Do You Want to Get Well?

Read

John 5:6 “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, ‘Do you want to get well?’”

Think

For 38 years, he lay by the pool, watching others step into healing while he remained stuck. When Jesus saw him and asked, “Do you want to get well?” it seemed like an obvious question. Of course he wanted to be healed—didn’t he? But instead of answering with a resounding “yes!” he gave excuses: “I have no one to help me…someone else goes down ahead of me” (John 5:7).

How often do we do the same? We say we want freedom, change, healing—but when Jesus invites us to step into it, we hesitate. We blame circumstances, other people, even God. We grow so accustomed to our struggles that they become part of our identity. Like the man at the pool, we sit in cycles of defeat, waiting for something external to change when the true Healer is standing right in front of us.

Jesus didn’t entertain the man’s excuses. He simply commanded, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (John 5:8). No water, no angel, no superstition—just the power of his word. The man obeyed, and in that moment, everything changed. Healing wasn’t just about his legs—it was about his heart, his faith, his willingness to respond to Jesus.

Jesus’ question wasn’t just about physical healing, but spiritual transformation. True healing starts when we acknowledge our need and stop making excuses. Christ is not interested in temporary fixes but in whole-life restoration.

So Jesus asks us today: Do you want to get well? Not just better. Not just relief. But true, lasting wholeness. The choice is ours—to remain as we are or to respond in faith, stand up, and walk toward the life he offers.

Apply

Take a step of faith. Jesus told the man to “Get up.” What is one step you can take today in obedience? Maybe it’s forgiving someone, seeking wise counsel, or committing to daily time with God.

Pray

Heavenly Father, I bring my struggles to you, knowing that true healing comes only from your power. Help me to stop making excuses and to step forward in faith, trusting that you can restore what is broken. Give me the strength to walk in the freedom you offer, leaving behind anything that keeps me from you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.