The Law of Love

John 5 starts out with the story of a man who had been lying by a pool of water for decades, waiting for someone to pick him up and place him in the healing waters.  Jesus strolls by and asks the man, “Do you want to get well?” He then instructs the man to pick up his bed and walk.

The “religious” guys standing by didn’t even see the miracle Jesus performed.  Instead, they were upset that the man picked up his mat, which was against the Sabbath laws.  They judged and quizzed the poor man, as to why he had broken the law.

However, this poor man knew that he had been told to pick up the  mat and walk, and he knew he had obeyed and was healed.

Those religious guys seemed to show up often in Jesus’ daily walks and they were always stirring up trouble instead of observing the stirring up of the waters.

Lord Jesus, help us all to see the lame and lead them to the water, instead of observing the mat on which they’re lying and the way in which they’re maneuvering around.  And may we obey the law of love over any traditions of man.