Does God Need Our Faith?
Does God need our faith to exist, to be powerful, to heal, or to do anything? This is a question to ask when encountering the man who was lame for 38 years (John 5:1-18). Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man did not say “yes” or “no”. All the man said was that no one, in the last 38 years, could get him to healing waters when they were stirred (John 5:5, 7). Yet, Jesus healed him (John 5:8-9).
After Jesus healed the man, did the man know who healed him? No. All he could say to the Jewish leaders was, “The man who healed me . . . said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk’” (John 5:11). Is that a true showing of faith in Jesus, the Son of God? How can it be? He didn’t know who healed him (John 5:13).
The challenge from this passage is the fact that this previously lame man turned Jesus over to the Jewish authorities who were upset because Jesus healed on a Sabbath (John 5:10, 16). Note the difference between this man and Jesus’ healing of the man born blind (John 9; cf. John 9:38). Jesus told the man who was lame, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14).
Was this man grateful for his healing? I am sure he was. Did he understand Jesus to be God? Probably not. Even the blind man, who was healed, didn’t know at first (John 9:17, 27, 32, 35-38). Was he offered a “hand out” of money, like Judas Iscariot, to find out who healed him (cf. Matthew 26:14-16)? Don’t know. Did he have fear of being kicked out of the synagogue if he didn’t report his healer (cf. John 9:22)? Not sure. Yet, something led him to report on Jesus (John 5:15). Which leads us back to the original thought. Does Jesus need our faith to do anything?
Today, how do we know if a person is putting their faith in Jesus or just a recipient of God’s kindness (Matthew 5:45)? We know by Scripture. Scripture teaches us how to put our faith in Jesus (John 17:20-21; Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). It teaches us how to be obedient and when were saved (Acts 2:36ff; 1 John 1:5-10). So, just because someone is a recipient of God’s grace; like, healing and abundance, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he/she puts their faith in Jesus (John 6:25-70; cf. John 6:66, 70). Remember, God doesn’t want us to put our faith in the “miracles” but in the One for whom the miracles are referring too – Jesus (Mark 16:20; John 2:11; 4:48; 6:26; 12:37; 20:30).
This study may be confrontational for many. However, the reality is, there are those who receive God’s blessings that don’t honor or respect His gift (cf. Genesis 9:8-17). How many people, on their death bed, seek God’s healing mercies and survive their illness; yet, turn from Christ after they were healed? Notice the men who died on the cross with Jesus. They knew who He was for how would one of them say that Jesus had done nothing wrong – one repented and the other didn’t (Luke 23:36-43). Who’s to say they both weren’t already disciples of Jesus who were backsliders (John 3:22-26). It does happen (Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22). The reality is that true healing comes from “knowing” Jesus through the Word of God (John 17:20-21). So seek understanding by His Word and have an obedient faith in God through Jesus Christ.
So, the question remains, Does God need our faith to do anything? No. But He wants our obedient faith so we can be eternally saved (Luke 7:37-50; Romans 5:1-2).
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
Does God need our faith to exist, to be powerful, to heal, or to do anything? This is a question to ask when encountering the man who was lame for 38 years (John 5:1-18). Jesus asked him if he wanted to be healed. The man did not say “yes” or “no”. All the man said was that no one, in the last 38 years, could get him to healing waters when they were stirred (John 5:5, 7). Yet, Jesus healed him (John 5:8-9).
After Jesus healed the man, did the man know who healed him? No. All he could say to the Jewish leaders was, “The man who healed me . . . said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk’” (John 5:11). Is that a true showing of faith in Jesus, the Son of God? How can it be? He didn’t know who healed him (John 5:13).
The challenge from this passage is the fact that this previously lame man turned Jesus over to the Jewish authorities who were upset because Jesus healed on a Sabbath (John 5:10, 16). Note the difference between this man and Jesus’ healing of the man born blind (John 9; cf. John 9:38). Jesus told the man who was lame, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14).
Was this man grateful for his healing? I am sure he was. Did he understand Jesus to be God? Probably not. Even the blind man, who was healed, didn’t know at first (John 9:17, 27, 32, 35-38). Was he offered a “hand out” of money, like Judas Iscariot, to find out who healed him (cf. Matthew 26:14-16)? Don’t know. Did he have fear of being kicked out of the synagogue if he didn’t report his healer (cf. John 9:22)? Not sure. Yet, something led him to report on Jesus (John 5:15). Which leads us back to the original thought. Does Jesus need our faith to do anything?
Today, how do we know if a person is putting their faith in Jesus or just a recipient of God’s kindness (Matthew 5:45)? We know by Scripture. Scripture teaches us how to put our faith in Jesus (John 17:20-21; Acts 6:7; Romans 1:5). It teaches us how to be obedient and when were saved (Acts 2:36ff; 1 John 1:5-10). So, just because someone is a recipient of God’s grace; like, healing and abundance, doesn’t necessarily guarantee that he/she puts their faith in Jesus (John 6:25-70; cf. John 6:66, 70). Remember, God doesn’t want us to put our faith in the “miracles” but in the One for whom the miracles are referring too – Jesus (Mark 16:20; John 2:11; 4:48; 6:26; 12:37; 20:30).
This study may be confrontational for many. However, the reality is, there are those who receive God’s blessings that don’t honor or respect His gift (cf. Genesis 9:8-17). How many people, on their death bed, seek God’s healing mercies and survive their illness; yet, turn from Christ after they were healed? Notice the men who died on the cross with Jesus. They knew who He was for how would one of them say that Jesus had done nothing wrong – one repented and the other didn’t (Luke 23:36-43). Who’s to say they both weren’t already disciples of Jesus who were backsliders (John 3:22-26). It does happen (Hebrews 6:4-6; 2 Peter 2:20-22). The reality is that true healing comes from “knowing” Jesus through the Word of God (John 17:20-21). So seek understanding by His Word and have an obedient faith in God through Jesus Christ.
So, the question remains, Does God need our faith to do anything? No. But He wants our obedient faith so we can be eternally saved (Luke 7:37-50; Romans 5:1-2).
The Lord’s humbled . . . John A. Reeves
www.thelordshumbled.com
Published in the blog, "The Lord's Humbled" on June 18, 2014
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