28/02/2017 - HE DID NOT KNOW WHO JESUS WAS

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But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. John 5.13

For 38 years, a paralytic man waited to be healed. This makes us think about how many others are living with this faith. Some of them will die without ever experiencing the goodness of God. Therefore, it is necessary to preach them the Good News, otherwise, they will never know the Lord while they are here, and as a consequence, they will suffer forever due to the fact that they were not saved.

The man, whose miracle is written in John 5, was religious, but he did not know the Savior, just like those who follow rituals from many religions and churches. What a tragedy! There are millions of people who call themselves Christian, but have no idea who the God of peace and love is. They are capable of using scandalous and criminal means for personal reasons, claiming to be acting in the name of the Lord.

When Christ presented himself to the sick, if it wasn’t for divine mercy, that man might have missed the opportunity of his life. Many people make this mistake, because they don’t tell their people about the Savior or teach them that to love Him is to know His commandments and keep them (Job 14:21). As a result of this, many people are deceived, they give themselves to sin and fool themselves by thinking they are saved. Wherever the Truth is not taught, God is not present! 

When the man answered, he showed the Master the reason why he was not healed yet: he constantly complained about everyone and everything. However, this did not change Jesus’ mind about giving him abundant life (Jo 10:10) It doesn’t matter what your resentments are; it will not make God act differently. He came to destroy the works of the devil, therefore, if you allow it, He will deliver you completely, but you need to call upon Him.

By receiving the command to take up his bed and walk (John 5:8), he did not pay attention to the rules anymore, but he obeyed and was healed. He knew that he couldn’t take up his bed because of a norm from his religion that he didn’t understand very well. Later on, while being rebuked, the man affirmed that the person that healed him ordered him to do that. According to the Scriptures, the Pharisees and the scribes strain out a gnat and swallow a camel (Mt 23:24).

When asked about what happened, that man confessed that he did not know who was the Man that gave him such orders. It is good to know who Jesus is, because He has much more to give you than you have already received. Therefore, acquire a Bible and read it daily. That way, you will no longer be in spiritual paralysis nor remain submissive to the rules that are empty of power to be blessed.

Do not be guided by orientations outside of the Word of God, which surely will not make you succeed in life. Only those who know the Truth become truly free. Examine yourself and see if you have been obeying the biblical teachings or if you are just observing religious dogmas. There is life and power in Jesus!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares