City Life Starter

Written by Paul Lane

The Word

5 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

² Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. ³ In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. ⁵ One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. ⁶ When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” ⁷ The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” ⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. ¹⁰ So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” ¹¹ But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” ¹² They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴ Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” ¹⁵ The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. ¹⁶ And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. ¹⁷ But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

John 5:1-17 ESV

¹² Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

Philippians 2:12-13 ESV

Reflection

One can make an argument that Jesus is looking to have a confrontation with the authorities. Follow the action. First, the scene is Jerusalem during a festival, where people from all over the land have come.  It is a busy time for the Jewish leaders, but it is a time in which they would receive a lot of recognition and honor.  I am guessing that this would be a time in which they would not be very forgiving of someone who challenged their authority.  God hardened Pharaoh’s heart to show His power, why not harden the hearts of the Jewish authorities to set up a confrontation? Heal the man on the Sabbath and it will poke the bear.

So, Jesus proceeds to heal someone who had been there for 38 years.  That is a long time to be coming to the same place.  Even though he was one of many people coming for healing, he would certainly be a familiar face.  Some estimates place Jesus’ crucifixion at the age of 33, so this man would have been in this state since before the angelic visitation.  Healing this man would be like removing a landmark, or tearing down an old building that everyone was used to seeing.

Then, in verse 13 it says that the man did not know who Jesus was because he withdrew.  I think this is a clear sign that Jesus was not looking to get the attention of a big crowd, but rather of the Jewish authorities only.  When I think of the action here, it seems as if Jesus is throwing a rock through the front window of their house.  Then He is going to send them a message that said, “I did it.” Jesus finds the man and tells him to stop sinning.  This man does not know that there is a game being played and that he is a major game piece.

Oh, what?  Is that offensive?  That God would use us as game pieces?  We can sing, “use me Lord” all day long, but when we see that there is a manipulation going on, suddenly we are higher than that?  I don’t think so.  Either we accept that God has a purpose much higher than we can understand and we simply stay faithful to his call, or we rebel and we go our own way. Once the man knows that it was Jesus that healed him, he runs to the Jewish leaders to tell them.  Message delivered.  There is a new sheriff in town and He has skills far above and beyond the old sheriff.  The first punch has been thrown, and it landed a fatal blow, but the opponent doesn’t know it, yet.  Man’s law, which was no law at all, is about to be replaced with the new law that was from the beginning.

Application

I know this story is about a miracle that Jesus performed, and I am truly thankful for it.  But I want to point you to the higher thing that is going on.  In John 10:37-38 Jesus is telling them that if you can’t believe in me, at least let the miracles point to the higher thing going on.  No one after having surgery says, “oh what a great scalpel it was that saved me.”  All praise goes to the physician in whose hand the scalpel moved. 

So far in this series Jesus has performed three miracles, but in the telling of the stories, He never touches anyone.  He only speaks and it happens.  Turn to Jesus, quiet yourself, and listen and you will hear Him speaking into your life too.

Prayer

Dear Lord, teach me to be faithful to Your call in all things.  Lead me in Your way and bless my steps.  In Jesus name, amen.