease.

The second interesting feature in this story is that when asked if he wants to be well, the lame man gives no direct answer.  Instead, he begins to list off the excuses as to why he is not able to get into the healing pool ("while I am going another steps down before me..." verse 7).  You see, the man does not recognize that he is speaking with THE solution, THE source of healing for his body (and his soul)!  Instead, he is fixated on the method by which he is convinced he will be healed.  We do this too, my friend!  When we look to methods (whether that be a diet/exercise regimen, medications*, psychotherapy/counseling, 10 step programs...the list could go on and on...) and not to Christ Himself, we do ourselves a disservice and stand in the way of our personal healing.  Now, do not misunderstand, God can and often does use all of these tools to aid in our healing from sin and spiritual strongholds, but these methods or tools are not to be our Savior in and of themselves!  It reminds me of a decision my father and stepmom recently had to make as he was awaiting back surgery for a vertebral fracture.  They became fraught with indecision when presented with all the choices of surgeons and medical products to be used in the surgery.  However, it soon became apparent to them that they ought not put their trust in other people's opinions about which surgeon to consult and the brand of medical products used, but instead to look solely to the One who is the source of healing.  After prayer, their choice of which surgeon and surgical method became clear and they were filled with peace and proceeded with the surgery.  So we, too, ought to be mindful who (or what) we are placing our trust in to heal and to cure us; is it our Lord, the Great Physician...or is it man's ways and methods?

And lastly, the man at Bethesda IS healed in a mighty way...but NOT by the method he was expecting!  No, Christ used the power of His words to heal the man, stating, "Get up, take up your bed, and walk" (verse 8). No touching, no pool water, just Christ's spoken word was all that was required!  So let it be in our lives, as well!  Let us not be like the lame man and offer excuses or look to a method...but let us fix our eyes on the true Source of our healing, Christ the Lord!  

(*Please note: as a medical doctor, I understand the neurochemical nature of many infirmaries such as depression, anxiety, etc; however, it is my personal conviction that we ought never treat these maladies only with medications, but also with the aid of Christ-centered counselling)