May 8, Morning

C. H. Spurgeon · Modern retelling

"He that was healed wist not who it was." — John 5:13 · KJV

Years are short to the happy and healthy, but thirty-eight years of illness must have dragged out a very weary length in the life of that poor disabled man. So when Jesus healed him with a word, as he lay by the pool of Bethesda, he was delightfully aware of the change. In the same way, the sinner who has been paralyzed with despair for weeks and months and has sighed wearily for salvation is fully conscious of the change when the Lord Jesus speaks the word of power and gives joy and peace in believing. The evil removed is too great to be taken away without our noticing it; the life given is too remarkable to be possessed and lie idle; the change worked is too marvelous not to be perceived. Yet this man did not know the author of his cure; he did not know how sacred His person was, what offices He held, or what errand had brought Him among men. Much ignorance of Jesus may remain in hearts that already feel the power of His blood. We must not be quick to condemn people for lack of knowledge; where we can see the faith that saves the soul, we must believe salvation has been given. The Holy Spirit makes men penitents long before He makes them theologians, and whoever believes what he knows will soon know more clearly what he believes. Ignorance is still an evil, though, for this poor man was badly harassed by the Pharisees and was quite unable to hold his own against them. It is good to be able to answer those who contradict us, but we cannot do it if we do not know the Lord Jesus clearly and with understanding. The cure of his ignorance soon followed the cure of his infirmity, for the Lord visited him in the temple; and after that gracious meeting he was found testifying that it was Jesus who had made him whole. Lord, if You have saved me, show me Yourself, so that I may declare You to others.