DAILY MANNA
SUNDAY 27TH OCTOBER, 2019
NO MATTER HOW LONG
TEXT: JOHN 5:1-16
KEY VERSE: “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” (JOHN 5:5,6).
The sorrow and anguish an incurable health condition could impose upon anyone is unimaginable. Consider the blind attempting to cross the road without a guide or the lame picking his way on a flooded pathway. Better imagined than experienced.
Many believers who desire to be healed or delivered from whatever type of ailment erroneously think that delay could mean denial but the man in today’s text had been in his obviously terrible condition for thirty eight years. Though he was not waiting for the Lord Jesus, he would not have received the miracle of Christ if he had since gone home out of frustration. No doubt, he had experienced a prolonged and painful disappointment.
It is obvious that the length of time of the impotent man’s suffering moved Jesus to such instant pity and compassion “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case…” (v 6). Healing on the Sabbath caused Jesus the wrath of the Jewish religious leaders. His claim of equality with God, earned Him their charge of blasphemy and a death sentence. Jesus was now on collision course with the religious authorities.
Jesus wanted them to be saved (v 34) but while this was His desire, the religious leaders would have nothing to do with His offer of salvation. Today, many people do not believe that Jesus is the Son of God. And so they, regrettably, choose to remain in their sin. Don’t be one of them. To receive divine touch on any long-standing problem, you must be patient and ensure sin is rid from your life.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: It takes patience to fully reap God’s blessing.
THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: JEREMIAH 15–18
