Weekly Meditation
One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, "Do you want to be made well?" (John 5:5-6)
What a great question. "Do you want to be made well?"
Here is my confession. After my surgery at the end of December, I kind of liked having my family waiting on me, and not having to go anywhere, and getting cards, and doing nothing but napping and reading and putting together a puzzle. Don't tell anyone, but for just a few days there I did not want to be made well. Shh.
I'm over it now and happy to be back to taking care of myself, and hopping on the indoor bike, and just starting running again. I am glad to be able to take care of myself and do my share around the house. I am even happy to be back to work. So yes, I did want to be made well. And I believe most people who suffer health issues want to be made well, too, even if we do enjoy being doted on once in a while.
But there are other ways in which I wonder if people want to be made well.
Do people who find it easy to judge others based on the color of their skin, who they love, or where they are from want to be made well?
Does the guy who threw the smoothie and threatened the teenagers in the smoothie shop want to be made well?
Do our politicians who are more concerned with dividing the public and holding power than governing and serving the people want to be made well?
We live in an angry, divisive, somewhat violent time that is at odds with Jesus' ministry of love, compassion, and peace. We all have played a role in making this world what it is, and it might do us well to look in the mirror and ask, "Do you want to be made well?"
If the answer is yes, Jesus has the power to heal us, too.
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