When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, Jesus said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” John 5:6

Responding to Jesus’ question, the invalid man gives a long explaination as to how hopeless things are, and things may also seem that way to us at times.  The man had been there a long time and has been trying and trying to find the way to God’s healing but now he’s given up.  Well, after all, the man had been ill for 38 years and that wears down ones ability to hope.

In response to Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be made well?”  the man basically says that he cannot see how he can be made well because he needs a miracle and he cannot get to the stirring of the miracle water quick enough because someone always beats him to it.

Jesus does not explain, pontificate, grab his hand and have a quick prayer with him, nor does He pity.  Jesus gives Him instructions while simultaneously healing him.  “Stand up, take your mat, and walk.”  Later Jesus finds the man in the temple and says, “See, you have been made well!  Do not sin anymore so that nothing worse happens to you.”  Hopelessness is sin. Place the fullness of your hope in Jesus’ love.