The Power to Get Up
5. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He said unto him, “wilt thou be made whole?”
7. The impotent man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8. Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed, and walk.”
9. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed and walked: and on the same day was the Sabbath.
John 5:5-9
Down Time
This unusual passage provides details of Jesus healing the impotent man who was down for thirty-eight years. It is unusual for several reasons. First, there is an unusual superstition that binds the man to a belief that there was healing in the water rather than in God. Second, there is an unusual dependence on others to place him in the water rather than developing his own plan. Third, there is an unusual pattern of sin that lead him to bad outcomes. After his healing, Jesus warned the man to stop sinning unless a worse thing would come upon him.
I think we can all relate to having our “down times.” It is not unusual to spend days, or perhaps even months in a streak of bad luck as we would call it. Those down times should tell us something. First, those down times should tell us whether or not we made a good or bad decision. Second, if we are put down by others because we did something right, we can rest assured that God will provide comfort and strength. Don’t get bitter about it, get better so you can get back up. If, however, those down times were the result of our own actions, God will convict us and bring us to the realization of our own. So, whether down due to others or down due to our own fault: turn to God for He will give strength and forgive sin. I have yet to meet anyone who was perfectly content staying down; once you’ve been there a while you want to start looking for “up.”
This impotent man was in this situation for thirty-eight years. As a result of that, Jesus personally ministered to him and provided a more excellent and accessible way for his healing. John 5:6, When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, He said unto him, “wilt thou be made whole?” The question is this: did the man find “up?”
Our quest to find up actually begins with understanding down. I will make a bold statement at this point that you will never find up until you get tired of being down. Anyone who has tried and failed understands what it means to be down. Let me make another bold statement, at this point, you will never stay up without God holding you. This impotent man thought his only problem in life was to get back on his feet and he missed the point of getting up. There are many today who feel that if they can just get back on their feet, they will have it made. That is a recipe for failure because, getting on your feet is only part of the long-term plan of living a productive life. Getting up goes much deeper than getting back on your feet; it means you stay on your feet and that you keep moving forward. Notice the words of Jesus to the impotent man in John 5:8. Jesus said unto him, “Rise take up your bed, and walk.” We have all had our down times, but when the Lord says it is time to get up, we need to rise to the occasion. Whether the down time has been a bad relationship or a bad addiction, there is no need to stay down. Down time is over when we hear the call of the Master. God’s plan is that all would heed His voice and rise, take up your bed and walk. Don’t just get up – but stay up.
What’s Holding You Down?
Getting Up means that God has a recovery for every failure, forgiveness for every sin, and an up for every down. The paralytic of John 5 had problems “getting up” because of the things that were holding him down. He never recovered completely from his paralysis because of the weights that he held on to.
Verse 4 of the text describes how the man was confused on faith. It may have been the teaching of his parents or friends, but somehow the man thought that his only chance for healing was in the water. The text describes the occurrence as an Angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whoever then stepped in first after the troubling of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had. For thirty-eight years, the man believed that his only chance to be healed was that particular place. Even if he had only believed in the Angel, he could have figured out that the Angel had to be doing something else if the pool was troubled only in a certain season. He should have been able to figure out that if God made one Angel, there must have been others somewhere. He could have prayed for God to send his healing. Instead the man was confused in his faith and believed that the only way God could move was through that water and only when that Angel visited at that season. Sadly, many today are confused in their faith. They think that God can only move through certain churches or certain pastors and they miss the point. God’s moving is not about places and people; it is about faith in God. Let’s not get confused: God can move any way He wants, any time He wants, and for any person. Jesus had to straighten out this man’s faith because it was twisted in superstition and tied up in religion. Part of the man’s condition was caused by his lack of faith that God can heal with or without water and with or without angels. Yes God used the water but He didn’t need the water. Yes, God uses angels but He can speak and it happens. He is God and He does not need help.
Second, the man had a confined support system. Verse 7 of the text, the man gave Jesus this reply. Never mind the fact that Jesus only asked if he wanted to be made whole. The impotent man was so confined in his support system that he answered Jesus, “Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” The man did not answer Jesus’ question. This meant a couple of things: a) he relied on people more than God, or b) he did not know how to depend on God. It seems apparent over time, that when people don’t come through, you try something else. You would think that thirty-eight years would have given the man ample time to find out something about God. After all, the sheep market was a gathering place. Somewhere in the crowd of people, somebody knew something about the Lord. Even the blind man on the Jericho road heard about Jesus and began to cry out, “Jesus, thou Son of David, have mercy on me.” He knew that people could only help you but so much. It is not a question of “if” but “when” people will let you down. In order to find your up, you will need to call on God. I don’t know, but I believe I would have offered Jesus a different response. I may have said, “Lord, I believe, but help my unbelief.” The impotent man confused his faith and he confined his support. But that’s not all. After Jesus had granted his healing, the man was so eager to please people that he did not honor Jesus as he should have. He compromised his salvation.
Jesus did more than stir the water; Jesus stirred the man’s faith and his soul with the words, “Rise take up your bed, and walk.” Let’s dig deeper to understand how this happened. First, Jesus came to him because the man could not get to God. Second, Jesus helped the impotent man when no one else would put him into the water. Third, Jesus gave the man healing strength whereas the Angel could only stir the water. You would think that this man would have been so awed with Jesus that He would have followed Him. Instead, the man became intimidated by the religious leaders who were more concerned about the Sabbath laws rather than the man’s need. When they questioned the man about the reason he was carrying his bed, he did not shout for joy “God healed me.” As a matter of fact, you don’t see where this man expressed any gratitude for the kindness the Lord had shown. Jesus knew the man was crippled in his faith, so He went to him with a warning, behold, you are made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing comes unto you. The man now had an opportunity to go on with his life, but instead, he went to the religious leaders and told on Jesus. Verse 15-16, the man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which made him whole … therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath day. The question is whether or not the man found the power to get up. I would say no for the simple fact that the man received his healing but compromised his salvation. If we are to get up in life, it is not a temporary event but a lasting relationship. Finding healing or finding success; finding wealth or finding happiness MEANS NOTHING if it does not lead us to finding Christ. For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world and lose his own soul? Mark 8:36. This man got up but he never found the power to stay up because he never developed in his walk with Christ.
Exercising Up Power
There are those who say they’re ready to get up, but are not ready to deal with their sin and their relationship with God. The truth is, you will not be able to continue in sin anyway. Sin will sooner or later bring you to death, then what? Second, the truth is that sooner or later you will have to deal with God. Why not deal with God on terms of His forgiveness? Some will wait until Judgment Day deal with God, but I can tell you that Mercy will not represent you in that court room. Anyone who waits until the Judgment to deal with God has forfeited any hope of Salvation.
Getting up means total surrender to God. Unlike the impotent man, the immoral woman of John 4 was able to get up. The Samaritan woman of John 4 found her “up” through faith in Christ. She believed in the Lord. She told the people about the miracle God performed in her life. Her testimony brought honor and glory to Jesus Christ.
First, the Samaritan woman found that getting up leads out of bondage. Her life was in bondage, just like the impotent man. Her miracle also involved a discussion over water. Her attitude was bad at the beginning but she changed. When she tasted of the water that Jesus gave, the woman was set free from her bondage. Much like the impotent man who depended on people, this woman had depended on five past husbands and one current companion to help her get up but they could not do it. Then Jesus came to see about her situation. His Word set her free. She was so excited that she left her water jar and went running back into the town. Getting up leads out of bondage.
When we get up, it not only frees from bondage; getting up blesses others. The woman knew that there were others in town that needed the water that Jesus gave. Rather than keep the supply to herself, she ran back to the city to tell the other thirsty folk that she got up. Everyone gets excited when they get up. Getting up is not just finding relief, it is finding a relationship with God that leads to fulfillment in life.
The Samaritan woman helped others to get up. This woman was so positive about her identification with Christ that she inspired others to come and see. While they initially believed because of her testimony, they discovered they too needed to get up.
Much like the Samaritan woman, the late Dr. Maya Angelou, found that people can only help you but so much. As a matter of fact, she struggled. She struggled as a young child having been raped by her mother’s boyfriend. Dr. Angelou struggled as a homeless person that was abandoned by her parents. She struggled as a teenage mother with a child and seemingly no future. Then she got up. She toured with the play production, “Porgy and Bess.” She became a civil rights advocate and leader and actress. Most importantly, Dr. Angelou became one of the most prolific poets and authors of our time. One of her life quotes was this, “If you don’t like something – change it” … “if you can’t change it – change your attitude.” Without a doubt, this woman who had her share of downs in life, got up.
Have you thought about the fact that you may be the greatest influence for Christ that people will ever see? The words you say to them and the attitude you have around them will either bring them down or lift them up. The choice is yours, you can live your life on the down side or on the up side. Up people are builders and masons. Up people like to see things grow and flourish.
Which side of life will you live on? If you are going to get up – be prepared to live with it and in it for the rest of your life. Here is the greatest up of all found in the words of the old hymn “The Solid Rock” written by Edward Mote.
My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness.
I dare not trust the sweetest frame, but wholly lean on Jesus’ Name.
On Christ the solid rock I stand – all other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand.