“My Father is always working, and so am I.” John 5:17
Jesus just healed a man who had been sick for 38 years. Jesus told him to “stand up, pick up your mat and walk” (V. 8). It was the Sabbath and of course the Jewish leaders objected. The man was carrying his mat on the Sabbath, and when he was confronted, he told them that the man who healed him told him to pick up his mat and walk. I want to say, ummmmmm, hello Jewish leaders, this man had been sick for 38 years and was instantly healed! That’s something pretty big. So why not focus on the miracle?
The Jewish leaders found out it was Jesus that healed this man and told him to pick up his mat and walk on the Sabbath. They began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. And I love Jesus’ response, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” (V. 17)
Oh Lord, am I so thankful today that you are always working! You don’t need to rest or take time off. There is never to much for you to handle. My situation and circumstances may not be ideal, but I can be assured that you are always working. I won’t always see it and often won’t even understand it, but you are always working! Amen.
And as I go about my day, I’m pretty sure “Way Maker” will be on repeat!
What is God speaking to you today through John 5? Share your thoughts and insights in the comment section below.
“When Jesus saw him and knew he had been ill for a long time, he asked him, “Would you like to get well?” “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.” Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!””
— John 5:6-8 NLT
This sick man spoke out of his circumstances, for that is all he knew to be true. To him, based on precious experience, it seemed almost impossible to get to the water quick enough before someone else for healing. He declared that he “couldn’t” be well bc circumstances wouldn’t allow it. BUT, Jesus showed him the truth and the Truth goes beyond our circumstances bc nothing is impossible with God. He was healed instantly and took up his mat and walked.
Have we just come to start declaring the negative about some of our circumstances bc it’s all we’ve experienced at this point and it’s what we are accepting?! I want to choose today to search for and know the truth about my circumstances, so that I can declare God’s Word over it.
Yes! That is good!!!!
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.”
Oh, how many times I am try to do things by myself! If I’m not careful, I can get into “go-mode” with my daily to-do list. I am thankful for this reminder to be like Jesus and “do nothing by myself, but only what I see the Father doing”. I want to be in tune with the Father even in the midst of my daily to-do list. He cares about the details of our lives and I want to invite Him into the details so that then I am truly partnering with the Father!
Amen.
Luke 5:20 But you are not willing to come to Me that you may have life.
How many times do we just try to solve things on our own? I think about the times where if I just would have went to God from the beginning and trusted Him then I would have been better off. Too often we try to fix things first when we need to go to God first. He cares about everything in our lives, even the simple things. He should be the first place I go whether it be a need or just being thankful for a blessing. My prayer is that I will willingly take things to God first in all my days.
Yes, so good!
I AM ALWAYS AMAZED HOW GOD IS WORKING IN MY LIFE-THOSE AUG-HAW MOMENTS-WHEN YOU SAY -IT HAD TO BE YOU LORD-THANK YOU!!!
Amen! He is so good!
V 6-9. I was struck by Jesus compassion for this invalid man who was obviously there at the pool to be healed and yet Jesus asked him, “Do you want to get well?” Jesus could have just touched him to heal him or just looked at him, or silently spoke the word, but it seemed Jesus wanted the man’s participation in his healing. Then Jesus also gave him a command to get up pick up his mat and walk and the man had not even gotten into the stirring waters which he thought would be the way he would be healed. If the man had so identified with being an invalid for 38 years he could have just layed there not believing his healing was possible or at least not in that unexpected way. V 14-15 then Jesus made sure that it was not just the man’s body that was healed, but Jesus revealed Himself to him at the temple and commanded him to stop sinning or something worse may happen to him. This showed that Jesus cared not only about his physical body and his life here on earth but also for the salvation of his soul. Not only was this a miracle for this man but as a testimony to the Jews of Jesus power and love for a man who had been overlooked and considered not valuable enough for anyone to help him into the pool for years. And at the same time He to reveal that He was God’s Son,the Messiah that Moses had told about in scripture which they had been studying diligently and took such pride in their knowledge. The Jews response in criticism of Jesus healing on the sabbath reminded me how easy it is to judge others and be divided even among believers over the smaller things and miss the bigger picture of what God has done and continues to do in our midst, Lord help me to be about my Father’s business continually, Keeping my eyes on Jesus and doing his will, even as He only did what his Father showed Him, not looking for the praise of others, but only wanting to please God. Help me to know I can do nothing of eternal value except through You. Help me not to be distracted and judging the world, but be in close communication with You to know Your will for me each day as it comes. Help me to be expectant of your miracles every day and humbly accepting them for myself and for others, giving you all the praise!
Yes, that is good stuff! Thank you for your words of wisdom!
A great story about the man who was healed. This reminds me of one of our women’s retreats. We were having a wonderful time of ministry and worship, but the Holy Spirit urged us to press in more. Several ladies went out on the porch that evening and God met us there in a mighty way. We had healing through deliverance that night. An experience i will never forget.
In NKJV the pool, where the sick were waiting was surrounded by 5 “porches”. The people waited on the stirring of the waters to step in and be healed. The lame man was unable to get into the water, so Jesus met him on the porch.
Jesus will come meet us wherever our “porch” is..
Sometimes we try to come up with excuses, like “I can’t be healed! Someone always get’s there ahead of me!” but Jesus said “Stand Up, Pick up your bed, and walk!” Sometimes, we just need Jesus to nudge us and tell us what to do and stop making excuses. Thank you Jesus you, look beyond our excuses, and see our need and heal us anyway.
Love this! No excuses!!