Scripture to Read: John 5:10–11
The Jewish leaders in Jesus’ day were so prideful that their pride blinded them to the beautiful work of our Lord Jesus Christ. Their hearts were darkened by their sin (Ephesians 2:1–3, Ephesians 5:8), and the darkness they walked in blinded them to the Truth (Jesus) Who was in their presence. We see their blindness through their response in John 5:10, So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” They were not in awe of the miracle in this man's body, who had been lame for thirty-eight years, but they were worried about him carrying his pallet on the Sabbath. The man’s response is priceless, for he tells them in John 5:11, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.” The man was healed, and he was willing to follow the command of the One Who healed him. God warns us that a sinful life brings much worse consequences than being physically crippled. God tells us in Galatians 6:8, For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. These Jews who spoke to the healed man were doing nothing more than sowing to their own fleshly desires. They were not interested in the handiwork of God! We must guard against religious rules but instead walk in obedience to our Lord and His Word!
Challenge & Application
• Why were the Jews missing what our Lord had done?
• How do we guard against following religious rules but instead walk obediently to our Lord and His Word?
Don’t forget to pray using the A.C.T.S. (Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication) method!