Based on John 5:1-15
By the pool of Bethesda
Disabled people used to lie.
Jesus walked up to a man
And asked him by and by
He said to the sickly man,
“Do you want to be made whole?”
Then He reached out and touched him
Deep down inside his soul.
Why would Jesus ask that?
Would anyone say no?
I though, “Surely people wanted
To be healthy here below!”
But then the Saviour looked at me
“Do you want to be made whole?”
The question burned inside of me
Deep down inside my soul.
I pondered how to answer
The simple question put to me
Was I willing to be made well
Or would I rather sickly be?
Eventually I realized
He meant healing of the soul
Not just healing of the body
But totally whole.
“Jesus, I do want to be whole.
I need Your healing touch.
I believe that You can do it.
I never wanted it so much.”
And so the Master touched me
He is making me whole.
It is Jesus who is doing it.
Only He can heal the soul.
Still Jesus is asking
People here today,
“Do you want to be made whole?”
Now, what will you say?
INDNJC
by Connie R. Smith
Author's note:
You may wonder, "Why would Jesus ask if a person wanted to get better? Who wouldn't want to be well?" On my journey of healing I have discovered that, for some people, there may be a cost associated with recovery. For example, a blind person going for an operation on their eyes may be apprehensive about life with sight - it might mean learning a different way of relating to people and perhaps entail a loss of income i.e. disability benefits. But the benefits of being able to see again would hopefully outweigh the possible adverse outcome(s).
The health of our spirit is more important than that of our body. God offers salvation and eternal life to all who will believe in His Son. The consequences of saying "no" to God's healing touch are grave indeed, they are eternal. Today, if you hear the voice of Jesus, please do not harden your heart to His offer of salvation.