耶稣使瘫子起来行走
约翰福音五章1至9节
1这事以后，到了犹太人的一个节期，耶稣就上耶路撒冷去。
2在耶路撒冷，靠近羊门有一个池子，希伯来话叫作毕士大，旁边有五个廊子；
3里面躺着瞎眼的、瘸腿的、血气枯干的许多病人。（有古卷在此有：等候水动；
4因为有天使按时下池子搅动那水，水动之后，谁先下去，无论害甚么病就痊愈了。）
5在那里有一个人，病了三十八年。
6耶稣看见他躺着，知道他病了许久，就问他说：你要痊瘉么？
7病人回答说：先生，水动的时候，没有人把我放在池子里；我正去的时候，就有别人比我先下去。
8耶稣对他说：起来，拿你的褥子走罢！
9那人立刻痊愈，就拿起褥子来走了。
信息分享
耶稣为何要问那个病人，他是否想痊愈呢？因为人若不愿意得医治，基督是不会拯救他的。那人的回答显出他是何等无助和充满自怜。许多时候，我们岂不是一样，认为自己没有朋友和无人关心？你有过这种感觉吗？
基督吩咐他做一件他能力办不到的事，就是要他起来行走。然而，他却直望着神子的眼睛，晓得这是基督的话，于是便听命而行。
他是怎样得医治的？就是在他相信的那一刻，基督立即和完全地赐下祂的能力。这是一个神迹的医治；但事实摆在眼前，不容人的质疑。倘若他当时没有接受耶稣的帮助，恐怕要继续躺着过他的下半生了。是耶稣使他起来行走的；除耶稣以外，再无其他人可以办得到了。
同样地，我们在耶稣基督以外，也再无救恩的盼望。祂愿意将救恩赐给每一个人，但问题同样是：「你想要吗？」祂不会强逼你接受，但祂等着把救恩给你。
这点同样适用在基督徒身上。祂站在我们身旁，等候提供祂的帮助。但许多时候，我们只懂得靠自己，结果便只有失败。我们何时才学会耶稣教导的这项功课，愿意倚靠耶稣的帮助呢？耶稣说：「没有我，你们便不能作甚么。」今天，就让我们懂得倚靠祂的帮助吧！
反思：
神已应许祂的儿女--箴言三章5、6节。不仅读它，且要相信它！
How Jesus Put A Man on His Feet
John 5:1-9
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; 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 well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath.
Message
Why did Jesus ask the man if he wanted to be made well? Christ will never save people if they do not want him to do so. The man's answer showed how helpless he was and how full of self-pity. Isn't it easy to think that we have no friends and no one cares about us? Have you ever felt like that?
Christ told him to do the one thing he couldn't do, get up and walk. But this man was looking into the eyes of the Son of God. These were the words of Christ and the man acted on them.
How was he healed? By the power of Christ, given when he believed - given immediately, completely. The cure was a miracle, but the fact was a certainty. If he had not accepted the help Jesus offered him just then, he may have stayed a cripple for the rest of his life. It was Jesus who put him onto his feet. No one else could have done it.
There is no hope of salvation except in Jesus Christ. He offers it to everyone, but the question is the same, 'Do you really want it?' He won't force it on to you, but he waits to give it to you.
It is the same for Christians. He stands waiting to help us. But sometimes we try to work without his help and we only fail. When are we going to learn the lesson Jesus taught? 'Without me, you can do nothing.' Let him help you today.
A Thought:
God's promise to his children - Provers 3:5, 6. Read it and believe it!