We know very little about this man who had been afflicted with an ‘infirmity for 38 years’ whom we read about in John’s gospel, chapter 5. We don’t know how he ended up in this condition, nor is any info provided as to how he tended to his basic life needs, given he was incapable of moving very fast, if at all (7).

What we are told in this story was that in Jerusalem, by the Sheep Gate, there was a pool of water that existed and that from time to time, an ‘angel went down and stirred up the water; and whoever stepped in the water first...would be made well of whatever disease they had”(4). This would explain the crowd of folks who gathered around it constantly and were “sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed...waiting for the moving of the water”(3).

I can’t help but wonder to myself...how many sincere people today...attend church regularly, and sit on church pews week after week...’waiting for some moving of the Spirit’...with the desperate hopes that they too...might be delivered from or healed of any assortment of afflictions and trials they may be enduring.

On this particular day, we are told that Jesus showed up at this pool and saw this man... ‘knowing that he had been in that condition a long time...and He asked him: ‘Do you want to be made well’?” (5)

Once again...another very profound question we find in scripture, this time in the NT, being asked by the Lord- “Do you want to be made well?” May I take the liberty to rephrase that question in order to make a valid point here? This man was unable to walk on his own...in the manner in which humans were designed and created to walk. So Jesus is asking him...would you like to be able to walk and function in the way in which you were created to walk?

It was a simple ‘yes or no’ question to be answered. This man, instead began to make excuses as to why he was not doing that already (7). Jesus seems to ignore his response and simply tells him: “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” {8} I hope you have your Bible open as I would like you to underline vs. 9 where we then read: “And immediately...the man was made well, took up his bed...and walked.”

That was it; no ‘physical therapy’, no 6-month course to take on how to walk in freedom. He just got up and started to walk the way God had created him to walk.

We are going to come back to this story in just a moment but I’d like for you to turn to 1 John 2:6 and please read that aloud, to yourself. Those who claim or profess to ‘abide in Jesus’...how are they ‘supposed...to be walking’? You can whisper the answer now.

So...are you? Are you walking like Jesus walked? Are you abiding in Him? Because if you are, John goes on to make it known that you “do not sin”, nor can you sin because His seed remains in you...IF...you have been born of God’. (1 John 3:6,9). I’ll give you a moment with that one.

This is usually where folks begin responding like our afflicted friend by that pool did  ...and we begin to offer up ‘lame excuses’ (pun intended).

Since we’ve been studying this idea of ‘doing those first works’ over again that Jesus advised the believers at Ephesus to do, given they had ‘lost their first love’ (Rev. 2:4)... I felt compelled to address what those ‘first works’ might be by looking at these four questions, asked by God...which we studied yesterday and today. Do you want to be made well?...was the 3rd question in our study.

IF...you are not walking like Jesus walked, then maybe we need to be doing some repenting, like Jesus admonished the folks at Ephesus to do. Because IF...you truly want to be ‘made well’, and ‘walk’ the way you were ‘born again’ to do (Rom. 8:29; 1 John 2:6; 3:9), then coming to grips with the reasons you are not currently doing so might require some repenting, or ‘turning’ around and getting back into ...His ‘lane’. And what does true repentance produce, as I remind us all that it is the ‘kindness of God that leads us to repentance’? (Rom. 2:4; Matt. 3:8; James 4:7-10 and Acts 3:19). It produces genuine change and transformation where we too can be ‘refreshed from the presence of the Lord’ (Acts 3:19)...and then ‘take up our beds and walk’ (the way He has called us to walk).

But the story does not end there as we are given a very serious warning in John 5:14. I’ve quoted it many times here and it’s where Jesus crosses paths with our friend later in the temple, acknowledging to him that he has indeed...been ‘made well’. What’s that small, but serious warning Jesus shares with him? Do you think Jesus meant that? Does God really mean what He says?

Tomorrow, Lord willing, we’ll look at Question #4 that is pivotal and foundational as to how we can truly walk continually in His presence, which includes His peace and joy that is supposed to ‘remain’ in us. I’ll give you a hint: It was a question Jesus asked Peter, three times, in fact. :- )