Today’s story out of John 5 is one of my favorite stories in scripture.

We see a man sitting beside a pool where healing is known to take place. It’s a place where the angels come to stir the water the water and healing happens to those that get in the pool first. But, not everyone makes it in.

Some are too late.

Some are delayed.

Some are just not able.

That’s where the text picks up today. Listen to what happens:

When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”

What I love about this passage is something that we need to be reminded of. We talk a lot about our sin, our weakness, our frailty. We talk a lot about God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s understanding.

Something we don’t always talk enough about is our responsibility. Jesus asked him – would you like to be well? Duh, who wouldn’t? Then get up and walk.

Jesus made it possible for this man to be healed. Jesus didn’t want any excuses this morning, He asked do you want it? Then get up and walk.

The things that had stopped Him in the past stopped him no more. Jesus cleared the deck. Jesus got rid of those things. Jesus made it possible. He stopped what was stopping this man from being healed.

Jesus is greater than whatever is stopping you. Jesus is stronger. Jesus is more powerful. The power of the cross, the grace of Christ, the movement of the Holy Spirit, all these things are greater than whatever is stopping you.

What is stopping you today? From being faithful? From obeying? From living?

Jesus is greater. He is bigger than whatever is stopping you. May we live into the power and life of Jesus.