In John 5, a healing miracle of Jesus is followed by extensive teaching about His identity and purpose. While in Jerusalem, Jesus walks by a pool where a multitude of invalids lay suffering. Jesus chooses one man, asks him if he’d like to be well, then says, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk” (v 1-8). “And at once the man was healed.” Imagine his joy as he carries his mat away, using muscles he hasn’t used in 38 years! But instead of rejoicing with him, religious authorities want to know why he is breaking the rules. Of course, the Word of God doesn’t say it is unlawful for a person healed of paralysis to carry his bed on the Sabbath. But Jewish rabbis had distorted the purpose of God’s law by developing their own lists of forbidden Sabbath activities (v 9-10). Jesus had quickly withdrawn to avoid excessive attention, so the man doesn’t even know who healed him. But this was no random, anonymous miracle to restore someone’s body with no concern for his soul. Afterward Jesus finds him and surprisingly says, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” We shouldn’t conclude that his disability was a result of personal sin, but his healing was a call to repentance and holiness (v 11-15). The something “worse” Jesus wants him to be concerned about is clarified in the conversation that ensues. When confronted by Jewish opponents, Jesus says He was simply doing the work of His Father. They rightly infer that Jesus is claiming equality with God. But He quickly clarifies: the Son is one with the Father; He is not a second God, acting as a rival or challenger. Jesus does “only what” the Father does. If the Father raises the dead, so does the Son! (v 16-21). In fact, the Father has delegated all judgment to the Son, because a person’s response to Jesus determines how he or she fares on the final day. Western culture tells people it doesn’t matter what they believe, that all religions worship the same God. But Jesus takes issue with such a pluralistic mindset, saying that no one truly honors the Father without honoring the Son. Eternal life is a given only to those who believe the words of Jesus (v 22-24). Faith in Christ is proven by good works, which become the basis for God’s final verdict. At some future hour, every person who has ever died is going to be raised again. All will hear the voice of Jesus and they will stand before Him. He gave them life in the first place, and He has authority to decide whether their resurrection will be to “life” or to “judgment” (v 25-29). The eternal destiny of those who are lost will make all earthly suffering seem trivial by comparison. This is the something “worse” Jesus spoke of to the former paralytic. For further meditation: