Today’s Reading: John 5:16-47; Psalm 33

Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him. – John 5:15

I picture this man whom Jesus had healed at the pool of Bethesda as super enthusiastic when he brought Jesus’ name to the Jewish leaders. But perhaps he was more scared than excited. After being sick for 38 years, Jesus had told the man to stand up, pick up his mat and walk. Caught up in the moment, the last thing on this man’s mind was that it was against Jewish law to carry his sleeping mat on the Sabbath. His defense was that the man who had healed him had told him to do it, and so he did what he was told. Once he knew Jesus’ name, he was quick to go and tell the leaders so that he could be absolved from his guilt.

The Jewish leaders had objected to this miracle happening on the sabbath, so they were quick to harass Jesus. This is how our Lord responded:

“My Father is always working, and so am I.” — John 5:17

God is always working — He is always paying attention, always responding to our needs. Jesus, too, is always working — always representing us before His Father. Nothing going on in your life is unknown to God. He is aware of how you are feeling and what you are thinking. It is not in His nature to ignore you, for He cares deeply for you. You have His attention because you have the attention of Jesus.

“Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.” — John 5:19b

Jesus was able to heal the sick, raise the dead, and restore sight to the blind because he was capable of doing what God can do. Jesus didn’t have to ask God to work through him, for God had already given him the power over death and disease. If it was Jesus’ desire to give someone life, he could do it. And the Father had given Jesus authority to judge. To honor the Son is to honor the Father, and to honor the Father is to honor the Son.

WHEN WE LISTEN TO THE MESSAGE OF JESUS AND CHOOSE TO BELIEVE IN GOD, WE IMMEDIATELY BEGIN EXPERIENCING ETERNAL LIFE — WE HAVE ALREADY PASSED FROM DEATH TO LIFE (John 5:24b).

“And I assure you that the time is coming, indeed it’s here now, when the dead will hear my voice—the voice of the Son of God. And those who listen will live. The Father has life in himself, and he has granted that same life-giving power to his Son. And he has given him authority to judge everyone because he is the Son of Man. Don’t be so surprised! Indeed, the time is coming when all the dead in their graves will hear the voice of God’s Son, and they will rise again. Those who have done good will rise to experience eternal life, and those who have continued in evil will rise to experience judgment. I can do nothing on my own. I judge as God tells me. Therefore, my judgment is just, because I carry out the will of the one who sent me, not my own will.” — John 5:25-30

Jesus gave the religious leaders every opportunity to believe in who he was and who had sent him. He explained his relationship with God the Father, and he demonstrated the power God had given him. In addition to this, God had sent John the Baptist to prepare the way for the coming of the Messiah. They had heard John the Baptist preach and foretell the coming of the Messiah, yet they rejected both the messenger and the message.

“John was like a burning and shining lamp, and you were excited for a while about his message. But I have a greater witness than John—my teachings and my miracles. The Father gave me these works to accomplish, and they prove that he sent me. And the Father who sent me has testified about me himself. You have never heard his voice or seen him face to face, and you do not have his message in your hearts, because you do not believe me—the one he sent to you.” — John 5:35-38

The religious leaders loved the Scriptures. They studied them for hours every day, believing that the words on the page would qualify them for eternal life. They were caught in the routine of reading the scriptures and they took pride in their thorough knowledge of each verse, yet they were missing the introduction of the Messiah Himself. The only way to eternal life was standing in front of them and they were arguing with him rather than worshiping him.

THEY WERE STUDYING THE MESSAGE BUT MISSING THE MESSENGER.

Jesus loves it when we study the Bible. He even places a hunger in our hearts for the promises found in His word. But we must be careful that we don’t miss the messenger because we are too busy building our knowledge. He desires for our study to lead us into a tighter relationship with him. May Jesus come to life for each of us this morning as we study his Word. May he be more real to us today than he was yesterday!

The Lord looks down from heaven
and sees the whole human race.
From his throne he observes
all who live on the earth.
He made their hearts,
so he understands everything they do.
The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
for all its strength, it cannot save you.

But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
those who rely on his unfailing love.
He rescues them from death
and keeps them alive in times of famine.

We put our hope in the Lord.
He is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
for we trust in his holy name.
Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
for our hope is in you alone. – Psalm 33:13-22