The apostle Paul once explained that we do not know how to pray as we ought (Rom. 8:26). Even when we have entered into Christ’s holy presence, we can waste time talking about meaningless matters. Such was the case with the lame man. When asked if he wanted to be made well, the lame man began a discourse on why he had been unable to be the first person to make his way into the miracle waters of the pool of Bethesda.
Thankfully for him, Jesus gave the man what he needed, not what he asked for. Jesus issued an impossible command. The man had been lame for 38 years. He had long since surrendered any hope that he could ever rise up and walk again. After 38 years he had become convinced that he would never walk again.
Suddenly, out of the blue, Jesus was commanding him to do something that had been impossible for four decades. Such was the authority in Jesus’ voice, however, that the man actually attempted it. Jesus was not there merely to talk to a dejected, crippled man. Jesus was present to change his life. Jesus has a way of zeroing in on the problem and addressing it with all of the power of heaven at His disposal.
Listen carefully to what Christ is saying to you. He might just be commanding significant changes in your life as well.