In reality, however, many of those in captivity are like those in Plato’s cave story. The men in the cave took great pride in their eyesight and in their interpretive abilities—yet all the time they were looking at shadows, mere illusions. Shadows created by the light of a fire set up behind them, their chains prevent them from turning around. Then, one of the men breaks out of the chains and makes it outside of the cave where he discovers a whole new world. When he reenters the cave to tell his friends about his marvelous epiphany they reject and resent him to the point of wanting to kill him.
Those in captivity believe they are wise and all knowing. They look at those living in freedom as the outcasts, the confused and worthy of vile hatred. One little note we the free are the outcasts, we will always be the minority. But we must continue to tell them the truth of the real world.
Jesus asks the man if he wants to get well, we ask if they want to be free and the most common answer comes out. Excuses after excuses. I noticed that Jesus did not answer the excuse. We must also not give excuses at the time of day. The excuses are not truth. Keep coming back to the question. “Do you want to get well? Do you want to get free?” Jesus gives the man a directive after ignoring the excuse. “Pick up your mat and walk.” The man now has a choice. There is either walk or walk not. For the captive they must put up or shut up. No excuses. Pick up your mat and walk.
For some in the church world they hear this directive from Jesus, and they quietly accuse Jesus of being cruel and they rush in to pick up the person’s mat. They then go online and broadcast how they are true Christians picking up mats for folks. If the man does not pick up his mat, he does not walk. Action is required by those that want to be free. A strange paradox exists. Freedom is not free.
Another important lesson from this event is that John tells us that there were many sitting around the pool. A multitude was there hurting and wounded souls all likely would have liked to be healed. However, Jesus chose one. We are not told how or why he chose that one man. The only certainty was that the Father directed Him to that one man and Jesus obeyed as He always did.
Now imagine that you are there. Would you be comfortable walking into an area filled with desperate, sick people? Imagine going into the darkest alley in the darkest neighborhood in the darkest city in your state. Would you feel safe? If the Father commanded you to go in would you do it?
Later, Peter and John are walking past the Gate Beautiful. They catch the attention of a man who had been there for a long time and was disabled. It is likely that Jesus would have walked past that gate and that man many times. Yet, He never reached out and healed that man. That privilege was left to Peter and John. What’s to say that the others at the pool were not left for others. Those in need in your community are there for your to reveal the glory of God. We are all called to reach out and offer freedom to those that are imprisoned.
