John 5:9-11 Immediately the man became well, and picked up his pallet and began to walk. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’”
Jesus, knowing the laws of the Sabbath, told the man to pick up his pallet and walk. Upon hearing those words, the man was healed. The miracle itself revealed that God is merciful and has the power to heal. More than likely the man knew the Sabbath laws also, but as soon as his legs were strengthened, he obeyed Jesus. The man concluded that if Jesus could heal him with a word, then He also had authority over the Sabbath. In fact, we see that he used that argument with the Jewish Sabbath police.
There is no record that Jesus called him to repent or revealed anything to him about God, other than that God is merciful and speaks with authority. Curing the man after 38 years of suffering was definitely a great kindness. I’m reminded of Romans 2:4. “Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?” It appears that the man thought lightly of Jesus’ kindness. There’s no record of gratitude. He didn’t even get Jesus’ name because Jesus slipped away so quickly. Both are indications of extreme self-centeredness.
I draw three encouragements from these verses. The first one is that living to love with Jesus is often expressed in deeds of mercy and kindness rather than through words. Kindness is one expression of love mentioned in Galatians 5:22-23 as the fruit of the Spirit. God can use our kindness to lead people to repentance. It doesn’t always happen, but we know from God’s word that it is how He works. So let’s look for ways to express kindness to all God puts in our paths.
Second, as we love people, we do it for the glory of God and not for our own significance. Jesus wasn’t trying to be noticed, although, how could He not be? Certainly, this miracle was noticed and talked about all over Jerusalem, and during a feast time, at that, when the city was teeming with worshipers. We don’t love so that we will be thought well of or thanked. We love for the glory of God, and leave the results up to Him.
Third, as we live to love, God is working out His will on earth as it is in heaven. The fact that it was a Sabbath upon which Jesus healed the man was used by God to further alienate the Jewish leaders from Jesus. It added another reason for them to plot for His murder, which was necessary for the redemption of God’s people. Jesus was commanded by God to lay down His life for God’s children, and this miracle on the Sabbath was one act of obedience in laying down His life. Sometimes, we are going to be faced with situations where to love or be kind is going to annoy or anger someone who doesn’t love us. Our kindness will make them feel guilty because they don’t want to love us. In those cases, we can expect them to twist the truth, sabotage our efforts to love, and use it against us. Jesus told his disciples later that if people hate Him, they will hate those who follow Him. But we should not let that discourage us from loving our enemies. We are to love everyone God puts in our paths, even if they don’t like it.
So let us remember to look for ways to show God’s mercy and kindness for the glory of God, and trust Him to accomplish His will on earth as it is in heaven. We love with Jesus, no matter what.
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus.
