“Do you want to get well?”  John 5:6

This question was directed to a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. That would be like talking to someone today who has been in a wheelchair since 1976.

Remember 1976?  That was back when Paul McCartney had Wings and was singing “Silly Love Songs”.  Jimmy Carter was elected President and “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” won the Academy Award for best picture. That was a long time ago.

In 1976, I was going to my Junior Prom and singing “These Are a Few of My Favorite Things” in the high school musical.  Thirty-eight years have seen PB and I get married, have four babies which led to four more weddings, and five more (grand)babies — a whole new generation.  Thirty eight years is a long time.

Maybe the crippled man didn’t hear the question.  It was a “Yes/No” question but he didn’t say “yes” or “no” — he just wanted to talk about the past 38 years.  Jesus didn’t want to hear it.  He told the man to get up, clean up, and go home.  Sometimes you just have to heal people, whether they want it or not.

Heal me, Lord.

For a few more thoughts on this, read Get Up!