Bible

When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, He asked him, “Do you want to get well?”

John 5:6

Baldwin

Nothing is more desirable than to be released from an affliction, but nothing is more frightening than to be divested of a crutch.

Thought

When Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get better, He was really asking, in Baldwin’s words, “Are you willing to leave your crutches?” Crutches are comforts meant to lift us for a season, but somewhere we rely on them and fail to stand on our own. During Lent we are also asked if we are willing to leave such comforts, from small things like chocolate to big things like coping mechanisms. And when we leave them we will find ourselves made better, and walking the roads of life and faith with the strength and joy of God. Whatever our crutches are, may we lay them down and be healed.