Jesus is the central figure of Christianity. No matter how many times I have read the Gospels, I still come away from them challenged and renewed. Recently I was pondering on the healing Jesus performed at the pool of Bethesda in John 5. Here is what I have taken from this passage:
1. When God asks us a question, He is not looking for information. His questions are meant to teach us and to reveal things to us. Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well and the man gave Him excuses as to why he could not get into the pool. Jesus asked him a “yes” or “no” question, the way the man answered says to me that there were issues going on beyond his crippled situation.
2. Jesus tied sickness to sin. Jesus later saw the man he healed and told him to stop sinning or something worse might happen to him. All sickness and disease originates from the fall when Adam and Even sinned. This does not mean that every time you are sick, it is a personal sin issue on your part. However, it also does not mean that every time you are sick, it is NOT a personal sin issue on your part. It may or it may not be directly tied to our personal, immediate sin. Regardless, repentance and righteousness are good antidotes for everyday living!
3. Harboring offenses will destroy the life and healing of Jesus. After the man that was healed is confronted by Jesus concerning sin, he tells the religious leaders (who were against Jesus) that it was Jesus that healed him. He got offended and then took action against Jesus.
In summary, God’s questions to us are meant to teach us, our personal sin may be the cause of our sickness, and harboring offenses destroys the life of Jesus in us.
Amazed by Jesus,
Jeff Powell
