The Lame Man’s Faith

John 5: 7 – 8

Over so long a time of sickness and helplessness, the man had developed a limited view of God’s love and power: that God could (or would) heal only a few who were really able to help themselves; the rest God could (or would) not assist. The lame man also sensed his having been alone, as if human beings as well as divine had forsaken him (v. 7). The man, therefore, had become pessimistic and sought to charge fellow human beings and God himself with his plight. In reply, Jesus did not argue, pity, lecture, or fault him with ignorance and moroseness; instead, he commanded him to get up, pick up his mat and walk—and the man was cured. Notice that Jesus did not even call for faith in him by the lame man. On the lame man’s part, faith was exhibited by the man’s immediately doing what Jesus commanded: getting up, picking up, and walking—and the man kept on walking right on through the city. This healing, therefore, was quite like the previous one of the nobleman’s son in Cana (4:43–54): in both cases the principal person involved simply took Jesus at his word and acted on his command—without question or hesitation.

Bryant, B. H., & Krause, M. S. (1998). John (Jn 5:7–8). Joplin, MO: College Press Pub. Co.