“Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.” ~ John 5:8-9
REFERENCE:
By an ordinance from the beginning of creation, God set aside the Sabbath to be a day of rest for man. With the death and resurrection of Jesus, Sabbath is no longer a day, but any time man’s faith reaches out to receive the mercy of God. Jesus said, “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” It was made for the benefit of every man, that he might find God’s mercy and help in it. Therefore, Jesus did many of His miracles on the Sabbath.
The man in our text was behind in the ‘race’ for healing. For 38 years, someone always outran, outsmarted, and outperformed him. He must have felt like a failure, despaired of never getting healed because he was confronted with his limited abilities compared to his contemporaries. However, it was a Sabbath day, and the Lord of the Sabbath had His eyes on Him.
On that day, God overruled the natural order and the principle of ‘effort equals results.’ It was Sabbath, meant to give man rest from his afflictions. Jesus introduced the supernatural principle of ‘God’s mercy equals results.’ It did not matter that the man had been there for 38 years, his medical report, his condition, or how many attempts of his had failed. What mattered was that it was Sabbath, and the Lord of the Sabbath was there.
Jesus told him, “Rise, take your bed and walk.” He did and was made whole. Beloved, do not be limited by your disadvantages – medical condition, physical incompetence, lack of funds or a benefactor, or any sentence of impossibility. God can step in, ignore what is, and do what needs to be. For this man, human ability and systems failed him, yet, God healed him on the Sabbath.
You may have missed many chances, and your mates seem to be ahead of you. We serve a God who makes the last first and turns ashes into beauty. The world is yet to see the end of your story. It is your sabbath season. Your season to rest from shame, disappointments, regrets, or carrying the burden of guilt. It does not matter who has refused to help you or how bad your situation is; it is your sabbath. Jesus will come, and He will make everything just fine.
PHOTO QUOTE
ADDITIONAL STUDY:
Mark 2:27-28, Matthew 12:9-13, and Ecclesiastes 9:11
PRAYER POINTS
+ Father, let Your mercy lift me out of every position of any disadvantage I find myself.
+ I decree, declare, and express deep gratitude that I am in my season of perpetual Sabbath.
+ I declare that my impossible situations are turning for my good because Jesus has come.
It is my season of perpetual Sabath, thank You Jesus 🙌🏾
Sabbath!
God shows me mercy!