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A frightening encounter

Text: John 5:1-15

A FRIGHTENING ENCOUNTER

Imagine being queried for what must have seemed a very harmless thing to do – to carry a bed roll on the Sabbath! What harm was there? How could that be offensive to men, let alone God? The man who had just been healed of an infirmity of thirty-eight years must have been puzzled indeed.

Was there something about the Sabbath law that only the Jews knew about? What exactly made them so incensed against him for taking his bed roll and walking? All he owned in this life was probably his bed roll. What should he do with the only possession he had? Should he have just left his bed on the ground and walk away from it? Would he have been charged with littering, if he had done that? Would he have been accused of being wasteful if he had left his bed roll behind? Either way, he seemed to be on the losing end.

The Jews were obviously not satisfied with his answer. They wanted to know more about the Person who healed him.

“Who is the Man who said to you,
‘Take up your bed and walk?’ “
John 5:12

There was obvious disdain in their voice as they spoke. They had nothing but contempt for any Man who would “break” the Sabbath Law “so blatantly”. In their eyes, the Person who healed did not amount to much, if He had said, ‘Take up your bed and walk…’ on the Sabbath.

What a frightful encounter that must have been for this man who obviously had not been to the Temple for thirty-eight long years. Why, he did not even have a single friend to stand by him all this while! Suddenly, a group of very hostile Jews descended on him with snobbish theological questions concerning the Sabbath that he obviously did not know how to answer!

He could only offer silence as his answer. He could not offer anything else other than what he had said a little while ago. How he wished he had more knowledge, he would like to answer these Jews! They could talk! But could they heal him? They could do nothing for him all these thirty-eight years, and yet on this very happy day when he was healed, they descended on him like a ton of bricks!

THE QUIET WITHDRAWAL OF JESUS

The Disciples had many more lessons to learn about their Teacher. Once again, He must have surprised them when He did what He did! That He had singled out perhaps the most pathetic soul from among the great multitude of sick people was understandable.

But why heal the man purposely on the Sabbath, when He must have known that this would stir up a hornet’s nest? Why did He not reveal more about Himself to the poor man than He did? Why did He quietly withdraw Himself after doing such a wondrous deed?

John noted that Jesus had slipped away quietly after healing the man.

“But the one who was healed did not know who it was,
for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.”
John 5:13

The Disciples did not always understand why Jesus did what He did. They would have to ask Him when they were alone together.

A QUIET WORD OF ADVICE

Jesus proceeded to the Temple. He knew that the man would be there! He had not been able to offer worship all these years! That was thirty-eight years too long! With deep gratitude, the man now offered worship to God. John noted what Jesus did next.

“Afterward Jesus found him in the Temple, and said to him,
‘See, you have been made well.
Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.’ “
John 5:14

Jesus once again found the man He had healed among the thousands who had gathered together to celebrate a Feast day at the Temple in Jerusalem. It was no easy task to do that, unless the Spirit of God was doing the leading.

Jesus brought up the subject of “Sin” with the man who had suffered this infirmity for thirty-eight years. It must have been a very grave sin indeed, for it has resulted in being afflicted for so many years. The man would know what that sin was. We do not need to speculate as to what that sin was!

It was the prerogative of God to judge and to punish. It was also His prerogative to forgive and to heal. This was the intended lesson that Jesus sought to bring across to the man. This sign-miracle wasn’t just about the power of Jesus to heal. He had done that on many occasions already.

This sign-miracle was special. More than a healed physical body, the man now had been reconciled to God. He now had access to God through Jesus. He now stood cleansed and whole before God. He must learn to guard his heart from sinning carelessly against God. He must learn his lesson and he must learn it well, lest “a worse thing” came upon him.

“IT WAS JESUS…” John 5:15

The man who had been healed of his infirmity of thirty-eight years was certainly no coward. He may have been ignorant. He may be poor. He may have no friends. Whatever else he lacked, he did not lack the courage to seek out the very Jews who had hounded him and to give them the information that they had wanted from him. Boldly he sought them out, and declared the Name of Jesus, his new friend and Saviour!

“The man departed and told the Jews that
It was Jesus who had made him well.”
John 5:15