John 5:12-17: a reflection

12Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?” 13But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place. 14Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. 17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.”

After Jesus heals the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, he finds him again in the temple and speaks a word that goes beyond the healing: Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you. Having received the grace of healing, the man is called to leave sin behind. Jesus does not simply heal him and leave him to live as before; he calls him, having received grace, to a changed life, to sin no more. The grace received was to lead to a leaving of sin.

Notice what Jesus says after the healing: sin no more. The man had received grace, the grace of healing; and Jesus calls him, having received it, to leave sin behind, to live differently, lest something worse befall him. The grace was not meant to leave him unchanged, free to continue in sin; it was to lead to a changed life, a leaving of sin. Having received God's grace, he was called to sin no more. The reception of grace and the leaving of sin belong together; grace received is to change how we live.

That is worth taking to heart, for we too, having received God's grace, are called to leave sin behind. We can receive God's grace, his forgiveness, his mercy, his help, and yet continue in our sin as before, as though grace left us free to sin; but Jesus called the healed man, having received grace, to sin no more. Grace received is meant to lead to a changed life, a leaving of sin. Do not receive God's grace and continue in your sin as before, as though grace left you unchanged; let the grace you have received lead you to leave sin behind, as Jesus told the healed man to sin no more. Having received God's grace, live differently, leaving your sin, rather than continuing in it as before; for grace received is to change how we live, and Jesus, having healed the man, called him to sin no more, lest something worse befall him.

Lord Jesus, after you heal the man who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years, you find him again in the temple and speak a word that goes beyond the healing: behold, you are made well; sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you. Having received the grace of healing, the man is called to leave sin behind. You do not simply heal him and leave him to live as before; you call him, having received grace, to a changed life. Show me what you say after the healing: sin no more. The man had received grace; and you call him, having received it, to leave sin behind, lest something worse befall him. The grace was not meant to leave him unchanged, free to continue in sin; it was to lead to a changed life. The reception of grace and the leaving of sin belong together. Take that to my heart, for I too, having received your grace, am called to leave sin behind. I can receive your grace, your forgiveness, your mercy, your help, and yet continue in my sin as before, as though grace left me free to sin; but you called the healed man to sin no more. Grace received is meant to lead to a changed life. Keep me from receiving your grace and continuing in my sin as before, as though grace left me unchanged; let the grace I have received lead me to leave sin behind, Lord, as you told the healed man to sin no more. Having received your grace, help me live differently, leaving my sin.