Thirty-eight Years

Jonas sighed. The water of the pool was stirring again - and again somebody had gone in ahead of him. Drat these useless legs! After thirty-eight years this had become normal: wait by the pool to be healed, then before he could snatch his opportunity, someone else would go down to be healed first. If only he had somebody to help him into the water! Just then, the shadow of a man came over him. He craned his neck to look up, but he could only see the man's silhouette because of the bright sun. He heard the man ask, "Do you want to get well?"

Who does this freak think he is! Thought Jonas. I wouldn't be sitting here by the pool if I didn't want to be healed! Jonas had always been easily frustrated by worthless questions, and now he fought to keep his temper under control. "Sir, I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me."

The man seemed to smile. "Get up!" he said. "Pick up your mat and walk!"

Jonas sighed in frustration. This man was either crazy and annoying, or gloating because he could walk around and he was looking at some guy who couldn't. He rolled his eyes and tried to move a foot, to show this guy that it couldn't be done. Just when the word, "see?" was on his lips, Jonas's foot moved at his bidding! This had to be a dream. Now the other foot was moving too! He carefully stood up and a wide grin broke out on his face, something that had not happened in years. He took a step - this was too good to be true! He looked around for the man who had healed him with simple words, but he had disappeared.