IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Daily Bread

Get Up, Pick Up Your Mat and Walk

Date: Jan. 27, 2018

Passage

John 5:1-15  (ESV)

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:8

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

1. Do you want to get well? (1-9a)

The sick people around the pool of Bethesda are the very dichotomy of this sinful world. All are sick with sin with various kinds of symptoms. All want to get well. But they are blinded to think that they must go ahead of others. Will there be any other way than the survival of the fittest? Yes! Jesus met the worst among them, an invalid of 38 years. Jesus dearly wished to heal him. But he complained about those who did not help him. He was also hostile with jealousy toward those who outran him. He was invalid in spirit too. Jesus challenged him with a word, "Get up, pick up your mat and walk!" When he obeyed, he was healed! Now he could walk and work freely glorifying God. Jesus came to save us, the chronically sick people like the invalid.

2. Don't sin any more (9b-15)

The Pharisees did not mind at all the healing of the life-long invalid. They only wanted to accuse him of his Sabbath breaking. The man was scared and blamed the one who healed him. Later Jesus found him and warned, "Do not sin anymore!" But the man betrayed Jesus by reporting to the Pharisees. He became a worst sinner by not listening to Jesus' warning though his body was healed.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for reaching me, the worst sinner and making me walk around the whole world glorifying your name. Let me not sin any more.

One Word: Obey Jesus and walk!

Daily Bread

Plagues of Frogs and Gnats

Exodus 8:1-19

Key Verse: 8:19

Then the magicians said to Pharaoh, “This is the finger of God.” But Pharaoh’s heart was hardened, and he would not listen to them, as the LORD had said.

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Intro Daily

Today's Question

What are we specifically taught in the first commandment by the words before me?

See answer and references