I recently came across an interesting report where thousands of people were shown different colors and asked to name them. The results were all over the place—what one person called “teal,” another called “blue-green,” and still another “aqua.” It’s a reminder that people often see the same thing differently. But unlike this subjective test of color names, truth isn't subjective. That thought led me to something far more important: how people respond to Jesus, especially in John 5.
In John 5:1–18, Jesus heals a man who had been crippled for 38 years. The man was lying by the pool of Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. Jesus saw him, spoke to him, and said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8, NKJV). Immediately, the man was healed. That should have been the headline—but instead, the religious leaders focused on the fact that the man was carrying his mat on the Sabbath.
Let that sink in: A man who had been crippled for nearly four decades was suddenly walking, and the response was “Who told you to carry your bed?” (John 5:12). They weren’t amazed by the miracle—they were offended by the method. That’s not just missing the point; it’s missing the Messiah.
Their response is a sobering warning. These leaders were trained in the Law, yet they were blind to the fulfillment of the Law standing right in front of them (John 5:39–40). Their hearts were hardened. They weren’t defending God’s truth—they were defending their own traditions. Paul later describes this kind of blindness: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe” (2 Corinthians 4:4). And Jesus Himself often grieved at the hardness of people’s hearts (Mark 3:5).
Too often, we’re guilty of the same. We cling so tightly to our assumptions that we miss the work God is doing. We listen to sermons or testimonies and filter them through what we already expect to hear. We close ourselves off to anything that sounds unfamiliar—even when it’s grounded in Scripture. Like the religious leaders in John 5, we focus on what’s “different” instead of asking whether it might be true.
That doesn’t mean we throw discernment out the window. Scripture warns us not to believe every spirit but to test everything against the Word (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). The gospel is not something we edit or personalize—it’s the unchanging truth revealed by God (Galatians 1:8–9). But we do need humility. God may work in ways that surprise us—ways that challenge our assumptions or interrupt our comfort.
There’s a lyric from The Perrys’ song “If You Knew Him” that captures this well:
There’s something deeply personal about the work Jesus does in each life. The gospel isn’t just a message we agree with—it’s a transformation we experience. And yet that experience must always be grounded in truth, not just emotion. As Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” That’s not a vague feeling; it’s a Spirit-confirmed truth based on Christ’s finished work.
John 5 doesn’t end with the miracle. In verse 14, Jesus finds the healed man again—this time in the temple—and warns him: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Jesus cared more about the eternal than than the "right now" healing. That verse reminds us that the greatest danger isn't physical suffering—it’s spiritual death. A healed body with a lost soul is still a tragedy. And while not all suffering is the result of personal sin (John 9:1–3 makes that clear), Jesus’ words here show us that sin has forever consequences.
I’m reminded of lyrics of a few more songs, this time by Gordon Mote that have stuck with me:
Those lyrics carry more weight when you consider who’s singing them. Gordon Mote has been blind since birth and plays piano with extraordinary skill. When he sings about seeing through Heaven’s eyes, it’s not just a metaphor, it’s a testimony. He may not see the way most people do, but his heart and spirit are locked into a greater reality.
What if the religious leaders in John 5 had seen that crippled man with Heaven’s eyes? What if we saw the hurting, the outcast, or even the difficult people in our lives the same way Jesus sees them?
And just in case you’ve never heard this clearly before: the good news is that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe. As Romans 10:9–10 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is not a vague spirituality—it’s the truth that sets people free.
In John 5:1–18, Jesus heals a man who had been crippled for 38 years. The man was lying by the pool of Bethesda, hoping for a miracle. Jesus saw him, spoke to him, and said, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” (John 5:8, NKJV). Immediately, the man was healed. That should have been the headline—but instead, the religious leaders focused on the fact that the man was carrying his mat on the Sabbath.
Let that sink in: A man who had been crippled for nearly four decades was suddenly walking, and the response was “Who told you to carry your bed?” (John 5:12). They weren’t amazed by the miracle—they were offended by the method. That’s not just missing the point; it’s missing the Messiah.
Their response is a sobering warning. These leaders were trained in the Law, yet they were blind to the fulfillment of the Law standing right in front of them (John 5:39–40). Their hearts were hardened. They weren’t defending God’s truth—they were defending their own traditions. Paul later describes this kind of blindness: “The god of this world has blinded the minds of those who do not believe” (2 Corinthians 4:4). And Jesus Himself often grieved at the hardness of people’s hearts (Mark 3:5).
Too often, we’re guilty of the same. We cling so tightly to our assumptions that we miss the work God is doing. We listen to sermons or testimonies and filter them through what we already expect to hear. We close ourselves off to anything that sounds unfamiliar—even when it’s grounded in Scripture. Like the religious leaders in John 5, we focus on what’s “different” instead of asking whether it might be true.
That doesn’t mean we throw discernment out the window. Scripture warns us not to believe every spirit but to test everything against the Word (Acts 17:11; 1 John 4:1). The gospel is not something we edit or personalize—it’s the unchanging truth revealed by God (Galatians 1:8–9). But we do need humility. God may work in ways that surprise us—ways that challenge our assumptions or interrupt our comfort.
There’s a lyric from The Perrys’ song “If You Knew Him” that captures this well:
- “If you could go with me, back to where I started from…”
There’s something deeply personal about the work Jesus does in each life. The gospel isn’t just a message we agree with—it’s a transformation we experience. And yet that experience must always be grounded in truth, not just emotion. As Romans 8:16 says, “The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God.” That’s not a vague feeling; it’s a Spirit-confirmed truth based on Christ’s finished work.
John 5 doesn’t end with the miracle. In verse 14, Jesus finds the healed man again—this time in the temple—and warns him: “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Jesus cared more about the eternal than than the "right now" healing. That verse reminds us that the greatest danger isn't physical suffering—it’s spiritual death. A healed body with a lost soul is still a tragedy. And while not all suffering is the result of personal sin (John 9:1–3 makes that clear), Jesus’ words here show us that sin has forever consequences.
I’m reminded of lyrics of a few more songs, this time by Gordon Mote that have stuck with me:
- “It’s hard to understand what we can’t clearly see, but Heaven will reveal life’s mysteries.” — “On the Other Side of Time”
- “… to see everyone through Heaven’s eyes…” — “This Life”
Those lyrics carry more weight when you consider who’s singing them. Gordon Mote has been blind since birth and plays piano with extraordinary skill. When he sings about seeing through Heaven’s eyes, it’s not just a metaphor, it’s a testimony. He may not see the way most people do, but his heart and spirit are locked into a greater reality.
What if the religious leaders in John 5 had seen that crippled man with Heaven’s eyes? What if we saw the hurting, the outcast, or even the difficult people in our lives the same way Jesus sees them?
Lord, help us. Help us not to miss the miracle because we’re too focused on what makes us comfortable. Help us to see through the eyes of Christ—even when it’s inconvenient, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when we’re too busy or distracted. Help us to know Your truth, hear Your voice, and recognize the work of Your hands. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.
And just in case you’ve never heard this clearly before: the good news is that Jesus died for our sins and rose again, offering forgiveness and eternal life to all who repent and believe. As Romans 10:9–10 says, “If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Jesus Himself said, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This is not a vague spirituality—it’s the truth that sets people free.
Posted in Christian Living