One of my favorite Jesus encounters is in John 5. Jesus is in the bustling city of Jerusalem. In the backdrop of the massive Temple, he stands among the disabled. He walks around and over many until his eyes rest on one man. Making his way over, he bends down, and asks, “Do you want to be made well?” What a strange, yet powerful question for a man who had to rely on others to help him complete basic needs for the past thirty eight years. As the people of God, we need to take a second and ask ourselves,” Do we want to be made well?”
Healing requires action. It means getting up and getting busy. Healing means work. It’s so much easier to surround ourselves with those who are negative and fearful then it is to rise up and preach hope. Jesus healed this man physically and offers to heal us spiritually. He doesn’t heal us so we can continue to sit on our mats though. He heals and empowers us for a mission.
Healing means pointing others to Jesus. “Who healed you?” the church people asked this man later and not so they could congratulate him or worship his Healer. They were furious. The Bible doesn’t record all the others who asked but we’re sure several did. How exciting for this man to be able to tell the story of his healing!
Healing is a journey. Unlike the man in John five, healing isn’t a one time encounter with Jesus for us. It’s a lifetime of looking into his eyes, getting up, and getting busy even when we hurt, even when we’re afraid, and even if it no one else around us is doing it
Healing means change, forgiveness, and giving grace; components not always popular in our culture.
Healing doesn’t bring perfection. The young man still suffered, as we all do, from trauma. He still wrestled with self doubts. He still struggled with the consequences of his sin and the sins of others. He still met and was overtaken with worldly woes but he had seen the Healer. I wonder if he ever went back and ministered to those sitting beside that pool. I like to think he did because God continues to heal us in the way we work to heal others. Our broken places can lead to our greatest ministries if only we’re willing to get off our mat.
What might healing look like for you? It may mean giving your time and money to others. It may mean not posting that article you love so much. It might mean backing away from your political party.
It will definitely mean living differently. People who have been healed can no longer cheat on their spouse or their taxes. They can’t pay or get paid under the table. They’re different!
Healing may mean walking into a difficult situation and standing for justice for those who can’t stand for themselves.
It might mean seeing a doctor or a therapist to deal with your painful past or burdensome present. It may mean medication and support groups and that’s okay.
It will certainly mean surrounding yourself with the wise and with the word of God. It will ask every morning, how you can be a part of who God is healing today.
Healing may take you down dangerous roads and into beautiful encounters with God. Healing is the gateway to loving people who don’t look like you, live like you, or sin like you.
Church, we need to look Jesus in the eye, accept his healing, and get off our mats. You are the hope of the world. Quit worshipping the idols of greed, nationalism, and violence. Quit complaining, quit bashing, quit sharing toxic memes and articles online, quit trying to find your hope and salvation in politics, and, for the love of the people watching, quit the fear mongering. Love your neighbor and work for their healing! It’s the only way to process your own healing and make a difference here. No one else is going to do it. Pray for healing and then get busy introducing others to the Healer.