by Pastor Rich Carlson

“Do you want to get well?”

His question seemed to have such an obvious answer. But maybe it’s not the difficulty of the question that matters, but the purpose behind the question.

Jesus stood near the pool of Bethesda, where “a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed” (John 5:3). Here He encountered a man who had lain near the pool for nearly 38 years, seeking help.

Approaching the man, Jesus asked the question whose answer seemed so obvious. However, the man’s response set the stage for another miracle and an opportunity for Jesus to share His Father with the religious leaders.
 

“I have no one to help me,” the invalid replied. 

 “Take up your mat and walk,” Jesus instructed simply.

The man did just as Jesus said, but when the religious leaders caught wind of the miracle, they set out to condemn the man. “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat,” they scolded (verse 10). 

But the now healthy man would have nothing to do with it. John records that “he replied, ‘The man who made me well said to me, “Pick up your mat and walk”’” (verse 11).  He made no attempt to justify his actions based on Jewish traditions but appealed to a higher authority in the fact that he had obeyed the Healer.

The Jewish leaders were mad and set out persecuting Jesus, accusing Him of working on the Sabbath.

In verse 19, John describes Jesus’ answer to the Jews’ accusations. “Jesus gave them this answer: ‘I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.’” Jesus enjoyed following the lead of His Father, “working” on the Sabbath in order to serve others. 

Jesus seemed often to answer a question with a question, ask a question to get a conversation going, or ask a question to change the subject. In this specific instance, His inquiries also set into motion two blessings: 1) His question to the lame man led to the man’s restored health, and 2) the same question brought the Jewish leaders to Jesus so that He could tell them about His Father.

Questions—even those with seemingly obvious answers—are usually deeper than we may think. They are a powerful form of human interaction, demonstrating concern and leading to potentially life altering experiences. Perhaps as Christians, we should spend more time asking each other and the world, “Do you want to get well?”

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.