In John 5:6 (NKJV), Jesus asked a seemingly obvious question to the man with the infirmity: “Do you want to be made well?” This question, though it might appear unnecessary at first glance, carries profound significance and offers important lessons for those believing God for healing and for any believer praying for the sick.
Let us briefly explore the context of John 5:6
The passage in John 5:1-9 describes the healing of a man who had been sick for 38 years. He was lying by the Pool of Bethesda, where many disabled people waited for the stirring of the water, believed to bring healing. When Jesus saw him, He asked, “Do you want to be made well?”
What is the significance of the question?
1. Assessing Desire and Willingness
Jesus’ question was aimed at assessing the man’s desire and willingness to be healed. Healing often requires cooperation and a genuine desire for change. By asking, Jesus was inviting the man to express his faith and his readiness to receive healing. This illustrates that God respects human free will and seeks our active participation in the process of receiving His blessings. Just because someone is sick does not mean they want to be made well. As bizarre as it may seem, some people gain benefits from being sick. For example, a wife may choose to be sick because it is the only time her husband shows genuine care and affection for her. Therefore, praying for such people without understanding their true desire to be well may result in wasting your spiritual effort. Even though God is Almighty, He will not override a person’s will
- Addressing Hopelessness
Romans 15:13: “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
When people, even believers face prolonged difficulties, it can lead to a sense of hopelessness. This feeling often arises because of 5 main reasons:
- Constant Stress: Ongoing problems can cause chronic stress, which wears down a person’s mental and emotional resilience.
- Perceived Lack of Control: When challenges persist, individuals might feel they have no control over their circumstances, leading to a sense of helplessness.
- Emotional Exhaustion: Dealing with continuous issues can be emotionally draining, making it hard to maintain a positive outlook.
- Negative Thought Patterns: Prolonged adversity can foster negative thinking, where individuals start to expect the worst outcomes.
- Isolation: Long-term problems can lead to social withdrawal, reducing the support and encouragement that might help counter feelings of hopelessness.
The man’s long-term infirmity could have led to a sense of hopelessness and resignation. Jesus’ question was also a way to confront this hopelessness. It prompted the man to consider his desire for healing afresh, thereby rekindling hope. It shows that even in prolonged suffering, God’s intervention can bring a renewed sense of hope and possibility.
- Focusing on Personal Responsibility
Matthew 9:22a; “When Jesus turned and saw her, he said, “Be encouraged, daughter. Your faith has healed you.”
The verse above highlights the power of faith in the healing process. In fact, for any miracle we desire from God, the element of faith from the person needing divine intervention is essential. I do agree that God’s mercy and sovereignty play a crucial role in the operation of the miraculous, but your faith is also required in the process
Therefore, Jesus’ question emphasises personal responsibility in the process of healing. The man had to acknowledge his own need and desire for healing. This highlights the importance of personal faith and the readiness to take steps towards receiving God’s healing power.
Lessons for Believers and Pastors
1. For Believers Seeking Healing
- Express Your Desire: Just as the man had to express his desire to be healed, believers are encouraged to articulate their needs and desires in prayer. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Matthew 7:7 NKJV).
- Faith and Cooperation: Healing requires an active cooperation with God’s will. Faith is a crucial element in receiving healing. “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Hebrews 11:6 NKJV).
- Hope and Expectation: Maintain hope and an expectation of God’s goodness, even if healing has not yet manifested. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1 NKJV).
2. For Pastors and any Spirit-filled believer Praying for the Sick
- Assess Readiness: Before praying, pastors can engage the sick in conversation to assess their readiness and desire for healing. This can build their faith and readiness to receive.
- Encourage Faith: Encourage those seeking healing to have faith in God’s power and willingness to heal. Share scriptures and testimonies that build faith. “So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17 NKJV).
- Address Hopelessness: Help those who have been suffering for a long time to overcome hopelessness. Remind them of God’s love and power to heal. “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:11 NKJV).
- Pray with Authority: Pray with confidence and authority, believing in God’s power to heal. Jesus demonstrated this authority and called His followers (you and I) to do the same. “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues… they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover” (Mark 16:17-18 NKJV).
Summary; Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be made well?” was not just about physical healing but also about engaging the man’s faith, hope, and willingness. For those believing God for healing, it is a reminder to actively express their desire, maintain faith, and hold on to hope. For pastors or any believer who wants to engage the gifts of healing, it underscores the importance of engaging with the sick person’s readiness, encouraging their faith, and praying with authority. Through these principles, believers can experience the fullness of God’s healing power.
God bless you in Jesus Name. Amen
Altar call: For anyone reading this article who is not saved and wants to be part of the family of God or you want to re-dedicate your life back to Jesus, please repeat this out loud. “Lord Jesus, I acknowledge that I have sinned against you. Lord Jesus forgive me of my sins. I repent of my sins. Lord Jesus come into my life and be my Lord now and forever in Jesus Name
Prayer:
- I receive faith and grace from God to operate in the gifts of healing and working of miracles, in Jesus Name
- I come against the spirit of doubt and fear hindering my divine healing and miracles, and I cast then out of my life in Jesus Name
Confession: I call forth my healing and miracles into manifestation now by the power in the blood of Jesus, in Jesus Name
Feast of Light Word Ministry
