John 5:1-18
Be Still: Living God, thank you that your Word is alive and active. Bring your Word to life for me today as I read. Amen
Read: John 5:1-18
‘Sir,’ the invalid replied, ‘I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.’ Then Jesus said to him, ’Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.’ (vv7-8)
Encounter: This week’s passages take us through two chapters of John. John is probably my favourite gospel because you can see the close friendship between John and Jesus, which gives us a real, up-close look at who Jesus was and why John loved him.
We kick off this week with a healing story that is unlike lots of others we read about. It’s a funny story because the man is healed without even asking Jesus to do it. I don’t know about your experiences of healing, but if I’m honest I find this almost frustrating - I have prayed for healing for so many people and not seen it … how does this man get healing without even asking? But it also serves as a reminder at the start of this week that Jesus does exactly what he wants to do, and not exactly what we want him to do.
There were lots of people at Bethesda who Jesus didn’t heal, but he did heal this man. The idea of healing will, this side of heaven, forever be confusing and full of pain and disappointment - but it can also be full of surprising joy. This story reminds us that Jesus is in control. He can surprise us; he surpasses our expectations, and he is also the One who can meet us in the disappointment and confusion. Ultimately, he’s so worthy of our trust simply because of who he is. This is what John realised, hanging out with him, and what we can realise more deeply as we spend time with him too.
Apply: Where do you need Jesus to show up in a surprising way? Maybe it’s with healing, or another miracle, or someone you know who needs Jesus. Trust that he can meet with them! Have faith, that Jesus can do surprising things with surprising people and in surprising ways.
Devote: Jesus, surprise me today with what you’ll do. Increase my trust in you and your miraculous power. Remind me that you are worthy of my trust, not because of anything you’ve done but because of who you are.
