But [Jesus healed the man by the pool of Bethesda] on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!”
But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.'”
“Who said such a thing as that?” they demanded. The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd.
Key Thought
You don’t know who healed you? You’ve been trying to get into the pool all these years and now that you are healed, you don’t even know the name of the person who did it? Didn’t you ask? Was it irrelevant to you? Even more, you want to blame him for your actions on the Sabbath? Come on, that’s not the way other folks acted when Jesus healed them. Yes, Jesus did slip away in the crowd, but how did this man let that happen without finding out who he was? Here is a man who doesn’t want to take responsibility or go out on a limb for anyone or anything. Here is a man with potentially a far greater testimony than the Samaritan woman at the well [1] but instead of sharing his story with others, he’s still trying to dodge responsibility. “It’s not my fault … I don’t know …” And when he does finally learn the name of his healer, instead of saying “Thank you!” he turns him in to the authorities, as we will see in the next verses. [2] How sad! Which brings to mind a crucial question for us: Who or what am I in this “Jesus thing” for? Myself and what I want, or my Lord and what he wills?
[2] John 5:14-15.
Today’s Prayer
Cleanse my heart, O God, and teach me to love what you love and despise what you despise.* Give me a heart to tell your story of grace in my life so others can know that Jesus is the one who has healed me through and through. I pray in his mighty name. Amen.
Move as the Spirit moves
Dance unrestrained with joy
Or welcome crying eyes
Bless as I have been blessed
Hunger for righteousness
Love all the things You love
And hate what You despise
Related Scripture Readings
Exodus 31:12-17Deuteronomy 5:12-15Luke 14:1-6Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.