John-The Work Jesus Does
Orient John 5:1-29
This section begins the “festival cycle” of John. Here we will find a narrative pattern of Jesus attending a Jewish festival and while there, his words or actions create building conflict with the Pharisees. This is Jesus’s third sign of the 7 in this gospel that point to His authenticity and cause the readers to face who Jesus is. In this exchange, we find Jesus claiming to be God as He is Lord of the Sabbath. The focus is on the work He does and how it aligns with the character of His Father. You will read about roles within the Trinity as well as the power of Jesus to give life.
Introduction
If you grew up in a religious household, there were things that were “taboo.” Public school, smoking, dancing, wearing pants, may have been an unspoken restriction. It seems to be in our nature to add to God’s law. People often prohibit certain activities, mistakenly thinking they can some prevent people from sinning. The Jewish religion had leaders who did that same thing with God’s 10 commandments. In our story today, the Pharisees were upset because after healing an invalid, Jesus commanded him to pick up his mat and walk. Carrying a burden was one of 39 regulations that the Mishna Sabbat contained about what defined work on the Sabbath. In beholding a miracle, the religious leaders were more concerned about who broke their rules than the fact that a man who couldn’t walk for 38 years was healed! Do you follow your internalized sets of commands more than God’s?
Opening Prayer
Jesus today I draw near to your house of mercy. At times I am blind, lame and paralyzed in my faith. I want to be healed and hear Your voice call me to get up and walk-toward Your commandments not my own self-imposed rules. Only You can give life and I need renewal. Teach me today how to honor You. I am grateful You have let me pass from death to life. Let me continually follow You. As I read and meditate, show me the words to think on and let them change me. Amen
Meditation
Read and reread the following passage, taking God’s word in deeply. As you do be sensitive to a phrase or verse the Holy Spirit emphasizes to you personally.
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.”
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Paraphrase
Rewrite the phrase or verse that the Holy Spirit highlighted during meditation. What is your take away?
Reflect
1. We all need healing-financial, emotional, physical but primarily spiritual. The man wanted physical healing but Jesus knew He needed more than that. In this story, the man responded to Jesus’s query by telling him how the healing would come. How often do we tell Jesus what we need when He offers healing? To you bother to listen to what you really need changed? Does it match up with Christ’s diagnosis over your life? Are you seeking Jesus to solve your earthly problems or give you everlasting hope?
2. After being healed, instead of going to thank Jesus, the man tells the Pharisees that it wasn’t His fault He broke the Sabbath, it was the guy that healed him. As you read, did you get the impression that the invalid wasn’t very grateful? Instead he was more concerned about not getting into trouble. What is your response when God does something for you in His compassion? Do you seek Him out to thank Him or go about your way?
3. Astoundingly, the Pharisees did not pay attention to the miracle, but the rules broken. Humankind seems to be at an all-time high of displaying their virtue to others. One thing God has given man is a conscious, a desire to be “good.” This common grace has been given so we are led to Jesus, when we see our disparity to God’s internalized moral law. Yet not all people turn to Jesus to be their righteousness; some make their own definitions or what being good means, as fickle and ever changing as that is. Do find yourself at war to between live within His guidelines or other people’s?
4. This passage is overflowing with things the Father and Jesus do in partnership as they relate in perfect unity. Reread verses 19-29 and make what you learn about each member of the Godhead. What stands out to you as a work you are grateful for that they do on our behalf? Spend time praying and thanking God for the qualities you see in Him that bring out worship as a right response to who He is.
5. Salvation is an instant change and a long transformation. Often I fantasize about what it will be like in heaven when I don’t struggle with my sin nature or my other enemies, the world and the devil. Yet that transaction is partially fulfilled now. Verse 24 says I have passed a great threshold, from death to life. The reality is I don’t have to wait until “someday” to experience true life, it’s here right now. Let that sink in. How can that viewpoint change how you approach each day?
Closing Prayer
God I need healing. I want every aspect of my life to be under Your care and control. I don’t often know my greatest need so I submit to Your wisdom. I accept Your healing and not one of my own design. I want my response to Your work in my life to always be filled with thanksgiving. Show me how You intervene so that I can glorify You and what You’ve done. Let me stand on what you define as right and wrong and not my own ideas. Make me teachable and open to the put aside Your my-self defined rules to experience Your grace. Let them fall in contrast to your principals. I want to hear Your voice call me out one day, to rise to deeds You’ve defined as righteous, not my own attempts to be good. I want to know You, Your district personhood as Father, Son and Holy Spirit. When I come to the Bible, let me see it as book about You. Show me who You are, so when I pray, I understand the work each of You does in my life. You’ve said I’ve passed from death to life. Let me experience life in You more and more fully.
Continue praying personally to the Lord with what He showed you during mediation and reflection.
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