Devotion for Today “A Question from Jesus” John 5:6-8
“A father and son went fishing one summer day. While they were out in their boat, the boy suddenly became curious about the world around him. He asked his father, ‘Dad, how does this boat float?’ The father replied, ‘Don’t rightly know son.’
A little later, the boy looked at his father and asked, ‘Dad, how do fish breathe underwater?’ Once again the father replied, ‘Don’t rightly know son.”
A little later the boy asked his father, ‘Dad, why is the sky blue?’
Again, the father replied, ‘Don’t rightly know son.’
Finally, the boy asked his father, ‘Dad, do you mind my asking you all of these questions?’ The father replied, ‘Of course not, son. If you don’t ask questions, you never learn nothin’.’” (by Gary Reinhardt)
Even though that was supposed to be a joke there is truth in what the father said. If you don’t ask questions you don’t learn. Maybe the key is who you ask the questions. But the truth is, questions are not only used for learning on the students end. Questions are also a tremendous teaching tool. Jesus was known as a great teacher, as well as being the Son of God. Which makes us wonder why He poses this question to the crippled man at the pool of
We know that Jesus knows the hearts of all men, so why did He ask this? Possibly He wanted the crippled man to declare what it is that he actually wanted. Did he want someone to put him into the water before the others stepped down into it? The man is clearly frustrated- perhaps he gave up years before; content to see others healed, yet he so close to the source of healing dismissed any hope he could have had. “Do you want to be made well?” Instead of an answer, the crippled man gives Jesus excuses. Excuses are always easier to make than taking personal responsibility. Truth to tell, the crippled man probably thought, “If I did receive healing, what then would I do with my life. I have been crippled all my life. I never learned a trade. I never was able to work. There is nothing I could do to earn a living. Maybe I am better off being crippled and can beg for my food. I might even do better.” Perhaps all these reasons went through the crippled man’s mind.
But when Jesus said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk,” he seemed not to hesitate. It was as though, all at once, his hope was restored to him. He got up and walked. He knew that if he had faith enough in Jesus for healing, there would be faith enough to overcome any other doubts or fears he might have about life along the way.
What about you, today? What is it that is keeping you from the destiny which Christ desires to fulfill in your life? You may think it is just easier not to have to think about it, perhaps you have all you can cope with right now. But the moment that you rise up, by faith, you will immediately start walking. You will wonder why you never did it before. Get up off of your feet. Take up that which you have been sitting on, and move forward by faith into new possibilities you never thought imaginable.
Have a blessed day.
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