Tuesday, February 8, 2022
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. John 5:2-3
Who Do You Identify With?
We all need community. We need our people. When you find your people, you have found someone who really understands you. Sometimes they really understand us because they share something in common with us. Maybe they are from the same place we are. Maybe they have small children like we do. Maybe we go to church with them, or our children are in the same activities. Maybe they have lost a loved one like we have or are sick or suffering in some way we are or have in the past.
Suffering, trial, hardships, and consequences – these are just a few of the difficult parts of life that we all experience. Any time we have to face something hard, it is always easier when we are surrounded by people who love and support us. Community makes all the difference in the world. Friendships, belonging, and the unconditional love and acceptance we get from our community helps us get through the trials. The people in the scripture above were not waiting to just get through. They were living there, day after day, with very little hope.
Jesus asks the question that we all want to be asked – “Do you want to be well?” It seems so odd, because who doesn’t want to be well? But do you really want to be well – well enough to get up and walk away from your mat? Enough to leave behind a community that is holding you back and find a different community – a healing community? Enough to accept the responsibility for your healing? The man did not give Jesus an answer. He gave Him an excuse. The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” John 5:7 But Jesus – with just 8 words – healed him without even touching him. Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” John 5:8
When what should be uncomfortable becomes comfortable
you have ceased to battle your problem.
We do the same thing when we are faced with the choice of whether we want to be well or not. We make excuses as to why we can’t or why it won’t work. We talk ourselves into staying where we are because it is easier than making a change. Yes – we actually choose to stay sick, afflicted, blind and lame rather than to make the choice to change. What we are really choosing is to stay on our mat, where we are comfortable and safe. And our community on their mats all around us want us to stay there too. Misery loves company! So, lets all sit on our mats, under the colonnades, and commiserate with each other about how we can’t help ourselves. This makes Satan so happy because as long as we have paralyzed ourselves on a mat, we are not working for the Kingdom.
Sometimes we really do not realize that we identify more with our issue that we do with our Heavenly Father. We are not what has happened to us. We are not the wrong choices we have made. We are not helpless and hopeless; we are victorious Children of God. He has redeemed us and made us whole and in Him there is victory over whatever it is that keeps us on the mat.
It is not easy. Choosing to heal, means choosing change, and it is scary. But choosing what we want to be defined by is crucial to our healing, to making our lives better. Jesus has already provided the victory. He gives us the strength and the power in Him to get up and roll up the mat. He restores us and gives us new purpose. Start living in your identity as His chosen, loved, and restored child. Live in the victory He has already given you.
