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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Him to do. He found opposition in doing as Jesus bade him. Every one will find opposition who obeys Jesus (2 Tim. 3:12). The objection raised was that he was transgressing the Jewish law. The man’s all-sufficient answer was, "H e that made me whole, the 'same said unto me, etc.” That is a sufficient answer to any objector. The strength that Jesus gives us should be used in obedience to Him who gave it. The man did not tell them yet who had made him whole, because he did not know himself, but as soon as he found out who it was he told them without fear. He did not even wait for them to ask him, but himself sought an opportunity for wit nessing. It took courage to confess Jesus to these men. The man did it because his heart was so full that his mouth must speak (Matt. 12:34). One truly saved can not keep it to himself. Jesus’ counsel to the man is worthy o f earnest meditation, “sin no more.” Evidently sin was the cause o f this man’s previous suffering, and Jesus today is ready to heal the misfortunes which are the result o f our own sinning. If after He has healed us o f the sorrows which are the result o f our sinning, we go back to our sinning again, a worse thing will befall us (v. 14). Tuesday, May p. John 5 : 15 - 18 . The man having found out who it was that healed him, goes at once and tells the Jews who had made him whole. This, instead o f bringing the Jews to faith in Jesus, simply increased their enmity against Him. They gave more thought to Jesus’ disregard o f their traditions than they did to His goodness to an unfortunate man. Many today are so occupied with a good man’s disregard to their traditions that they quite overlook the beneficent work God does through him. To their captious criticisms o f His disregard o f the man made traditions with which they had cum bered the Sabbatical law, Jesus answered, “ My Father worketh even until now, and I work.” In other words, He told them that He was governed by something higher
Sunday, May J. John 5 : 6 - 9 .
Jesus saw the man in his wretched and hopeless condition. He always sees men in their wretcHedness, helplessness and hopelessness. Seeing the unfortunate man, our Lord was at once moved with compassion (cf. Matt. 14:14) : Jesus always has that feeling as He looks upon the suf ferings and misfortunes o f men (Heb. 13:8; 4:15, 16; Isa. 63:9). The fact that this man had been so long in his wretched ness especially awakened the sympathy of Jesus. The fact that any sinner has been in his present evil case for a long time is no reason for supposing Jesus will not take an interest in him, and save, or help, or heal hjm, but rather a reason for suppos ing He will take a special interest in him (Mark 9:21; Luke 8:43; Acts 3 :2 ; cf. 4:22; 9:43; 14:8). The question that Jesus put to the man (v. 6) implies that our being made whole depends upon our own will. Jesus Himself is ever willing and able, the only question is are we willing (Rev. 22:17). The only reason why any man does not obtain life in Christ is because he will not come to Him (John 5:40). Jesus did not ask the man if he would be made better, but if he would be “made whole." The only way o f being made whole o f which this man had any thought was through the efficacy o f the healing waters o f the pool, but Jesus spoke a word and by the power o f that word he was healed. Jesus must indeed be divine if there is so much power in His word (Ps. 107:20). There is power in the word o f Christ today to save all who will believe it (Rom. 1:16). All one has to do 'is to hear and believe (John 5:24). The cure was not only complete, but instantaneous (cf. Mark 1:31, 42; 5:29, 41, 42; 10:52; Acts 3:7, 8). How unlike this cure was to the cures alleged by Christian Science prac titioners today. Monday, May 8 . John 5 : 10 - 14 . The man at once used his Christ-given strength to do what the Lord Jesus told
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