Jesus was able to do for him what he could not do for himself - be healed.
Jesus cared enough to stop and do something about his situation.
Jesus did, however, heal him in a way he was not expecting. The paralytic's response to Jesus' question tells us that the man was only looking for Jesus to get him to the pool if and when the waters stirred again. No one knew when that was going to happen. He was definitely not expecting to have Jesus heal him right there on the spot.
Jesus was not concerned with man's interpretation of the law. He knew it was the Sabbath, he knew the Jewish leaders would be upset at him healing this man on the Sabbath, yet he did it anyway. He was going to do what needed to be done no matter what the consequences.
When Jesus found (was it happenstance or intentional, I think he was actually looking for him) him in the temple he finished his healing by telling him to stop sinning. He may have been helpless to get himself into the pool but he was not helpless when it came to choosing his actions. He had the ability to refrain from sinning and Jesus wanted to make sure that he understood that. He was saying, "I did my part now you do yours."
Jesus is demonstrating his power and authority through amazing ways. I believe He is trying to communicate to this man and to us that no efforts of our own will ever "heal" us but only what He does in our lives. It is HIM that is always at the core of our very existence. By us recognizing that leads us to simply respond through obedience. Is it that easy, really?
Ryan - It is a whole lot easier when we are desperate and actually believe that we have no chance of making it happen ourselves. As long as I feel I have one more possibility at making it happen myself I have a tendency to keep trying by myself. When I have exhausted all other possibilities I turn much more quickly to the One I should have turned to sooner.
Now that I am a husband and a Dad, the pain I cause goes beyond my own experience and is injected into the lives of my wife and kids. I have got to turn sooner to keep for putting pain, disappointment, and unnecessary concern into lives of my family.
As a pastor -- God help his church! Sometimes I think God spends as much time protecting his church from me as anything else.
4 comments:
He continues to seek out opportunities to present himself and his purpose. He is beginning to make aware the evils of, and the consequences of sin.
Jesus does not back down from his convictions as to who he is and who his Father is.
He is bold and confident in what he says, and the results in which he commands. Pretty straigtforward, pick up your mat and walk. Done!
Jesus was able to do for him what he could not do for himself - be healed.
Jesus cared enough to stop and do something about his situation.
Jesus did, however, heal him in a way he was not expecting. The paralytic's response to Jesus' question tells us that the man was only looking for Jesus to get him to the pool if and when the waters stirred again. No one knew when that was going to happen. He was definitely not expecting to have Jesus heal him right there on the spot.
Jesus was not concerned with man's interpretation of the law. He knew it was the Sabbath, he knew the Jewish leaders would be upset at him healing this man on the Sabbath, yet he did it anyway. He was going to do what needed to be done no matter what the consequences.
When Jesus found (was it happenstance or intentional, I think he was actually looking for him) him in the temple he finished his healing by telling him to stop sinning. He may have been helpless to get himself into the pool but he was not helpless when it came to choosing his actions. He had the ability to refrain from sinning and Jesus wanted to make sure that he understood that. He was saying, "I did my part now you do yours."
Jesus is demonstrating his power and authority through amazing ways. I believe He is trying to communicate to this man and to us that no efforts of our own will ever "heal" us but only what He does in our lives. It is HIM that is always at the core of our very existence. By us recognizing that leads us to simply respond through obedience. Is it that easy, really?
Ryan - It is a whole lot easier when we are desperate and actually believe that we have no chance of making it happen ourselves. As long as I feel I have one more possibility at making it happen myself I have a tendency to keep trying by myself. When I have exhausted all other possibilities I turn much more quickly to the One I should have turned to sooner.
Now that I am a husband and a Dad, the pain I cause goes beyond my own experience and is injected into the lives of my wife and kids. I have got to turn sooner to keep for putting pain, disappointment, and unnecessary concern into lives of my family.
As a pastor -- God help his church! Sometimes I think God spends as much time protecting his church from me as anything else.
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