The crippled man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1–9) had been sick for 38 years and lacked everything: faith, hope, and good health. He had not managed to be healed by touching the stirred water. The first one who touched it when an angel stirred it would be healed, regardless of what illness they suffered from. Therefore, the man was depressed and self-centered and had developed a spirit of self-pity—quite a challenging case for a healing preacher. I believe he had befriended his 'fate' and accepted that being sick was his lot in life. He had probably had hundreds of opportunities to jump into the water. Why did he not lie right at the water’s edge so that he didn't need someone else to toss him in when it was stirred by an angel?

Jesus saw his spiritual condition, intervened in his life, came to him, and said:

"Do you want to be made well?"

John 5:6 NKJV

Jesus hit the nail on the head! The man complained that he never reached the water in time. He had no one to help him into the water. There was always someone else who got there before him. Jesus looked beyond his unbelief, disappointments, and self-pity. He commanded: "Rise, take up your bed and walk!" (John 5:8 NKJV) At Jesus' command, he got up—and was made well! He took up his bed and went home.

The man was healed by Jesus' word and by his faith alone. He had not heard a sermon about healing and lacked all prerequisites for being healed 'by the book.' He did not even know who Jesus was!

There is hope for all of us, even when faith fails. We need others to believe for us.

"Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ."

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

"The law of Christ" is the self-sacrificing agape love that loves in spite of—not because of. Through this divine love, we not only love our neighbor (Matthew 22:39) but also our enemies (Matthew 5:43–44).

Do you need help to believe that God will heal you?

Do you want to be made well? Feel free to contact us at our office or receive intercessory prayer from friends who have a living faith.