Jesus was in Jerusalem for a Jewish festival. While there, He passed by a pool where there were many disabled people. People believed that if they entered the pool’s water at the right time, they would be healed supernaturally.
At this pool, Jesus met a man who had been paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to get well?” The invalid made excuses. He could not be healed because no one would help him into the pool. Jesus instructed the man to get up, pick up his mat, and walk. Jesus healed the man instantly. The healing took place on the Sabbath.
The Sabbath is a holy day God that set aside for His people to rest. But the religious leaders added many, many rules and regulations to the Sabbath. This was not God’s intent. The religious leaders saw the man carrying his mat, which was a violation of their Sabbath rules. The man told the religious leaders that Jesus told him to carry his mat. The religious leaders accused both the paralyzed man and Jesus of breaking the Sabbath.
Later, Jesus found the man at the temple. Jesus told him to stop sinning – stop doing what you’re doing. What was the man doing? He was being ignorant of Jesus, the person who healed him.
The religious leaders began to persecute Jesus because He healed the man on the Sabbath. Jesus responded by saying that He was doing His Father’s work. This caused the religious leaders to become even angrier because Jesus was calling Himself equal with God. He claimed to be God Himself. This was blasphemy.
But Jesus indeed is God! Jesus spoke out about His character and His purpose from God. Then Jesus presented the testimonies of other people to prove that He is who He says He is:
- God the Father called Jesus His Son.
- The Scriptures had spoken about who Jesus is and what He would do.
- Jesus’ actual work allowed people to see His divine nature.
The religious leaders knew the Scriptures, but they didn’t know the God of the Scriptures. They loved their position more than they loved God Himself. The religious leaders rejected Jesus out of rebellion, out of a resistance to God, out of pride, out of idolatry, and out of unbelief.
What will you do with Jesus? Will you accept Him or reject Him?
Things to Think About
- Do you make excuses when God asks something of your? Do you blame others for something you lack?
- Are you in a hopeless or helpless situation? Have you taken your concerns to God? Sometimes God changes our circumstances; other times God leaves us in our circumstances but gives us hope and encouragement. Are you willing to trust Him?
- Are you a religious person, or are you a person with real relationship with Jesus?