“There is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ 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.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Get up, take up your bed, and walk.’ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.” John 5:2-9
“The apostles said to the Lord, ‘Increase our faith!'”
“As he drew near to Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. And hearing a crowd going by, he inquired what this meant. They told him, ‘Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.’ And he cried out, ‘Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!..’ ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ He said, ‘Lord, let me recover my sight.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Recover your sight; your faith has made you well.’ And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him, glorifying God. And all the people, when they saw it, gave praise to God.” Luke 17:5; 18:35-38,40-43
The invalid at Bethesda made excuses and blamed others, and through inertia and self-pity his want to be made whole had atrophied. The faith of the blind man recognized that by mercy he could be healed, and implored Jesus accordingly. Rather than limit the Lord by lethargic assumption, he clung to divine possibility with hope that loosened His power.
Jesus attends to His people in mercy, inviting us from initial need to go deeper. He probes to see what we really desire, how deep our faith might reach. Superficial solutions blind us from better and more significant work He can and intends to do. What is it we really want from Jesus?
When burdened with cares for life and loved ones, angry at ourselves for poor discipline, missed opportunities, or impulsive words, we often want a quick fix. Simple restoration to health, easier circumstances, carefree hours. When we wallow in our weak estate, we can grow complacent in shrunken possibility. But Jesus probes to turn shallow to substantial.
His goal is faith, life-change, sanctification. He designs circumstances to awaken hope, fortify faith, and develop broad spiritual insight. Answering with an immediate ‘all better’ often doesn’t accord with His longer-term purposes.
How big and deep are my desires? Where do I limit what I think God could do for or through me by impatience, or a narrow perspective? Do I allow circumstances and fears to close in and limit expectation, or fling open the windows of faith to possibility, and let loose my prayers and wants to God? Will I ask Him for the impossible, the too wonderful and too difficult for anyone but Him? The greater our view of God, the greater our asking, and the greater our anticipation of His answers. (Matthew 19:26; James 4:3)
Father, increase my faith and understanding of You so I never limit, but ever endeavor to loosen and magnify Your power and glory.
As the rain and snow 