Charles Spurgeon Commentary John 5:6

"When Jesus saw him lying, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wouldest thou be made whole?" — John 5:6 (ASV)

When Jesus saw him lie.

The Great Physician fixed His eye on him, for his was an extraordinary case. Probably he was known and talked of as the man who had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years. Note that it does not say, "When the man saw Jesus," but "when Jesus saw Him." He did not know Jesus; possibly he had not even heard of His healing power and compassionate love. He was not seeking Jesus, but Jesus was seeking him. It was so with many of us, and therefore we sing:

"Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood."

When Jesus saw the impotent man—and knew that he had now been a long time in that condition, and a long time in that place, too—He said to him, Do you want to be made whole? That must have seemed a strange question. What was he there for, if not to be made whole?

But I will show you, presently, that there was wisdom in the question of Jesus. It was no idle curiosity that moved Him to inquire of the man whether he was willing to be made whole.