Take a Chance

Tonight in our John Bible Study class, Jack talked about the passage in John 5 concerning the healing of the man at the pool. This is John 5:2-9

Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralysed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be made well?’ 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 making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Stand up, take your mat and walk.’ At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Notice the question in bold. Jack says that it is better translated at "Do you have the will to be made well?" That's an interesting question. Jack went on to ask if that can apply to us? Are there sins or flaws in our lives that we know need healing, but that we just don't have the will change? Are we content with our present lives, even if we are living with sin? Do we try to stand up and walk to the healing pool? Do we blame our problems on those who haven't come by to move us to the pool? Are we slow to risk? Do we stay at the side of the pool for 38 years because we don't have the will to change?

Compare that to a story in John 6. Peter steps out of the boat and walks on water. He was willing to take the risk in order to reach Jesus.

Do we ignore chances to be close to God because having a relationship with him involves too much risk? Or do we take the chance?