Wholeness begins once a relationship with God is established (John 5:8,9)
As we continue this series on “We can also be made whole” I would like to offer what I hope is a key ingredient to our wholeness. That key ingredient is this, “Wholeness begins once a relationship with God is established.”
We can be whole in life and it is God’s delight in helping us to become whole. Yes, there are countless scriptures pointing us to the ideology that God is concerned about God’s people and desires that God’s people have the best that life has to offer. But in the same vein, there are also conditions that must be met before any of God’s children begin to receive what is ultimately our God given blessings.
The infirmed man that was introduced on last week is being directed by Jesus in verse 8 of John 5 to do something. Jesus simply says to him, get up, gather your belongings and leave this place. On the surface, this may not appear to be anything abnormal at least as far as Jesus is concerned because there are various references of healing that Jesus was instrumental in initiating in the Bible.
The critical thing for us to remember in this instance is that this directive was made to someone who hadn’t done much of anything for many years. We read of his infirmity and are made to believe that
this man had a serious physical challenge.
Now, in a matter of one encounter with Jesus, he is being asked to get up from a place where he obviously had to be assisted to get there. Then to top all of that, Jesus insists that the man literally move the very object he had been resting upon hoping that
a healing would occur for him if he could get into the pool at the appropriate time.
Just try to put yourself in this man’s shoes. Imagine being paralyzed for almost 40 years from the waist down. You have forgotten what it is to be able to crawl less more walk or run. You only have memories of what it feels like to be independent. If this was an
actual scenario, would you be optimistic and respond with enthusiasm if someone comes up to you out of the blue and says to you, get up from that hospital bed and go home.
I can only speak for myself and say that I probably would have a hard time even dealing with someone coming up to me suggesting that I do what Jesus suggested. Many of you would also probably struggle with the idea as well.
It is simply a human reaction to question something out of the norm when we have no frame of reference for a different reality.
This is why there are persons in life living in poverty when they could actually be living prosperous. It is also why there are persons still living defeated lives in bondage to things that are counter to their well being. Unless there is something that comes to us and helps us to see that things can be different for us, we will continue to have the mindset that we have.
The saving grace for Christians is this, something has happened and someone has done something for humanity to give us the confidence to get beyond any situation, lifestyle, addiction, negative behavior or mindset. We who espouse to the Christian faith identify with a man Jesus who makes the impossible, possible.
Although the instructions that Jesus gave this infirmed man could be seen as highly abnormal given his present state, the man did comply with the directive.
As Jesus spoke the words, “Rise, take up thy bed and walk.” The Bible tells us that the man was
made whole or healed on the spot. It further tells us that the man did comply with the directive and gathered his belongings and went about his merry way.
We have no idea as to what was going on in this man’s mind. We have no indication as the time of day that this miracle took place. We don’t even know what type of clothing the man was wearing. None of that is important!
What’s really important for us is to recognize and acknowledge for ourselves that our wholeness begins once a relationship with God is established.
Prior to the day indicated in scripture, the man highlighted lived a life of physical brokenness. He was not in a physical state to do as others were able to do. He had to have been dependent upon others to do for him. He did not know what it was like to freely come and go as he desired. But now, after meeting Jesus, things definitely were different.
Everything was changed. He could carry out all of the desires he once had but could only dream about because of his physical state. He met Jesus or better yet Jesus met him in his state and made him whole. Can you picture this man getting up on his own?
Can you imagine someone walking independent for the first time in nearly 40 years? How does this passage of scripture speak to you? What point of identification do you have with this infirmed man who met Jesus and life was transformed simply because
Jesus spoke a word of encouragement and healing?
This man as the passage indicates was now whole. Meaning, he was complete in and of himself. We’re not told that he got a new job to become whole. Scripture does not say that he was given a new automobile and that made him whole. No, it does not say that he earned a college degree and that made him whole. Nor does it say that he got married and once married had children and lived in a nice home. It said he became whole immediately after his encounter with Jesus.
There is nothing wrong with having a new automobile, college education, spouse, lovely family or nice home, but none of those things make us whole in and of themselves.
But, a relationship with Jesus can change the life of anyone. It does not matter what state one finds one’s self in today, Jesus can change it and make one whole. Yes, wholeness begins with a relationship with Jesus.
That man was healed of his physical brokenness and it occurred on the Sabbath. Jesus still heals on the Sabbath and any other day and time that Jesus chooses to heal.
Is there anyone here today who feels like they need to be made whole, take it from me, it can occur today. Do you desire to be delivered from something that you are struggling with? Do you need to hear what the man heard prior to his healing and become whole? I’ll say it once again, "Get up, gather your belonging and start walking anew."
Is this your day to be made whole? Are you ready to experience what the man experienced who had been ill for quite some time? If you are ready, simply accept Jesus into your life if you have not already done so. If you have already done so, I want you
to accept the presence of the Holy Spirit into your situation and allow the Holy Spirit to minister to your brokenness and become whole.
God has a remedy for all of our brokenness and wants each of us to be made whole. But, our wholeness begins once a relationship with God is established. Take this opportunity to begin a new journey as a follower of Jesus Christ under the guidance and
direction of the Holy Spirit.
As Jesus asked that infirmed man who suffered from his infirmity for 38 year in verse 6 of John 5, “Wilt thou be made whole?” I pose the same
question and then say to you, it is possible but only after a relationship with God is established.
