Our text takes us to a place in Jerusalem that was known throughout the land. People came and congregated at this pool because of what they could find there. No one knows why the waters would become troubled, but there was a belief that healing was available when this happened. Some historians challenge the authenticity of that, but if that is the case, why were so many people waiting? Something miraculous took place at that pool. The bible tells us that there was a multitude of people. They were there because there was hope for a chance of healing. It was a chance, but a chance was better than nothing. A chance is all they were looking for. That desire of a chance has not changed form then to now. People are simply looking for a chance. People will wait on many things in life for simply a chance. When Jesus came to the pool that day, chance went out the window, and it became an opportunity. When Jesus is involved, it is not a matter of chance, but a matter of time. For 38 long years, nothing had changed for this man. For 38 years, this man held onto hope. For all those 38 years, chance had not been kind to him. Jesus asks this man a strange question: Do you want to be made whole? His answer reveals why he had been waiting so long. Is answer was not YES. The answer was I can't. His answer is an excuse or a complaint. Before we judge this man too harshly, we need to look at our own live to make sure we are not guilty of the same attitude. Jesus did not ask him if he wanted to be healed. Jesus ask if he wanted to me made whole. There is a difference. People can be physically well, but still troubled in their mind. The infirm man had endured 38 years and something kept him at the pool hoping for his time. This man did not even know who healed him. Later when ask about who had healed him, he could not say. Bro. Hughes notes several things about this encounter and the answer that reveal much. This man struggled with seeing only his problem, not his opportunities. He referenced the obstacles in his way. All he could see were his problems. In that state, he could not let God bless him. There is always something in the way. Jesus did not ask him what his problem was. He already knew that, Jesus ask what was his desire. When we focus on our problems, we place constraints on what God can do in our life. What is it on the inside that limits us? If God cannot get on the inside, it will not matter what we do on the outside. Our infirm man could only see what he did not have. He said "I have no man" What are we saying that we do not have? I have no help. I have no encouragement. I have no leadership. What are we missing because we are focused on what we do not have? He was so focused on what was against him, that he did not even realize that the one that could solve all his problems was right in front of him. Finally, this man judged the present by the past. He told Jesus about all his past failures. His life was limited, even in the presence of Jesus, by being stuck on all the failures of the past. It is easy to understand how this man could have this attitude. He had been there a long time. Here he was talking to someone he didn't even know if he would like to be healed. Something kept this man coming back for all those years. What was different on that day was that he was in the presence of God. Some people have this same attitude today. Things have been bad for so long. We see others go to the alter and get blessing, but feel that we cannot access that too. Nothing can so parallelize a man's life than the notion that things will never change. To judge the presence by the past is to handcuff God and keep him from doing what He wants to do in our life. God is not limited by our past. Nothing is impossible with God. Jesus said Get UP. It was a command. When that man acted on the authoritative word of God, his life was transformed immediately. Jesus tells us the same thing today: Get up!
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