After this, Jesus found him in the temple complex and said to him, “See, you are well. Do not sin anymore, so that something worse doesn’t happen to you.” John 5:14 HCSB
One Christmas season we had taken our four children to the toy store in the mall. As we entered, they all seemed to scatter in different directions. Bethany headed toward the dolls. Nathan had an interest in the scientific games. Jonathan headed for the balls. Debbie pushed Sarah along in a stroller. A few minutes later, I asked Debbie, “Where is Jonathan?” She replied, “I thought he was with you.” I replied, “I thought he was with you.” We searched every aisle, but he was nowhere in the store. We then moved into the mall corridors with Debbie going one direction and I the other, looking in every store and calling out for Jonathan. I was in panic mode, worried that someone had taken him. Halfway down the mall a man asked, “Are you looking for a little boy?” In desperation I replied, “Yes!” The man directed me to the store where he last saw Jonathan. I rushed to the store and found Jonathan sitting on the counter talking to the sales clerk. I was so relieved and thanked God
for his safe return.
Just as I went looking for Jonathan, Jesus went looking for the man he had healed in the temple complex. Jesus had slipped away because He did not want to gain publicity by his miraculous healing of the man. He sought him out because He knew he needed a spiritual healing more than a physical healing. When Jesus told him not to sin anymore, he was not inferring that the man’s illness was a result of his sins. He told the man to stop sinning because if he did not, a greater spiritual problem would occur.
Challenge: Jesus always seeks us out and desires to forgive and heal us spiritually. He wants us to be His hands and feet to reach out and touch the lives of others.