Monday after Misericordias Domini
Scripture: St. John 5:1-17 (NKJV)
5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. 10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
Devotion
The Gospel according to St. John reveals a major issue between the Law and Jesus. John was inspired to write in the very first chapter, “For the Law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). The very first confrontation with the Jews regarding the Law, however, doesn’t happen until today’s assigned text, when Jesus heals a paralytic on the Sabbath.
The difference between the Law and Jesus gets displayed at the pool by the Sheep Gate. Those who were able scuffled to put themselves in the water. They not only exhibited a sort of trust in their own strength, but a great selfishness is demonstrated by them as well, for no one came to the aid of (or loved) the man who could not help himself. When it comes to the benefit of one’s neighbor, Christ—being the Good Shepherd and the only completer of the law of love—reveals how the Law gets trumped by Him who is love, even on the Sabbath.
Love still triumphs today! We have received forgiveness of sins through the means of grace which He has given in His Divine Service. Christ Jesus sends out the believing, baptized children of God to walk with faith toward God and a fervent love toward neighbor—all because Christ helped us who were hopeless to ever help ourselves.
Prayer: O God, through the humiliation of Your Son You raised up the fallen world. Grant to Your faithful people, rescued from the peril of everlasting death, perpetual gladness and eternal joys; through Jesus Christ, Your Son, our Lord, who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
