ARISE

Today’s Reading: John 5

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion on the right-hand side).

In the Old City of Jerusalem are the ruins of the Pool of Bethesda. This is where Jesus healed the paralytic man who had been waiting for his healing for 38 years (John 5:1-15). Here you can also see ruins of a Roman temple to the god of medicine and the remains of a Byzantine church built over the temple.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where Reynold took the photo, click HERE.

Key Verse: John 5:24

Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.

In yesterday’s reading we moved from “PERISHING” to “EVERLASTING LIFE.” Today, Jesus teaches that by believing we move from “DEATH INTO LIFE.” Seven times in John 3, 4, & 5 Jesus repeats His eternal or everlasting life promise. He really wants us to know the facts about our future as believers in Him. Since the sin of our first parents, we, as a human family, have moved in the opposite direction. We’ve gone from life to death. But in Jesus, that direction of destruction has been reversed, both in this life and in the hereafter. The example of the man with the 38-year-long infirmity shows us the “DEATH INTO LIFE” principle at work in our physical bodies in the here and now. The religious leaders of Jesus’ day failed to understand that Jesus came to turn what was the normal process around 180 degrees. By believing in Jesus, the new normal is “LIFE.”

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

Lord Jesus, I believe in You. I give You my entire life for both time and eternity. I believe You for the healing of my body, my soul and my spirit, a complete turn around from death to life. Please continue to give me the gift of faith to believe, 24/7, that this is a fact and that nothing will ever change this fact. This assurance fills me with joy. Thank You, Jesus! Amen!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

When I served as a Pastor I was requested to lay hands on a newborn baby and pray for his healing. Marina Cooper’s little one was born with a hole in his heart. The very next day, I received a call that the hole had closed and her baby’s heart was perfect. I believe that Jesus did this!!!  He promised that these signs would follow them that believe. He said, “…they shall lay hands on the sick and they shall recover” (Mark 16:18b). Every believer qualifies to do this. Just do what the Scripture says and leave the rest up to God. For some reason I have begun to sing words from one of the children’s songs from the GodRocks ministry, “Not a doubt! Check it out! Better believe it!” My eldest daughter, Elaine, and her husband, Bruce Stacey, have given me t-shirts with those words on them, plus an additional t-shirt with another line from the same song, “Not ashamed to shout it!” Here is one of their scripture songs online.

Yours for believing,

David