warm-up

Do you like surprises? Why or why not?

Share a time when you did not heed a parent’s or guardian’s warning about something. What happened?

How do you typically respond to correction? Recall an instance explaining this.

word

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” John 5:17

(Read also John 5:1-16.)

Jesus’ third sign proving that He is the Son of God involved healing an invalid man on the Sabbath. The man had been paralyzed for thirty-eight years, and then had an encounter with Jesus. What can we glean from the healing at the pool on the Sabbath? Following are three things Jesus did that leads us to respond to Him.

1
Jesus asks so we can respond

⁶When 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?” ⁷The 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.” John 5:6,7

The paralyzed man believed that he would be healed by being immersed in the pool of Bethesda. He failed to see that Jesus, his Healer, was right in front of him, because he was caught up in the religious traditions of his time. We must learn how to recognize who Jesus is, and respond when He opens an invitation to us. What wrong beliefs or mindsets did you have, prior to a relationship with Jesus? How did these change as you grew in your faith?

2
Jesus heals so we can respond

⁸Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. John 5:8,9

Without him asking, Jesus healed the paralyzed man, and this happened at once. The man’s healing was a chance for him to come and follow Jesus, yet he did not. Often, because we focus on our own hardships, we forget that Jesus can and is more than able to help us—and this is the perfect opportunity to respond to what He is doing in our lives. What does the Bible instruct us to do in James 4:8? What does God do, in turn?

3
Jesus warns so we can respond

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.” John 5:14

The paralyzed man had a second encounter with Jesus—this time, Jesus gave a strong command to no longer continue in sin, so nothing worse would happen to him. Whenever we are confronted with the truth, the right way to respond is to go to God and repent. What is repentance? How do we know that we have truly repented? (Matthew 3:8)

application

What obstacle could be hindering you from responding to Jesus’ invitation of following Him? What can you do to overcome this obstacle, beginning today?

Are you currently going through a trial in your life? How can you trust Jesus to come through for you?

Do you know of a family member or friend who is going through a trial and who needs a miracle? How can you encourage him or her to go to Jesus this week?

prayer

Praise God for the many chances He gives you to respond to Him, and go back to Him in repentance and surrender. Declare His Lordship over your life, and commit to walk in His ways daily.

Ask God for a greater fear of Him, and a deeper hunger for His ways.

Pray for the strength and grace to overcome personal challenges. Intercede for those you know who are going through hardships as well.

© 2017 by VICTORY®
All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), Copyright © 2001
by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

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