“At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jewish leaders said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.” 11 But he replied, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ” 12 So they asked him, “Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?” 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.” John 5.9-15
“It was Jesus who made me do it!” Sounds like the man who was healed was blaming Jesus at the end of this story! To heal, work or do anything on the sabbath was not allowed. Therefore, when the Jewish leaders heard what had happened they rebuked the man telling him the law “forbids you to carry your mat” on the Sabbath.
But as Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man not man for the Sabbath.” The Sabbath was for our benefit and when Jesus breaks the Sabbath a few times in Scripture, he does so to heal, bless or feed people. The legalism of the Jewish authorities never ceases to amaze me!
The story continues however when Jesus finds the man later in the Temple (note he’s no longer lying at the pool but possibly worshipping in the Temple — at least he’s closer in proximity to the Lord). Jesus says, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” This last line should scare the you-know-what out of us! What else could happen? Death, disease or natural disasters? The man was lame for 38 years, what is worse than that?
What Jesus is giving is a warning to turn from sin and toward salvation. Apparently this man’s affliction was tied to sin. And the sin Jesus is talking about is that of the heart and not of blind obedience to the Law of Moses.
The encouragement to us is to run towards holiness. No matter the cost, cling to the cross. Turn from evil toward the only One who can save you and redeem your life from the misery of the pit of Hell.
“O Lord God, the story of this man lying by the pool of Bethesda for so many years is intriguing. I love how your hand of grace reaches down and supernaturally restores life. If you did it for that man, would you do it for us? Would you send the power of your Holy Spirit to inspire life and restore brokenness? Come now, Messiah, find me willing and able to receive you, obey you and find my place among your kingdom. For you are good and your love endures forever.” Amen
