John 5
Christ is found at Jerusalem during an important time of the year according to Jewish tradition. He conducts himself to a place where a great number of the sick are found, and address a man who had been in that place for many years now (38 years). The question that he asks is soul stirring for it has multiple layers of meaning: "Wilt thou be made whole?" (vs. 6)
Jesus heals the man and then commands him to pick up his bed and carry it away from that place. It so happened to be the Jewish sabbath, and the act of carrying a bed was considered to be a violation of the sabbath. When questioned why he was carrying his bed, the healed man responded, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk"
Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and admonishes him, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." (vs. 14) The man that was healed, perhaps not fully understanding the malicious intent of the Jews, informs them that it was indeed Jesus that healed him.
Jesus's rebuttal to the Jews' accusation of sabbath day violation, is that he is only following the example of His Father. (vs. 17) This gives the Jews two points of accusation, which cause them to feel such an intense amount of hatred that their thoughts are murderous. Regardless of their malicious intentions and thoughts, Jesus goes on to explain how and by what power he was able to make the man at the pool of Bethesda whole.
Verses 19 to 30 constitute the core of that explanation. I have spent several days in reviewing this block of scripture. It got to a point that I feel I was looking past the simple significance and explanation found in these verses, looking for something that was hidden. Indeed, in these verses there is no hidden meaning or symbolic interpretation. The Father has given all power to His Son. The dead shall hear the voice of God and live. All judgment is committed unto the Son. He that does good will be brought forth to the resurrection of the righteous. Whosoever will hear the words of Christ, and believe in the Father, has eternal life, and is not condemned but is passed from death unto life.
As the primary verse says, "It shouldn't be hard... to think about Jesus, not hard at all." It has to be simple, because the gospel of Christ is designed to confound the wise, and exalt the poor. Salvation is in Christ and it is available to all.
Action Items:
I need to find an opportunity for service associated with an assisted living facility that is completely independent of other responsibilities of mine.
Christ is found at Jerusalem during an important time of the year according to Jewish tradition. He conducts himself to a place where a great number of the sick are found, and address a man who had been in that place for many years now (38 years). The question that he asks is soul stirring for it has multiple layers of meaning: "Wilt thou be made whole?" (vs. 6)
Jesus heals the man and then commands him to pick up his bed and carry it away from that place. It so happened to be the Jewish sabbath, and the act of carrying a bed was considered to be a violation of the sabbath. When questioned why he was carrying his bed, the healed man responded, "He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk"
Later, Jesus finds the man in the temple and admonishes him, "Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." (vs. 14) The man that was healed, perhaps not fully understanding the malicious intent of the Jews, informs them that it was indeed Jesus that healed him.
Jesus's rebuttal to the Jews' accusation of sabbath day violation, is that he is only following the example of His Father. (vs. 17) This gives the Jews two points of accusation, which cause them to feel such an intense amount of hatred that their thoughts are murderous. Regardless of their malicious intentions and thoughts, Jesus goes on to explain how and by what power he was able to make the man at the pool of Bethesda whole.
Verses 19 to 30 constitute the core of that explanation. I have spent several days in reviewing this block of scripture. It got to a point that I feel I was looking past the simple significance and explanation found in these verses, looking for something that was hidden. Indeed, in these verses there is no hidden meaning or symbolic interpretation. The Father has given all power to His Son. The dead shall hear the voice of God and live. All judgment is committed unto the Son. He that does good will be brought forth to the resurrection of the righteous. Whosoever will hear the words of Christ, and believe in the Father, has eternal life, and is not condemned but is passed from death unto life.
As the primary verse says, "It shouldn't be hard... to think about Jesus, not hard at all." It has to be simple, because the gospel of Christ is designed to confound the wise, and exalt the poor. Salvation is in Christ and it is available to all.
Action Items:
I need to find an opportunity for service associated with an assisted living facility that is completely independent of other responsibilities of mine.
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