"When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now
a long time, he said to him, Would you be made whole?"
John 5:6
These words of Jesus were spoken to a man who had been lame for 38 years.
It is difficult for us to imagine that kind of condition for that length of time.
We may have difficulty in understanding Jesus' question to him.
We may quickly think, "Of course he would want to be made whole." But a
ready-made answer overlooks the fact that each of us develops some security
from the sameness in our world. Such security is not trust in God.
Because Jesus came from the Father, lived unto the Father, then died for our sins,
a heavenly realm of power and transformation has been opened for us.
This reality is beyond anything most have experienced. Especially vulnerable
to unbelief are those familiar with the historical revelation of God.
Thru the centuries a minority have been inwardly changed by relying upon
this one man, that one death, in our stead .
Greater than lame legs have been made whole.
Hearts crushed by harshness or corruption have been healed to sing his praise.
Jesus spoke face-to-face with this man. Thru his disciples he has spoken
to countless others with the power of his endless life .
This power to cure uncleanness and forgive sin was foretold, Zechariah 13:1.
The prophecy points to the sun-darkening death of the sinless man.
That death brought life and immortality to light.
To receive his life, we give up self rule and claims of self-sufficiency.
Pride is washed away repeatedly by seeing our need for Jesus to cover us.
"Would you be made whole?"
"But we never can prove, the delights of his love,
until all on the altar we lay,
for the favor he shows, and the joy he bestows,
are for those who will trust and obey." - J.H. Sammis