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1 After these things, Jesus went away to the other side of the sea of Galilee, which is also called the Sea of Tiberias. 2 A great multitude followed him, because they saw his signs which he did on those who were sick. 3 Jesus went up into the mountain, and he sat there with his disciples. 4 Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand. 5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” 6 He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he would do.
(John 6:1-6 WEB)

After His interaction with the Jews Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee. A huge crowd followed Him, because they saw the signs He did when healing the sick. Jesus went up the mountain and sat with his apostles. It was the time of the Jewish feast of Passover. When Jesus saw the crowd coming to Him he asked Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” Jesus did this to test Philip because He knew what He would do.

In His day Jesus did miracles and healed the sick causing crowds to come and follow Him. Jesus is still healing today and when healings regularly occur in a congregation it tends to gain favor with the people both near and far and they come to be healed. It is very important that those involved in the healing ministry give all of the honor to Jesus that the healings will continue. If they do not give Jesus the credit may times the healings dry up and those who are looking for signs and wonders go elsewhere.

Heavenly Father, As healings become common in our healing ministry may we remember to give the glory for them to Jesus as it is He who is doing the healing. Prayer ministers are merely the channel He uses to bring about the result of the prayers. Fill use full of the power of the Holy Spirit that our ministry may be beneficial to many. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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41 I don’t receive glory from men. 42 But I know you, that you don’t have God’s love in yourselves. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you don’t receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, who receive glory from one another, and you don’t seek the glory that comes from the only God?
45 “Don’t think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, even Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote about me. 47 But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”
(John 5:41-47 WEB)

Jesus is stating that He does not receive glory from men. He says that He knows that the Jews do not have God’s love in themselves. He points out that he came in His Father’s name and they do not receive Him, but if another comes in his own name he will be received. How can you believe? You receive glory from each other, but you do not seek the glory that comes only from God. I will not accuse you to God the Father. There is another who accuses you and Moses, on whom you set your hope. Moses wrote about Me, if you believed him you would believe Me; for Moses wrote about Me. ” But if you don’t believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

In our time the scriptures we have contain all we need to know about God, Jesus His Son and the Holy Spirit. We attempt to proclaim the story told in the scripture to all we can but often the people we are interacting with do not believe the scriptures; so how can we expect them to believe our words? It is a similar problem to the one the Jesus faced in His time. We need the help of the Holy Spirit to overcome the disbelief and bring about belief in the Good News written in the scripture.

Heavenly Father, As we attempt to proclaim the Good News to others during our days we find much opposition to it because it conflicts with the teaching of our current culture. Send the Holy Spirit to help us overcome that opposition that others may come to belief in your Son Jesus and obtain eternal life as we have. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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36 But the testimony which I have is greater than that of John, for the works which the Father gave me to accomplish, the very works that I do, testify about me, that the Father has sent me. 37 The Father himself, who sent me, has testified about me. You have neither heard his voice at any time, nor seen his form. 38 You don’t have his word living in you, because you don’t believe him whom he sent.
39 “You search the Scriptures, because you think that in them you have eternal life; and these are they which testify about me. 40 Yet you will not come to me, that you may have life.
(John 5:36-40 WEB)

Jesus is saying that His testimony is greater than John the Baptist’s because the works that the Father gave Him to do testify that the Father sent Him. He says that the Father who went Him testified about Him. Jesus then states that the Jews have not heard the Father’s voice, or seen His form. Because you do not believe in the one He sent you do not have the word living in you.                                                                                                                                                           You search the Scriptures because you believe that in them there is eternal life, and these testify about Jesus. Yet you will not come to Jesus that you may have life.

Today a similar problem exists. We have the Scriptures which testify about God and that he sent His Son Jesus into the world to provide forgiveness of our sins and a way to have a relationship with the Father. But, many of the people in our culture do not understand or are unwilling to come to a saving faith in Jesus because they prefer the transitory pleasures found in the here and now and do not understand that there is either life after death for those who believe or judgement and death for those who do not.

Heavenly Father, Help us to reach those You are drawing to Your Son Jesus with the testimony that He provided a means for our sin to be forgiven and to have a relationship with You Father. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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31 “If I testify about myself, my witness is not valid. 32 It is another who testifies about me. I know that the testimony which he testifies about me is true. 33 You have sent to John, and he has testified to the truth. 34 But the testimony which I receive is not from man. However, I say these things that you may be saved. 35 He was the burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.
(John 5:31-35 WEB)

Jesus is pointing out that if He testifies about himself it would not be valid. He states that there is another who testifies about Him, and that He knows that what the other says about Him is true. He states that the Jews sent to John the Baptist who testifies to the truth. Jesus then says that the testimony about Him is not from man, and he says this that the Jews might be saved. John was a shining lamp, and the Jews were will to rejoice for a while in his light.

Today we have as much difficulty being believed as Jesus did in His day. So many people look to the darkness of the culture as their guide and not to the Bible which has truth and light in it. As we testify people will question or defy the word we speak as nothing more than fables like those of the Roman or Greek gods. They will not recognize that the God of the universe and the means to be reconciled to Him are being presented by the words we speak that we take from our study of the Bible.

Heavenly Father, It seems that in our present age the culture is becoming darker and less inclined to seek righteousness as presented in the Bible which is Your inspired word. May we present a clear message that teaches people how to be reconciled to You and brings them to a saving faith in Your Son Jesus. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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26 For as the Father has life in himself, even so he gave to the Son also to have life in himself. 27 He also gave him authority to execute judgment, because he is a son of man. 28 Don’t marvel at this, for the hour comes in which all who are in the tombs will hear his voice, 29 and will come out; those who have done good, to the resurrection of life; and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment. 30 I can of myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is righteous; because I don’t seek my own will, but the will of my Father who sent me.
(John 5:26-30 WEB)

Jesus states that He has life in himself because it is given to Him by the Father who has life in himself. He then says that the Father gave Him the authority to execute judgement because he is the son of man. He says do not marvel for the day is coming when those who are in the tomb will come out; the good to the resurrection of life and the wicked to the resurrection of judgement. Jesus then states that of himself he cannot do anything. He says that He judges as He hears and it is righteous because He does not seek His own will but that of the Father who sent Him.

In our day there are those who do not give credence to the Christians who adhere to Biblical righteousness. Many seek to do their own thing regardless of whether the Bible prohibits it or not. They vilify people who tell them that they are being wicked. This is resulting in a world that more and more is becoming chaotic, and violent. As Christians though it may bring hateful speech to us we are to stand for Biblical righteousness and stand against the wickedness that is prevalent in out society.

Heavenly Father, As followers of Your Son Jesus we are to stand for biblical righteousness even when it cost us our reputations and we are vilified for standing for Your truth. May we stand strong giving witness to what you require that others will see our commitment and pause to consider if the way we propose is the actual way that humans are to live and interact with each other. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him.
24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life. 25 Most certainly I tell you, the hour comes, and now is, when the dead will hear the Son of God’s voice; and those who hear will live.
(John 5:21-25 WEB)

Jesus is stating that as the Father raises the dead giving them life, the Son gives life to whom He desires. He says that the Father judges no one but has given judgement of the Son that all may honor Him as they honor the Father. He then states that those who do not honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.                                               Jesus then states that those who hear his word and believe the Father who sent Him have eternal life, and are not judged but have eternal life. Jesus states that the hour has come when the dead will hear His voice and those who hear will live.

There are many today that do not believe that the Father sent Jesus into the world as its Savior. They go about their lives doing what they please not understanding that their ways only lead to death not life. Very few come to belief in Jesus and are saved unto eternal life. It is the responsibility of all believers to tell others about Jesus and to help them come to belief in Him.

Heavenly Father, May those of us who are believers fulfill the responsibility that you have given us to tell others that Jesus came into the world to provide a way for all sinners to be reconciled to You. Strengthen our resolve to carry out the mission to tell the Good News to all the world that those You are drawing will come to saving faith in Your Son Jesus. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel.
(John 5:16-20 WEB)

Because Jesus healed on the Sabbath which is a breach of their law the Jews sought to kill Him. Jesus told them that He was working as was His Father. This caused the Jews to seek to kill Him even more because He called God His Father making himself equal to God. Jesus then told the Jews that the Son cannot do anything of himself, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son does as well. The Father has affection for the Son, and shows Him all that He does. He will provide greater works than these that you may marvel.

