Why I chose to go see Dr. Jesus

Have you ever had a nagging pain that sort of builds up over time? This build up of pain does not necessarily mean that it grows more painful. On the contrary, its nagging nature may actually lead to a numbness. It's still pain but it is pain that we are beginning to not feel anymore because it has been nagging for so long. We become used to it. And then every once in a while it gets bumped, scratched, jostled or agitated. As you know this is my big word for my blog - agitated - ταράσσω.

But this word applies not to the physical realm (although we definitely see the effects of ταράσσω in our bodies over time. ταράσσω applies to the spiritual realm, the emotional realm, the thinking realm. It is an agitation that causes us inward commotion. It takes away our calmness of mind and disturbs our equanimity. It disquiets us and makes us restless. It stirs up, troubles and strikes our spirit with fear and dread. It renders us anxious or distressed. It perplexes our mind by suggesting scruples or doubts. That's the full meaning of ταράσσω.

So this is more like an "inner pain" - a nagging inner pain. It is a pain, that if untreated over a long period of time, may result in a numbness. It is still agitating, but we have grown used to it. Until . . . until . . . an interior or exterior trigger is pulled reminding us that we are still agitated. And the pain comes back.

That's why I chose to go see Dr. Jesus.

In fact there have been several times in my adult life that I have had to go see Dr. Jesus about this "inner pain" which is ταράσσω. Very often I have had to be taken to Dr. Jesus because the pain was so great that I could not go to him on my own. Sometimes I have called or written a friend explaining my pain and agitation and they tell me, "Go see Dr. Jesus." Sometimes, albeit rarely, I will go to Dr. Jesus on my own. And, of course, I can always just call him, because Dr. Jesus still makes house calls.

In John 5:5-6 I find an physical problem that is an excellent parallel to the spiritual, emotional and cognitive ταράσσω. "A man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. Jesus saw him lying there, and he knew that the man had been sick for such a long time; so he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" (Good News Bible)















(Picture of the real pool Bethesda)

The word for "sick" (or in other translations "infirmity, ill, or an invalid") in the Greek is ἀσθένεια,n {as-then'-i-ah}
1) want of strength, weakness, infirmity 1a) of the body 1a1) its native weakness and frailty 1a2) feebleness of health or sickness 1b) of the soul 1b1) want of strength and capacity requisite 1b1a) to understand a thing 1b1b) to do things great and glorious 1b1c) to restrain corrupt desires 1b1d) to bear trials and troubles

Notice how the depth of this word not only includes the physical realm, but the spiritual, emotional, and cognitive realm as well.

Therefore, we should not be surprised that Jesus asked this man, "Do you WANT to get WELL?" Two words addressing both the physical and non-physical reality.

And what is "want" in Greek here? θέλω,v {thel'-o}
1) to will, have in mind, intend 1a) to be resolved or determined, to purpose 1b) to desire, to wish 1c) to love 1c1) to like to do a thing, be fond of doing 1d) to take delight in, have pleasure

And what is "well" in the Greek here? γίνομαι,v {ghin'-om-ahee}
1) to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being 2) to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen 2a) of events 3) to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage 3a) of men appearing in public 4) to be made, finished 4a) of miracles, to be performed, wrought 5) to become, be made

WHOA!! What a picture!!

Dr. Jesus is asking this man, me and all of us, "Is it your will, do you have it in mind, do you intend, are you resolved, determined, and purposed, do you desire and wish, and would love or like to take delight and pleasure in ... becoming, be made."

The answer to ταράσσω which is our ἀσθένεια is Θέλεις ὑγιὴς γενέσθαι
The answer to my being agitated which is my weakness and infirmity is nurturing a desire, an intent, to get well - to become/be made/to begin to be!

I think Dr. Jesus is a psychiatrist in this case more than a physician.

In my next blog we'll look at "good excuses I give to Dr. Jesus" based on the man's response to Jesus in John 5:7 and how Dr. Jesus responds back to him in John 5:8.