John 5:24-30
Find a place and time free of distractions for the next 7-10 minutes. Sit comfortably and breathe deeply for a few seconds before you begin. If you haven’t read the Introduction to John’s Gospel, read it here.
This is the third of five meditations that cover Jesus’ defense of his miraculous Sabbath healing at the pool of Bethesda. You may notice that there is an overlap from yesterday’s passage today. Read John 5:24-30 noticing in particular what Jesus says about life.
Think back to the story of Nicodemus in John 3. Nicodemus told Jesus that he and other religious leaders believed that Jesus was sent from God to teach them. He also said that he believed that God was with Jesus because of the miracles Jesus did. But you may also remember that Jesus told Nicodemus that simply being convinced was not enough. Nicodemus needed to be born into new life.
Belief in Jesus is more than head knowledge, true belief in Jesus is transformative. Jesus alone has the power to give life to people who are spiritually dead, and when we truly believe we pass from spiritual death into life. We are born anew by his Spirit and we continue to grow as we know him and trust him more and more.
Think back over the last year of your life. How have you grown or changed as the result of your faith in Jesus? Discuss this with Jesus for a moment or two.
Read John 5:24-30 again noticing what Jesus says about the source of his power and authority.
It’s hard to fathom the humility of Jesus. John told us at the beginning of his Gospel that Jesus, the Word, was with God and was God. Yet Jesus came to the earth as a human and laid aside his divine rights. Everything he says and everything he has comes from God the Father.
For those who follow him, everything we have, including our faith in him, is a gift from him.
How do you feel, or what do you think about the idea that everything you have (life, power, well-being, faith, love, material possessions, relationships, breath, etc.) is a gift given to you by Jesus?
If you have already thought about the idea that everything is a gift, how do you remember that during the course of a day?
For the last few minutes of this meditation, get still and notice your breath. Breathe deeply and receive your breath as a gift from Jesus. After breathing and receiving for a minute, begin naming the gifts in your life. Breathe in and name one gift, then breathe out and silently say, “Thank you Jesus.”
Before you end this time, think of some ways you could remind yourself during the day of the gifts Jesus has given. Choose one or two practices that will help you remember and set a reminder to do those today.
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The Everyday Jesus Follower’s Guide ebook can help you learn how to recognize God's voice, how to read and understand the Bible, how to develop deep spiritual friendships, and how to become the person you were meant to be. Use it alone, with a friend or in a small group.
