When I read the story of Jesus meeting the paralyzed man by the pool in John 5, Jesus comes across as being incredibly insensitive. His question, “Do you want to be healed,” is the equivalent of asking a blind person if he wants to see, a mute person if she wants to hear, or any other insensitive question to somebody who can’t change his or her life situation. And yet, what appears insensitive to us as readers was really the appropriate question the man needed to be asked. He had a life of excuses, and he was the recipient of pity. So when Jesus asked “Do you want to be healed” the man probably had to think about that for a little while. Did he? Or was he content with the life he was living? We need to ask ourselves that question, too. Sure, most of us aren’t facing paralysis, but we allow sin to cripple us, and we would cringe at the thought of giving it up. Jesus’ question is just as appropriate for us as it was for the invalid. So what’s your answer?
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