Chapter
five begins with Jesus healing a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years (v.
5). The man lay by the pool of Bethesda waiting
for the waters to be stirred. The
tradition was that the first person who entered the waters after they had been
stirred would be healed. The problem was
that this man could never get into the pool first. The lame man was healed instantly when Jesus
commanded him to pick up his mat and walk (v. 8-9). Instead of rejoicing, many of the Jewish
leaders were upset at the man for breaking their religious rules for the
Sabbath (v. 10). Here we see opposition
to Jesus ministry begin as the Jewish authorities were not pleased with Jesus
actions. This leads to the remainder of
the chapter where Jesus explains His authority (v. 19-47).
JOURNALING AND PRAYER
1.
The Jewish leaders lived in reliance to religious
rules, so much in fact that they made rules that weren’t even in the Old
Testament. The lame man was not
violating any laws in the Old Testament by picking up his mat; he was only
violating religious tradition. Think about your own walk with God. In what ways is it based on religious
tradition and on what ways is it based on the Word of God and relationship with
Jesus? What changes can you make so that
your walk with God reflects the Word of God more fully?
2.
Spend some time praying for the Canadian
church. Pray that she would be cleansed
of religiosity and that she would repent of her sin and return to walking with
God whole-heartedly!
3.
Thank the Lord for the work that He has done in
your life. Ask Him to show you how He is
transforming you!
