Belonging - Day 20
John 5:13 The man didn’t know, for Jesus had disappeared into the crowd. 14 But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, “Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you.” 15 Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
This is an interesting addendum to the story. The man didn’t know who had healed him until later, when Jesus came up to him in the temple. The reason the man would have been in the temple is twofold. 1) because that is where he would have needed to be confirmed as healed. 2) he hadn’t been there in 38 years and this is where the hub of Jewish life happened. It is no wonder that he ran to the temple as soon as he could.
There, he meets Jesus again and realizes who it is that has healed him. Jesus gives him an admonishment to make sure that he stops sinning so that he might continue in the healing that has come to him. I know that this section feels like Jesus is being a bit brutal, but the truth is, when we go back to the habits that caused us to sin, healing stops. And Jesus wants him to continue to heal. Just because he can walk, doesn’t mean that 38 years of being lame is fixed immediately. There would be mental and emotional scars as well. Jesus wanted him to continue in his healing journey.
When we begin a healing journey with Jesus, it is the first step that is the hardest, but the ongoing steps still require faith in Christ and in his ability to heal. Without the continued walk with Jesus, we would be left half-healed, and that sometimes leads to more hurting.
I am writing this with a large bandage on my face because I had to have some skin cancer removed from my face. They believe they got 100% of it from the area, and so now I am on my healing journey. I ended up with 12 stitches, and the size of the scar, I am told, is up to me and how I treat it during the wound care process.
But as I write this, it is itching like crazy, and I just want to scratch it, which would not allow it to heal at all, it would exacerbate the problem. Healing takes time, takes care, and takes a soft touch.
Jesus is willing to work with us through all of the healing process, not just the first step. So as you have the courage to take the first step, make sure you have the courage to take the next steps as well!
This is an interesting addendum to the story. The man didn’t know who had healed him until later, when Jesus came up to him in the temple. The reason the man would have been in the temple is twofold. 1) because that is where he would have needed to be confirmed as healed. 2) he hadn’t been there in 38 years and this is where the hub of Jewish life happened. It is no wonder that he ran to the temple as soon as he could.
There, he meets Jesus again and realizes who it is that has healed him. Jesus gives him an admonishment to make sure that he stops sinning so that he might continue in the healing that has come to him. I know that this section feels like Jesus is being a bit brutal, but the truth is, when we go back to the habits that caused us to sin, healing stops. And Jesus wants him to continue to heal. Just because he can walk, doesn’t mean that 38 years of being lame is fixed immediately. There would be mental and emotional scars as well. Jesus wanted him to continue in his healing journey.
When we begin a healing journey with Jesus, it is the first step that is the hardest, but the ongoing steps still require faith in Christ and in his ability to heal. Without the continued walk with Jesus, we would be left half-healed, and that sometimes leads to more hurting.
I am writing this with a large bandage on my face because I had to have some skin cancer removed from my face. They believe they got 100% of it from the area, and so now I am on my healing journey. I ended up with 12 stitches, and the size of the scar, I am told, is up to me and how I treat it during the wound care process.
But as I write this, it is itching like crazy, and I just want to scratch it, which would not allow it to heal at all, it would exacerbate the problem. Healing takes time, takes care, and takes a soft touch.
Jesus is willing to work with us through all of the healing process, not just the first step. So as you have the courage to take the first step, make sure you have the courage to take the next steps as well!
- How have you seen Jesus heal you in the past?
- Did you walk with him through the whole of the healing journey?
- How can you know that Jesus is continuing to walk with you as you heal?
No Comments