Living by Man-Made Constructs

Scripture: The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 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 5:13-15

Observation: Jesus heals a crippled man at the pool of Bethsaida, a place where many faithful believed the Lord offered healing. While this man must have faith, for he comes to the pool daily, from the beginning it is clear that his mind and heart are firmly entrenched in the world of human opinion. He blames a lack of help from others for his not being able to get into the water for 38 years. Once healed, he continues to seek human assistance instead of living into his new life. He succumbs to questioning by the Pharisees about carrying his mat on the Sabath, even seeking them out to report that it was Jesus who told him to do so.

In everything, this man allows himself to be subjected to human opinions and authority. He believes he can only be helped by people - not God - both before and after God heals him. He is more fearful of rules stated by Pharisees than he is thankful to Jesus for improving his life forever. Basically, his understanding of the Lord exists in the context of what people have told him and how people interact with him, and not by his own relationship with God, and this is true even after the Messiah himself has talked to him face-to-face and shown him love, mercy, kindness, and blessing.

Application: I do see this is the story today ... a man who was so "of the world" that, when God himself showed up and gave him the very miracle that he had wanted for decades, he continued with behaviors that aligned to man-made rules and constructs instead of embracing his new life. I would like to say I would never do that ... but of course, I do exactly that, every day. The Lord has given me everything good in my life, and over and over I live in a manner that both incorporates the man-made ways and opinions of our society, while also retaining elements of my old life that I should have long-ago set aside.

It seems I don't know how to be a disciple. I don't know how to embrace my new life, my softened heart, my new-creation destiny. I don't know how to avoid the constructs this fallen world creates to ensnare my mind.

I want to judge the weak will of this cripple, but instead I know I too live by man-made constructs, and not the kingdom-power constructs of Jesus.

Prayer: Lord, please forgive me for my sins. I and I both know what they are, and I do truly wish to turn away from them. I am so weak, and so quick to simply do whatever it is that this world sets before me. Again, I am so weak. May I return to you and your strength today, and may I find a way to live in your kingdom ways, and not in the worldly ways, today. Amen.