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Bible Notes - Tabernacle Commentaries
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John 5:8
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But here is the great initiative of the Lord. It has been made clear that the man has been in this terrible condition for 38 years and that he has no hope of any alteration in his condition. He has no one to help him take advantage of the rare occasions when the water was troubled. In these circumstances the Lord moves in and makes this truly a house of mercy. This is a command – ‘Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.’ It has authority, divine authority. Of course, for us talking about spiritual salvation the command is different. It is, Repent and believe in Christ, and yield your life to him. But unless that command comes with the power of the Holy Spirit, we will never obey. It is the Holy Spirit that mellows us, melts us, opens our understanding, puts within us a great sense of need, so that we see our condition and our lost state, and long for forgiveness and salvation and begin to seek after the Lord and obey him.That command unites lovingkindness with power. They are all in the command. Life surges into the withered limbs of this man in such a poor condition. The pool is not required, the agency of the angel and the troubling of the water, because the Son of God is there and his powerful word brings life at once, and with it comes strength to obey. Strength surged in and he obeyed.
Application
You may just think about this. Supposing I had been that man. In what order would things come? Rise – but I cannot do that sir. I cannot rise. I have not risen under my own power and strength for years and years. I simply cannot do it. With the command came the strength to obey, and he could obey. When the Holy Spirit moves and the word says, Repent and believe, and yield to him, the enabling power to obey comes with it. And the person who would never yield to Christ, never repent of sin, does so and longs for the blessing which follows.
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