Gospel of John Student DevotionalSample

In my junior year of high school, I injured my ankles during a track workout, which put me out for two months. I remember being so frustrated and only able to focus on the fact that I was hurt. I would pray to God and ask Him to heal my ankles so I could run or even just walk without pain. Now, don’t get me wrong—it is perfectly okay to pray for that. In fact, God wants us to pray about anything we need His help with. But when an injury or circumstance becomes the sole focus of our prayers, we are prioritizing the wrong thing.

In John 5, Jesus asks a paralyzed man if he wants to be healed. The man, of course, says yes, so Jesus heals him and tells him to get up and walk. Later, in verse 14, it says:

"Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, ‘See, you are well again. Stop sinning, or something worse may happen to you.’”

Jesus answered the man’s request for healing but made sure he understood what was more important. Jesus told him to stop sinning, or something worse could happen to him. While it is good to pray for healing in our circumstances or our physical bodies, it is even more important to focus on the healing of our souls.

After verse 15, John transitions into discussing the authority of Jesus. The Jewish leaders tried to persecute Jesus because He was doing work on the Sabbath. At that time, it was illegal to work on the Sabbath, also known as the day of rest. Then, in verses 17-18, it says:

"In his defense Jesus said to them, ‘My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.’ For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.”

I feel like it can be very easy for us to question God’s authority or power. When we feel deep shame over something, we might think, There’s no way Jesus can forgive that or How can I be saved now? In the same way that the Jewish leaders doubted Jesus’ authority when He called Himself the Son of God, we doubt His authority when we believe that He can’t save us.

In verses 21-22, Jesus says:

"For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son."

Here, Jesus is telling the Jewish leaders about His authority. He declares that He has the power to give life and that all judgment has been entrusted to Him. I’ve had many moments in my life when I’ve thought that something I did crossed the line and that there was no saving me. But I don’t get to make that choice—only Jesus has the authority to decide to forgive me.

Prayer:
Father God, we thank You for giving Your Son, Jesus, authority over everything—both in our physical circumstances and in our souls. Jesus, please help us remember to turn to You in times of need. When we are hurting, help us come to You, and remind us that You not only can help with our physical health but that You also desire to heal our spiritual health. Amen