Faith & Love: A One Year Bible Reading Plan - Part 1Sample

A man lying near a pool at Bethesda is healed by Jesus, and later they meet again in the temple. Jesus tells him not to sin anymore or a worse thing might happen.

This alludes to the idea that the man’s choices and his illness may have been linked. This might make us feel uncomfortable, the idea that some of the stuff we struggle with might be due to our own doing.

As humans we do like to blame something other than ourselves, don’t we?

Later, in John 9, Jesus makes it clear that not all illnesses are because of sin but here, in this story, he suggests that this time it might be.

How do we imagine how Jesus spoke to the man? We would hear compassion and love in his voice. Like a parent warning his beloved child that more of that bad thing will not end well. We imagine Jesus’s face filled with love for the man and see his desire for him to experience freedom for the rest of his time on earth.

Have you been struggling with something that just seems like a never-ending cycle?

Have you been praying for something that just never changes?

Perhaps it is time to be honest and look inward. What do you really want? Let’s be clear again, many illnesses and difficulties have nothing to do with sin, but there are times when we may need to ask some tough questions of ourselves.

Jesus is never surprised by your brokenness and excuses. He knows them all and he wants to bring you freedom.