John 5: The Right Focus
Read: John 5, Psalm 5
Who: Who wrote this book? Who did they write it to? What was their reason for writing?
What: What does this passage say about God, me, and my relationship with Him?
“I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.” John 5:24 (NLT)
John 5 reveals a great deal about who Jesus is and what matters most to him. The text shows us that he offers healing and forgiveness and he cares about the eternal state of our hearts.
Why: Why is this truth important?
Jesus healing the lame man at the pool of Bethesda ruffled the feathers of the Jewish leaders. They were upset because the man who had previously been lame was carrying his mat on the Sabbath. They were not concerned with the well being of the individual; they were concerned with whether or not he followed the law of the Sabbath. The leaders were further upset by Jesus’ claim to be the son of God because it didn’t fit their paradigm.
It’s impotant for us to realize that God has so much more for each of us than a list of rules and regulations. He is active and involved in our world and wants us to have abundant and eternal life through him.
How: How would my life/character/perspective be different if I truly believed this truth?
I don’t want to be like the Jewish leaders in this text. I want to care more about how God is changing people’s lives than I care about whether or not people live up to my own interpretations of how to live righteously.
I don’t want to miss what God is doing here because I am only willing to see his activity through my own paradigm.
If I fully embrace the truth of who Jesus is and what he wants for each person, I will spend more time loving people than judging their actions. If I stop focusing on how I think God should act, I will be able to recognize more of what he is doing all around me.
Prayer:
God, help me to stop trying to fit you into my paradigms. I surrender my will to you. Help me to focus on the healing you are bringing in the lives of those in my community rather than areas in which they are failing my standards. Give me a heart to love like you, and give me eyes to see you move. Thank you for being bigger than any ideal I can create.
Amen