How to be Healed
(John 5:1-17)
At a crowded celebration, Jesus noticed a crippled man looking miserable and sitting by himself. He was hoping to be healed somehow by a miracle, for water to be “disturbed by an angel”. Jesus asked him, “Do you want to be healed?”
- You must want to be healed.
There are many reasons an unwell person may or should not want to be healed. They may be comfortable with their condition. God may have a special purpose for their affliction, to be investigated. Healing is never going to be perfect in this world, anyway. In the Gospel of John, miraculous healings are signs that point to something greater than the physical healing – eternal life that Jesus brings.
The crippled man was full of excuses. People pushed in before him, and no-one helped.
- You must do what you are able to do to be healed.
Cutting short his complaining, Jesus said, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk!”
This may involve multiple small steps of faith: Observe your doctor’s advice. Take your medicines. Maintain a healthy diet. Do the exercises that you can do. Pray and read the Bible. Go to church regularly and ask others to pray for you.
The man didn’t know that it was Jesus who healed him. Later, Jesus found the man and gave him an important instruction: “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”
- You must turn away from sinful habits to maintain healing.
This is not so much about what you eat or drink or smoke. (Although it certainly could help!) It is most important to forgive and reconcile with others. Learn to control your speech and control your thought life. Stop complaining and start expressing appreciation. Do that which is consistent with loving your neighbour. You will need to ask for God’s help in this. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”