June 24
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SIN NO MORE
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” 11 But he answered them, “He who made me well was the one who said to me, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Pick up your pallet and walk’?” 13 But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because He was doing these things on the Sabbath.
– John 5:10-16
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In this miracle, the man who suffered for 38 years was able to walk because Jesus healed him. A bunch of Jewish leaders were concerned about who healed this man for it is not permissible in the Jewish law to heal on the Sabbath. Interestingly, they were grilling him to tell them who didn’t follow the law not to work on the Sabbath. They interrogated the healed man and didn’t stop until they found out who did the healing on the day that wasn’t allowed. They didn’t even care if the healing relieved that man from his 38 years of suffering because they were more concerned with following the law and ensuring that other Jews do so. Jesus had slipped away from the crowd so the man couldn’t remember who healed him. Later, Jesus found the man in the temple and reminded him that since he had been healed, he should not sin anymore so that he will be spared from the worst. This was a warning for that man. In those days, illness or sickness was a result of sin. Jesus reminds him that God’s wrath may come upon him if he continues to sin. Long suffering is nothing compared to the consequence of continued and habitual sin. Jesus is referring to the eternal punishment of those who continue to walk in darkness.
Our sin nature automatically comes out in us, but in the Spirit, we can let Jesus rule over our minds and hearts and soul. This is the miracle that he brought to this man who couldn’t walk for 38 years. It is symbolic of salvation for his entire soul even though it manifested physically by his inability to walk. We need to remember that hell is far worst than any affliction or suffering we will encounter if we don’t give up sin.
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REFLECTION
• Why is it easy for those who are saved to forget the gift and miracle of salvatio