[About the man who had been healed, John wrote:] But afterward Jesus found him in the Temple and told him, "Now you are well; so stop sinning, or something even worse may happen to you." Then the man went and told the Jewish leaders that it was Jesus who had healed him.
—John 5:14-15 NLT
Stop sinning! Isn't it interesting that while all the fury and fuss were about Jesus' supposed sin on the Sabbath, [1] the real sinner was the man who was healed. He didn't want to take responsibility for anything. [2] He wouldn't go out on the limb to honor Jesus and follow him. Jesus warned him, and he ignored the warning. He went and immediately betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who would do him harm. When we become ashamed to share the testimony of what Jesus is doing in our lives, the sad reality is that we are easily conscripted to do holy-sounding things that actually do the Kingdom great harm. Jesus says to us, "stop sinning"! Let's heed his admonition today.
[1] John 5:9-10.
[2] John 5:7, 10-11.
Father, stop me and confront me when I am being led astray, especially by things that sound religious but which are really sin. Give me a clearer and more holy understanding of your will in my life and a more powerful and holy influence upon my friends. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—John 5:14-15 NLT
Key Thought
Stop sinning! Isn't it interesting that while all the fury and fuss were about Jesus' supposed sin on the Sabbath, [1] the real sinner was the man who was healed. He didn't want to take responsibility for anything. [2] He wouldn't go out on the limb to honor Jesus and follow him. Jesus warned him, and he ignored the warning. He went and immediately betrayed Jesus into the hands of those who would do him harm. When we become ashamed to share the testimony of what Jesus is doing in our lives, the sad reality is that we are easily conscripted to do holy-sounding things that actually do the Kingdom great harm. Jesus says to us, "stop sinning"! Let's heed his admonition today.
[1] John 5:9-10.
[2] John 5:7, 10-11.
Today's Prayer
Father, stop me and confront me when I am being led astray, especially by things that sound religious but which are really sin. Give me a clearer and more holy understanding of your will in my life and a more powerful and holy influence upon my friends. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2022 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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