John 5:11

Verse

John 5:11

He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.

  • Healing
  • Faith
  • Christ
  • Restoration
  • God
Bebe's interpretation
The crippled man was instructed by Jesus to pick up the bed he was lying on and walk with it after he had been healed. Local religious leaders argued that this violated the Sabbath commandment. The local religious leaders' response in the next verse was not to ask, "Who healed you," but "Who told you to get up and walk?" They were entirely dependent on their tradition rather than on the power of God.
After Jesus healed him, the man continued this strange pattern of "passing the buck." Maybe the man was satisfied with his physical bonds, or maybe he was irritated when he was reprimanded by the religious leaders for carrying his bedding on the Sabbath. Not only was the poor man physically helpless and enslaved by his paralysis, but he also seemed blind to the good news of the gospel of Christ and the spiritual salvation he was being offered. 
Like this paralyzed man, there are many people in today's world who enjoy close encounters with Christ but fail to recognize who He is or refuse to engage in His offer of salvation. Let us not miss out on any close encounters we may have with Christ throughout our lives.
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