After the Healing at the Pool

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."  The man went away and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had made him well.  John 5:14-15


Is it just me? This statement from Jesus sounds ominous. Is he threatening this man? Is he saying that he will harm the man if he continues sinning in his life? Interpretation of these kinds of texts must be filtered through the rest of the scripture. Notice that he says that something might happen to him, not that God would do something to him. I believe there is a strong misconception about how sin works. Many people believe that God makes life hard for those who sin, but it isn't that simple, and it isn't that harsh. The reality is, sin is dangerous without God's intervention. From this passage, one might say that sin is worse than being lame. 

Both in Jerusalem at the Bethesda pool, and in Cana in Galilee with the royal official, Jesus teaches us that he is very concerned with our inner life. Yes, physical healing is wonderful, but Jesus wants deeper healing of the heart more than that. 

Jesus heals the officials' partial belief as well as the man's son. At the pool, Jesus' first question to the paralyzed man is a heart question, "do you want to be healed." Jesus is not going around the countryside healing people to build his fame. Instead, he is going around and meeting human souls individually with intention and love. Jesus' desire is to heal the heart most and then the body. 

Jesus' words to each man teaches us how dangerous sin is. It's more dangerous than physical illness or deformity. Jesus doesn't want anyone to live as physically healed yet with a heart-sick life. If Jesus could approach you and offer you healing of any kind, what would you ask for? What heart illness might he also want to heal in you? Now pray a prayer of healing for that heart illness that still lives in you. Keep praying and asking God to heal you from that. You can keep longing and praying for physical healing, but don't forget that Jesus believes your inner world is equally as important to your outer world.


by Aaron Bjorklund