John 5:12-14 English Standard Version

¹² They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴ 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.”

Now the man meets Jesus and perhaps he understands it is God who has healed him.

What does he believe?

Perhaps he believes the words that Jesus now speaks to him. Perhaps he believes that because he is healed and sin is now mentioned in connection with his sickness, that sin is responsible for all his ills. Jesus even says not to sin again. That only says that he still has the sin nature he was born with and if he continues in sin worse things can happened.

Is the man’s motivation to refrain from sin the consequences of sin or the words of God to go and sin no more?

Did this man hear the gospel for forgiveness of sins? Did he hear that he must place his faith in Christ who has not even died for his sins yet?

Perhaps this conversation with Jesus is an invitation to continue listening to Jesus until the time comes when he hears the message of salvation by faith. Perhaps. We cannot say for sure what was in the man’s heart. Christ had not died, faith was not an issue, and the Spirit had not been given to share the truth.

So what do we believe when we see God do a miracle in our lives?

Do we have anyone there to explain what is happening or do we wonder with less than perfect understanding?

Someone has to share the gospel with us to stand a chance of getting it right, it is only a chance.

John 5:13-14 English Standard Version

¹³ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴ 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.”

What can be seen here is that the man that was healed had an encounter with God but did not know it was God. This is not a matter of Jesus healing a man who had placed his faith in Jesus. This is a sovereign act of God to show that God has power over all mankind and faith has nothing to do with the act of will on God’s part.

So why did God heal someone who had not placed his faith in Christ?

John 5:18-20 English Standard Version

Jesus Is Equal with God

¹⁸ This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

The Authority of the Son

¹⁹ So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

God was calling out the religious leaders of the day, challenging their beliefs, their authority, and their priesthood. God provoked them to wrath. They loved their position and power over the people more than they loved God.

When God shows Himself to those who have not placed their faith in Christ, it is an opportunity to change their attitude about God.

Do we then believe?