Choices (John 5:1-17)

Today's scripture: John 5:1-17

It never ceases to amaze me how the religious leaders responded to Jesus' miracles. Instead of being in awe when He cast out demons, they accused Him of working for the ruler of demons (Matthew 9:34; 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15). Instead of being filled with wonder when a dead man lived again, they conspired to not only kill Jesus, but Lazarus also (John 11:53; 12:10).

And in today's verses, instead of rejoicing when a man was able to walk for the first time, they persecuted Jesus "because He was doing these things on the Sabbath."

Why did they ignore or fight the evidence that was right before their eyes? Because Jesus wasn't the conquering Messiah they thought He should be. Because He didn't fit their mold. Because He dared to call them out when they behaved contrary to how they should.

We shouldn't be surprised. We too want Jesus to fit into our lives rather than our fitting into His. We want to live how we choose, yet still receive healing or provision or protection. We want Him to be a Messiah of our own making.

God is God, manifested in three Persons—Father, Son, and Spirit. He is all-powerful, all-knowing, holy, and just. He loves unconditionally. He is always with us. He is unchanging. And His thoughts and ways are higher than our own.

He cannot be put in a man-created box. He cannot be molded to fit our idea of who God should be. He is who He is. We can either accept Him, or we can reject Him. We can either be His disciples, or we can be as the Pharisees were and turn from Him because He's not acting as we believe He should be.

It's our choice. We can see the evidence of who He really is and follow Him. Or we can ignore the evidence and follow our own path.

It's our choice.