Donny Pauling: Thoughts on John 5
Three years ago my life was very much different than it is today. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was just two months short of the end of the career I’d held for the previous nine years: as a producer in the adult entertainment industry. When God miraculously changed my life, I knew I wanted to enroll in Seminary and learn all I could about God and the Bible. And with the help of the folks at XXXChurch I’ve done just that.
When Nicole asked if I’d write my reflections on a chapter in John, little did I know she’d choose one that I’ve run across during my Seminary studies. One of my textbooks is How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth by Gordon Fee and Douglas Stuart (I highly recommend checking it out here: http://tr.im/qIhH ) and this particular chapter of John is one I’ve used for a little exegetical study while reading that book.
One of the things I found most interesting about this chapter comes from a conversation Jesus has with an invalid in verses 6 and 7 (TNIV Version):
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
I’ve read multiple commentaries on this chapter and was surprised to learn that many scholars believe the author of this gospel didn’t go into much detail about the “stirring of the water” by an angel because he regarded it as a local superstition. I don’t know about you, but for some reason that makes scripture just a bit more “real” to me. What I mean is this: even though the Bible is full of supernatural occurrences it’s nice to know that society then is the same as it is now, full of people who often times choose to follow useless superstition rather than pursue real truth.
I wonder if Jesus rolled his eyes just a little before healing this man? I noticed he didn’t bother asking the man if he wanted to be healed, nor did he wait for the man to ask him for healing. He just gave a command, and the invalid recognized the authority within Jesus and immediately obeyed:
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
In that instant, he knew Jesus had the power to give him something he hadn’t had in 38 years – the ability to walk. I can only imagine how excited that man must’ve been to carry his bed down the streets, even on the sabbath, which he knew would result in trouble. There he is walking down the streets carrying his mat when he’s pulled over by the religious police. When he explains himself, they go after Jesus.
Changing to the English Standard Version, verse 18 reads:
18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
When I think about that for a minute it really blows my mind. Here’s a man performing miracles. He’s doing things that should cause wonder. But the aforementioned Jews are so wrapped up in legalism that they miss the wonder of what is happening in front of their very eyes: God has taken the form of a man and is walking amongst them. Instead of marveling, they’re focusing on something petty. That’s kinda like me standing on a government military base, flapping my arms and raising up in the air as the first person in history to fly without some sort of mechanical device, and instead of receiving cheers, applause, wonder and stunned awe I’m arrested for flying in an area where private aviation isn’t allowed. Ridiculous, no?
In the rest of chapter 5, Jesus teaches these legalists the truth about himself, but concedes the futility of his efforts:
46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?
How often do we miss messages from God because we’re too focused on looking for petty reasons why it can’t be Him speaking to us?
Donny is an amazing friend with an inspiring story. Our God is a transformational, restorative God and everything about Donny’s story demonstrates His grace and goodness. – Thanks for writing such a terrific post!
I would love to hear some comments from readers about missing messages, or more importantly not missing messages from God. It would also be pretty nice if you left a few messages of encouragement for Donny.
If you would like learn more about Donny you should check out his blog. There is a great interview with Ted Haggard on his blog that I highly recommend reading. http://www.donnysramblings.com or on his site http://www.donnypauling.com
If you would like to have Donny speak at your church you can find him on the speakers page of the XXXChurch website: http://www.xxxchurch.com
If you want to connect with Donny you can find him at http://www.facebook.com/donnypauling or http://www.twitter.com/donnypauling
When I look back over my life and sometimes shudder at the choices I made, I also see the hand of God at work many, many times. God put so many people in my life to bring me to Him, and so many times I ignored, didn’t listen or just plain old walked away. It’s so easy to see in hindsight. Sometimes I picture God just rolling His eyes and sighing and saying “now I have to work that choice for good.” I know that’s kind of silly, but I know He had a plan for me, and even though He knew the choices I would make, I picture Him as a parent cringing when I made my bad choices and yet knowing where I would get to. I know that living so long in the world (read: college) kept me from hearing His voice many times. The world speaks so much louder and makes His still, small voice difficult to hear. It makes me want to keep my daughter out of the world as long as I can, and provide her with earplugs (read: Scripture) when she has to go out in it.
Thanks so much for your post! I also watched the video Nicole posted last night and it was very inspiring.
In John 5 where you see missed messages, I’m seeing inertia and the fight to keep things the same. This man had been an invalid for 38 years and when Jesus sees him he asks him, “Do you want to get well?” It’s a little implausible that in 38 years he hadn’t found someone to help him to the pool – he didn’t even ask Jesus when he was next to him. How many times do we make excuses? We know what to do to change, but haven’t done it. Later in the chapter it’s the Jews that are verbally confronting Jesus wanting to disprove him as the son of God so that things can stay the same.
I think the questions that are going to run through my head this weekend are: am I missing the message? And do I want to “get well?”
Nice reminder of how legalism makes us obsess over picky details & miss the big picture. Great illustration about flapping your arms and flying; I’d like to watch you try that! :)
Kim,
I can definitely relate to the desire to protect your daughter from the world. I constantly look at my sweet little boy and think of all the things he’s going to have to encounter in this life. If I dwell on it too long I almost start feeling a bit panicked. Fortunately I know that even at his young age (9 years) he knows Jesus, which is really all he needs to get him through any situation he faces. I just have to remain content in that.
Heather,
I appreciate your insights on John 5. :) And thanks for watching that video!
Hey Nicole, Bill Giovannetti is my pastor. He’s written a great book I think you’d enjoy. Check it out here: http://tr.im/qLHZ
I’ve often heard discussion of Jesus’ pertinent question (“Do you want to get well?”). Note the answer, though, and Jesus’ response to it. Yes, the poor paralytic offers his excuse – but Jesus brushes right past it, and right past the superstition about the waters being stirred up. Note the lack of judgment on Jesus’ part. In the same situation, wouldn’t it be easy to say, “Hey, you’ve been lying here since before I was born, couldn’t you inch a little closer to the water in all that time? You mean not a soul has been willing to help you in all those years? You need an accountability partner to kick your tail a little!” No. Jesus just ignores the whole situation and speaks directly to the man’s need. On the other hand, Jesus doesn’t pick him up and carry him around either. He simply commands, and the man obeys in faith. There’s no mention of the paralytic’s past failures, only the promise of a better future. And give the paralytic some credit for recognizing the miraculous and having faith enough to accept it.
I love reading everyones comments. I agree with Heather and Jesse about the paralytic man. We all have things we’d like to change in our lives and we know what we should be doing to change them but we don’t always follow through. Wouldn’t it be great if for every difference we need to make Jesus would walk up in person and just tell us to do it? How often do you think he has and we didn’t know it because our eyes were not open enough to recognize him?
I also agree with Donny about our children If you give your children the knowledge of Jesus and what he has done for us they will be equipped to handle the difficulties that come across their path.