In our time miraculous healing is thought to be over. We look to medical science and pharmaceuticals to provide healing not to the Father. It is thought that science is all that is needed for healing to take place. But, it is far more difficult for healing to occur if God is left out of the process. He can provide physicians with a clearer understanding of the processes that are needed to provide healing for any and all diseases. He can if He chooses act to bring about a miraculous healing when that will raise the faith of  His people. God is our ultimate healer whether it is through medical science or a miracle.

Heavenly Father, You sent Your Son Jesus to demonstrate Your love for us by providing us with healings and other signs while He was here. May we show the world in our time that is still Your will to provide Healing for us. May we proclaim that the kingdom of God is at hand and the proclamation by confirmed by signs and wonders from You. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”
12 Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?”
13 But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.
14 Afterward 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.”
15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
(John 5:10-15 WEB)

The Jews told the man who was cured that it is not lawful to carry the mat on the Sabbath. The man answered the man said take up your mat and walk after he cured me. The Jews then asked him who the man was. Since Jesus had left the man did not know who it was. Later Jesus met the man in the temple and said you are well, sin no more so that nothing worse comes upon you. The man left and told the Jews Jesus healed him.

Healings happen every day in our time. Most of them are attributed to medical science and not to God’s intervention. Occasionally though when physicians have not clue how a healing occurred they will attribute it to miraculous intervention. In the church though healing is attributed to God through either direct intervention through prayer or through God’s enlightening physicians to do something that results in healing. It is always a good thing to ask for prayer for healing.

Heavenly Father, Though most of the time we tend to forget that You are always involved in healing people we understand that when someone is healed You are involved in the healing either through direct intervention or through the enlightening of the medical professional involved in providing treatment. May we always come to You to affect our healing using the means You deem to be appropriate. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?”
7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.”
9 Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked.
Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.”
(John 5:6-10 WEB)

When Jesus saw the man He knew that had been sick for a long time. Jesus asked Him if he wished to be made well. The man answered that he had no one to put him in the pool when the water was stirred up, but another would get into the water before him. Jesus told him to get up, take up his mat and walk. The man was immediately made well, and he took up his mat and walked.                                                                                                                                                 That day was the Sabbath. The Jews said to the man that was cured it is not lawful for you to carry the mat.

There are churches in our day which put unnecessary regulations on the people who attend thinking that this will help them attain righteousness. But, what usually happens is the people become so bound to the regulations that they lose site of the freedom that following Jesus provides. He did not set out many regulations and only gave two commands. they are to love God and to love your neighbor as yourself. If you do those two things you will need no other regulations to be righteous before the Lord.

Heavenly Father, Your Son Jesus came to this earth to heal those who were ill in body, mind or spirit, and to free us from being bound to a set of rules. May we follow His commands to love God with all that we are, and to love our neighbors as ourselves that in so doing we may stand righteous before Him. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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1 After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel went down at certain times into the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.* 5 A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.
(John 5:1-5 WEB)

Jesus left Samaria and went to Jerusalem to attend a feast. The pool by the sheep gate in Jerusalem which is called Bethesda had five porches. On these porches lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed. These were waiting for an angel to come a stir the water. The person who stepped in pool first after it was stirred was healed of the disease he had. A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years.

In our time the pool at Lourdes is said to have healing properties. Many who have various diseases have gone to Lourdes hoping to be healed, and there are documented cases of healing occurring at Lourdes. It is not really necessary to go to Lourdes for healings as any Christian believer has the ability to pray for healing of diseases, but there are some who think that making the trip to Lourdes will provide an extra measure of healing.

Heavenly Father, Jesus when He gave us the Holy Spirit empowered us to spread the Good News and to provide healing to those who had a disease. May all churches become known as places of healing that people will come expecting to be healed. May their healing lead them to Jesus as their healer and savior. I ask this in Jesus name, amen.

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