At the beginning of the week, I was on reading in John chapter five about the story of the crippled man by the pool. I have heard this story since I was in the church nursery. At this moment, I can see in my mind’s eye the picture that was on the wall in my children's Sunday school room depicting this scene. Today I want to go a little deeper and, as Paul Harvey would say, tell the rest of the story. Jesus came to this pool, which had a reputation for healing, and spoke to a crippled man asking if he wanted to be made well. We all know this part. The man explained that he had no help to get into the pool, then Jesus told him to pick up his mat and walk. That’s where the preschool lesson stopped when I was young, but let’s keep going. When the man got up with his mat, the Jewish leaders questioned him about toting his mat on a Sabbath. They asked who healed him. The man said he didn’t know. He hadn’t asked Jesus who He was, and Jesus had disappeared in the crowd. Jesus didn’t stop with the man's physical healing but intentionally came back and offered him spiritual healing. The other thing that sticks out is the way Jesus worded his sentence. In my suspicious mind, I wonder what this guy had been up to when Jesus found him. This is just me wondering, but it seems the guy may have had a less than glowing past. Then the kicker happens at the end of verse 15. After Jesus warned the man to change, this guy who had received a miracle that very day, a miracle that changed his life for the better, went and told the Jewish leaders who Jesus was. This guy basically went and turned Jesus in to the authorities who wanted to harm Jesus. Y’all... that’s cold. Talk about biting the hand that feeds you. Jesus knew when He woke up that morning that this man at the pool would accept the physical healing and then not only refuse the gift of salvation, but betray him to the authorities seeking to harm him. Still, He went to the pool to heal the crippled man, then returned and found him again. Jesus set the example of serving the Father in all things.
The story of the crippled man by the pool is actually very sad, but I think it is a common one. We all want the physical improvements, but not the call for repentance. No one likes to be reprimanded, but our heavenly Father always wants what is best for us. We need to listen with humble and thankful hearts and be grateful that He found us and loves us enough to show us the best way . . . the best way in all areas of our lives.
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KC HartAuthorJoin me in my study of God's Word as I strive to draw closer in my walk with Jesus and seek His daily plan for my life. Archives
May 2024
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