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John 5:1-47; Mark 2:23-28; Matthew 12:1-8; Luke 6:1-5; Mark 3:1-6; Matthew 12:9-14; Luke 6:6-11; Matthew 12:15-21<\/strong><\/span> John:<\/strong> I\u2019m not sure if you noticed this unique thing about Jesus\u2019 healing of the man at the pool of Bethesda today \u2013 the man did not seem to have faith in Jesus or know who Jesus was!\u00a0 You\u2019ll recall with many of the healings we read about in the Gospels people yell out to Jesus for healing, or reach for Jesus\u2019 garment, and show some sort of faith or recognition of who Jesus truly is.\u00a0 Well, here in John chapter 5 verse 6 Jesus asks this man at the pool: \u201cDo you want to get well?\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 And then in the following verses the man still doesn\u2019t realize who Jesus is and doesn\u2019t ask Jesus for healing, but instead frets about not getting into the waters of the pool where he thinks the waters will heal him.\u00a0 Well, come verse 8 Jesus says, \u201cGet up!\u00a0 Pick up your mat and walk.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I find this whole scene awesome and a great example of God\u2019s grace!\u00a0 Perhaps sometimes in our lives when we miss seeing what Jesus is doing, He will still often heal us or care for us!\u00a0 Even sometimes (though I don\u2019t think always\u2026) when we seem to looking for the other \u201cwaters\u201d that we think will heal us.\u00a0 Even sometimes when we don\u2019t ask Jesus for healing, he\u2019ll still do it for us.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> I am intrigued by Jesus\u2019 words in John chapter 5 verse 30 today, particularly in light of the book of Judges that we recently read, which was a dark time in Israel\u2019s history \u2013 \u201cBut I do nothing without consulting the Father. I judge as I am told. And my judgment is absolutely just, because it is according to the will of God who sent me; it is not merely my own.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 I love that Jesus says his judgment is absolutely just.\u00a0 And I believe this is true \u2013 1. that Jesus will judge us and that 2. his judgment is just.\u00a0 I think this is both something to be celebrated \u2013 there is no one else I would want to judge me\u2026 \u2013 and I think this can be sobering \u2013 if his judgment is absolutely just, then it is obvious that we cannot \u201csneak\u201d anything by Jesus.\u00a0 Everything we have ever done or will do will be judged by Jesus.\u00a0 I think ultimately it is very healthy to recognize this.\u00a0 Maybe initially this realization will keep us from sinning because of some fear of judgment \u2013 but ideally this realization matures into a love for Jesus that encourages us not to sin because we would not want to disappoint Jesus whom we love with all that we are.\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus is your judge?\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus will judge you absolutely justly?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> Matthew:<\/strong> Today in Matthew chapter 12 we read about Jesus\u2019 teachings surrounding his healing on the Sabbath.\u00a0 Note that in verse 14 the plots to kill Jesus begin: \u201cThen the Pharisees called a meeting and discussed plans for killing Jesus.\u201d <\/em>Why do you suppose these plots started at this point?\u00a0 I don\u2019t think it was this one incident per se that began the plots in and of itself \u2013 but it was probably a culmination of Jesus\u2019 teaching, preaching, and healing ministries up to this point that started murmurs and discussions and finally led to plots.\u00a0 I think Jesus\u2019 wisdom and power and popularity with the people were seen as a threat.\u00a0 Do you suppose that Jesus\u2019 wisdom and power and popularity with the people are seen as a threat by some in our world today?<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> <\/span> \n
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Bible.org\u2019s commentary on our readings in John chapter 5 today titled \u201cJesus Heals the man at the Pool of Bethesda\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on John chapter 5\u2019s readings today titled \u201cLike Father, Like Son\u201d <\/strong>is <\/span>at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n
I read an interesting commentary on verses 11 & 12 today: \u201cAnd he (Jesus) answered, \u201cIf you had one sheep, and it fell into a well on the Sabbath, wouldn\u2019t you get to work and pull it out? Of course you would. And how much more valuable is a person than a sheep!\u201d <\/em>The commentary said that in this verse Jesus contrasts the worth of an animal with that of a human being.\u00a0 I think for most of us, we would agree that a human life is more valuable than an animal life.\u00a0 However \u2013 interestingly, not everyone in our world today feels that way.\u00a0 I recently heard a radio talk show host ask a woman if she saw both her beloved dog and a stranger drowning in a lake and she could only save one of the two, who would she save.\u00a0 And the woman basically said her dog \u2013 she hemmed and hawed about saying that straightforwardly, but basically she said her dog was her family\u2026\u00a0 And so the stranger \u2013 the human \u2013 would lose out in that situation.\u00a0 What about you \u2013 if you could only save your beloved pet or a stranger (human) from drowning, who would you save?\u00a0 Who would God save?\u00a0 Do you think God places a higher value on human life than animal life?\u00a0 (since we just read the creation narrative in Genesis, this should be a slam-dunk answer! \ud83d\ude42<\/span><\/p>\n
I love the Isaiah prophecy in today\u2019s readings, summarizing the quiet aspects of the ministry of Jesus!\u00a0 Verse 21 makes me tear up to really meditate upon: \u201cAnd his name will be the hope of all the world.\u201d <\/em>How does this verse strike you?\u00a0 Do you believe that Jesus\u2019 name is the hope of the world?\u00a0 Is Jesus\u2019 name the hope of your own personal world?<\/span><\/p>\n
Bible.org\u2019s commentary on today\u2019s readings in Matthew chapter 12 titled \u201cThe Lord of the Sabbath\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link.<\/span><\/p>\n
Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings remind me of For King & Country\u2019s song \u201cFor God is With Us:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n