In today’s Daily Devotional on John 5, we witness a profound moment where Jesus asserts His divine authority, equating Himself with God. This chapter reveals not only His power to heal and transform lives but also emphasizes the importance of actively seeking and understanding the Scriptures. The distinction between merely knowing about God and genuinely living out our beliefs becomes evident as we explore the interactions and teachings of Jesus. He challenges us with a fundamental question: “Do you want to be healed?” This query goes beyond physical ailments, prompting us to reflect on our spiritual and emotional readiness to embrace change and healing. To read about the woman at the well, read John 4 Daily Devotional.
Jesus Offers Healing and New Life
In John 5, we encounter the transformative question Jesus posed to the man by the pool: “Do you wish to get well?” This question may resonate deeply with us, highlighting the human tendency to remain stagnant despite the promise of healing and renewal that Jesus offers. This devotional reveal a journey of understanding Jesus’ divine nature and the necessity of an active response to His call.
How to Experience the Healing of Jesus
As we delve into John 5, we see a recurring theme of people longing for change yet hesitating to take the necessary steps. Jesus’ miracles and teachings in this chapter underscore His equality with God, presenting Him as the source of life and judgment. His authoritative words challenge us to search the Scriptures diligently, for they testify about Him. May you come to appreciate how Jesus’ question to the sick man serves as a metaphor for our spiritual condition. Are we content with merely knowing about Jesus, or are we ready to act on our faith and experience the healing He offers?
John 5 Commentary by Allen J. Huth
In John 5, Jesus makes Himself equal with God. We will also see His authority and find out what happens when we search the Scriptures. Knowing about God and acting on our beliefs are two different things. Do you want to be healed? Please read or listen to John 5.
I started journaling my Bible reading in 1983. I have journaled my Bible reading ninety-nine percent of the days ever since. Those are the journals I share here, in the Gospel of John. I have read the Gospel of John about twenty times since 1983, so I selected three years to share journals of what John’s gospel meant to me at the time.
Do You Wish to Get Well?
In 1983, I wrote in my journal, “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, ‘Do you wish to get well?’” (v.6).
Jesus Will Help You
This one is from 1990, “‘Do you wish to get well?’ (v. 6, NASB). People must want to help themselves. They must decide if they want to get well. Then the Lord can heal.” That was related to the opening verses of this chapter. Related to verses 10-18, I wrote, “Jews focus on the letter of the law rather than the power of God. Instead of praising God that a man could walk, they were upset because he was carrying his pallet.” Concerning verses 19 through the end, I wrote, “Jesus mirrors the Father. Scriptures, the Old Testament, bear witness of Jesus.”
Fifteen years later, in 2005, when reading John 5, I wrote, “To a man sick for thirty-eight years, Jesus asks, ‘Do you wish to get well?’ (v. 6, NASB). Sometimes, we get comfortable with our lifestyle, good or bad, and it won’t change. Do we want to change? We say ‘yes’, but act ‘no’. Jesus can change us. The lame man never did answer Jesus. Do we?”
Thirteen years later, in 2018, I wrote, “Do you want to be healed?” Again, referring to verse 6. “Many people complain about their lot in life but are unwilling to change it. They won’t accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. They won’t surrender to Him. They won’t surrender their lives. They keep sitting by the pool for thirty-eight years complaining without action. This guy doesn’t say ‘yes’ either, but Jesus heals him.” I went on to write, “Jesus is equal to God the Father, referring to verse 18. Jesus, like the Father, can give life to the dead, referring to verse 21. Jesus judges on behalf of the Father, according to verse 22. Jesus, like the Father, ‘has life in Himself’ (v. 26). Life will be resurrected, some to eternal life, some to eternal judgment, hell, according to verses 28-29. ‘Search the Scriptures’ to know about God, verse 39.”
In each of my journals, I talked about the man sitting by the pool for thirty-eight years. There are many like him today. They have problems but they are unwilling to act. Jesus comes along to people and says, “Do you want to be healed?” (v. 6). “Do you want to be well?” “Do you want to get fixed?” Like this guy, people do not answer either. Someone once told me it was like an old dog laying on a porch howling and whining. Somebody walks by and says, “What’s wrong with your dog?” The gal says, “Oh, he’s lying on a nail.” And he says, “Why doesn’t he get up?” “Well, I guess the pain isn’t bad enough yet.”
So many live their lives like that, whining and complaining, but unwilling to get up. Jesus can help if we just would let Him. Why can Jesus help? The Word of God tells us right here in verse 18, “he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.” That’s a pretty bold claim. No one else claims to be equal to God but Jesus.
Throughout the rest of the chapter, Jesus defends His authority to do so. Words like, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing” (v. 19). “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son . . . Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.” (vs. 21-23). Jesus equates Himself with the Father.
John 5:36
He finishes with a few bold statements, “For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me” (v. 36). “You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me” (v. 39). And finally, about the Scriptures again, He says, “For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?” (vs. 46-47). Yes, Jesus claims to be equal to God and the Scriptures verify His claims.
What Does John Chapter 5 Mean?
Let’s consider a couple of very practical applications from John 5. One, do you want to get well? If so, Jesus can make you well. He can help you out of the circumstance or situation you are in. Will you call out to Him today?
Secondly, will you search the Scriptures? For in them, they testify of Jesus; Old or New Testament, as we have just read in this chapter. Search the Scriptures if you want to know more about Jesus. The Bible testifies of Him.
Father, we pray, in the name of Jesus, Your only begotten Son. We thank You that You sent Him here to earth to help us. Some of us may need healing. Some of us may need to get well. And Jesus came to offer healing if we just reach out our hand and accept it. May we reach up to You today and receive Your healing touch. Help us get well in our finances, in our families, in our health, in our relationships, in every aspect of our lives. And help us search the Scriptures more and more so we can learn more about You. Thank You for revealing Yourself to us through Your Word. We give You thanks. In Jesus’ name, amen.