Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. [2] Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. [3] Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches. [5] One of the men lying there had been sick for thirty-eight years. [6] When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” [7] “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” [8] Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!” [9] Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath…
John 5:1-3,5-9 NLT
Wow! It seems to be ‘human nature’ to make things more complicated than they should be.
What did Jesus ask this man?
Jesus asked, “Would you like to get well?“
The question isn’t a difficult question. It doesn’t require any explanation, just a simple “Yes” or “No” answer. But what was the man’s response?
He said, “I can’t sir for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Had this man gotten so used to his issues? He had been dealing with this problem for 38 years. That’s a long time! He didn’t think he would ever get better. Perhaps deep down he didn’t want to get better? He even blamed others for his problems.
We all have issues. Yes, some more severe than others. But we all have had our share of issues nevertheless. Have you given up hope? Do you blame others? Do you even really want to get well??? Because nothing is too hard for God.
Do you find yourself making excuses about why you cannot get better? Why is that?
Vision61 Ministries 
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