Lent Devotional - Day 9

Read John 5:1-15

Today we see Jesus at work at Bethesda, healing a person who could not walk or help himself. In his love and mercy, Jesus does not wait for the man to seek him out. In fact, we learn later on that the man doesn’t even know who Jesus is. Jesus rather seeks out the man and asks an important question: “Do you want to get well?”

This seemingly basic question, where we would assume that the answer is yes, is a very revealing question. When one has been in a particular condition, situation, or circumstance for a long time, it becomes the norm. This man has been this way for 38 years! He probably doesn’t even see himself as being sick. This is just the way he is.

Many of us are in the same state as this man. We don’t know that we are blind, hungry, thirsty, naked or lame and so we don’t know to ask for healing and wholeness. We have gotten used to this lifestyle and we don’t know any better and we don’t know any different.

Do you want to get well? Jesus is the Great Physician providing physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual healing. Ask Jesus to help you today. Tell him your story and remember for yourself that you are sick and in need of a healer.

Then do what he tells you. Here on out, it is no longer about living our lives, but living how Jesus wants us to live. We cannot go back to the way we were living after our encounter with Jesus. This man cannot go back to the pool and sit there and beg, just because that’s the only thing he knows. He needs to lead a brand new life.

There’s a clear expectation with Jesus that anyone can come to him and he received us as we are, but we are not to remain in sin and stay the same. He begins a work of transformation in and through us where we go from being a sinner to a saint; from a common person to one who is set apart for God. Let’s tell others what Jesus has done in our lives!