Jesus asked the man at the Pool of Bethesda a simple question. “Do you want to get well?”

It required a yes or no answer.

But the man began to tell Jesus of his obstacles.

This man had a victim mentality. Do you? How can you tell? If someone offers you hope or a solution to your problems, do you tell them of your obstacles? Do you find yourself blaming your current condition on someone else’s failure. If so, you may have developed a victim’s mentality along the way.

It is understandable. This man had been waiting for help for 38 years! It’s understandable but not acceptable. This man’s story should give you hope. What man failed to do in 38 years, Jesus did in a moment.

But in order for the miracle to occur, this man had to suspend his victimhood for a moment and agree with Jesus that he was a victor.

Jesus commanded the man to “get up”. The man could have continued his victim tirade.

“I’ve tried this before.”
“No one will help me up.”
“What if I fall?”
“I can’t do this by myself.”

All cries of a victim.

But when we choose to believe the word of God above what we feel, see, or experience, we become victors. Miracles happen.

Can we suspend our right to be a victim, long enough to partner with Jesus? Can we lay down our theology that we are helpless, defenseless, and in need of a human hero and embrace the theology that we have resurrecting power within us, that only Jesus is our hero and in Him we can do all things.”

We are not victims. We are victors! Arise, take up your mat and walk!

“When Jesus saw him lying there and realized he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to get well?” “Sir,” the disabled man answered, “I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, someone goes down ahead of me.” “Get up,” Jesus told him, “pick up your mat and walk.””
‭‭John‬ ‭5:6-8‬ ‭CSB