{"id":1462,"date":"2015-05-20T21:21:07","date_gmt":"2015-05-20T21:21:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/?p=1462"},"modified":"2015-05-20T21:21:07","modified_gmt":"2015-05-20T21:21:07","slug":"defining-discipleship-discipleship-in-john-5","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2015\/05\/20\/defining-discipleship-discipleship-in-john-5\/","title":{"rendered":"Defining Discipleship- Discipleship in John 5"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"discipleship<\/a><\/p>\n

Today we continue<\/a> with our look at the theme of discipleship in the Gospel of John. Some time later, after Jesus performed his second sign in Cana of Galilee, he and his disciples went to Jerusalem to attend one of the Jewish festivals (John 5:1). While in Jerusalem, Jesus went to a pool near the Sheep Gate, \u201cwhich in Aramaic is called Bethesda\u201d (5:2). Five colonnades covered the pool. Gathered at the spot were several people who were disabled, \u201cthe blind, the lame, and the paralyzed\u201d (5:3).<\/p>\n

There appears to have been a tradition that believed an angel of the Lord was responsible for stirring the waters, and that somehow this action resulted in the healing of whoever was first to lower themselves into the water. The NIV, as well as many modern translations, exclude verse 4 based on insufficient textual evidence. Verse 4 was likely at one time a \u201cmarginal gloss,\u201d a marginal note intended to explain the reason for so many infirmed persons gathered around the pool waiting for it to be stirred (Ridderbos, The Gospel according to John<\/em>, 185). Eventually, some later manuscripts included this content that resulted in verse 4. In all likelihood, the bubbling of the water was caused by an intermittent spring that feed into the pool. Some ancient manuscripts even note the redness of the water, which was believed to have had medicinal qualities (Carson, The Gospel according to John<\/em>, 242). Regardless of the precise reason for the perceived healing quality of the pool, a tradition was established that led to several persons gathered around it in hopes of being healed.<\/p>\n

Jesus singles out one individual, a man who had been lame for thirty-eight years (5:5). This man had been in this state for most of his life. Most persons only lived to around forty years of age. He like so many that had gathered at Bethesda was hopeless. After finding out a bit about the man, Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well (5:6). The hopeless state of the man is revealed in his response. He does not say, yes, but tells Jesus\u2019 of his helplessness to lower himself into the water. He does not recognize what Jesus can do for him. In turn, Jesus replies, \u201cGet up! Pick up your mat and walk\u201d (5:8). Immediately, the man becomes strengthened in his legs, takes up his mat, and begins to walk (5:9).<\/p>\n

John includes almost as an aside that this event took place on the Sabbath. Because of this, the Jewish leaders, seeing the man who Jesus healed, questioned why he was carrying a mat, and therefore, according to their tradition breaking the Sabbath (5:10). The man replies that \u201cthe man who made me well\u201d told me to do it (5:11). The Jewish leaders ask for the name of this person, but the man had no idea (5:12-13). He had not even taken the time to learn Jesus\u2019 name, the very person who ended his thirty-eight years of misery.<\/p>\n

Later Jesus found the man in the temple precincts. There he confronted the man, \u201cSee, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you\u201d (5:14). The man was clearly not at the temple to worship. What sin Jesus has in mind is not stated. Jesus\u2019 words seem to indicate that the man was living in a state of unrepentant sin. After Jesus corrected him, he returned to the Jewish leaders to inform then that it was Jesus who had made him well (5:15).<\/p>\n

Does this man, conceivably a former paralytic, whom Jesus healed, display any of the qualities contained in the paradigm of discipleship? In a word, No. The man shows no indication of becoming a disciple of Jesus. In fact, when Jesus finds him, his words are not an encouragement to follow him, but are meant as a warning. The man should fear something far worse than being unable to walk; he should fear eternal punishment. After this warning the man does not have a change of heart. Instead, he seeks out the Jewish leaders to rat out Jesus. This narrative shows all too well that the performance of a miracle does not necessarily lead to faith in Christ. Even this one who was healed in this instance, shows no indication of moving toward saving faith. Just the opposite appears to be the case. This should serve to temper some who think that divine displays of power automatically lead people to believe in Jesus. Nothing could be further from the truth.<\/p>\n

What do you make of the lame man? Does he show any indication of drawing to faith in Christ? If miracles do not necessarily lead people to come to faith in Christ, then what or who is necessary for people to experience saving faith?<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"Keith<\/a><\/p>\n

Keith Marriner joined LifeSprings in 2009 and serves as executive editor of all IPHC Sunday school curriculum. Prior to that he served at Emmanuel College in a variety of roles, and continues to serve as an adjunct professor in the School of Christian Ministries. He received a B.A. in Christian ministries from Emmanuel College and an M.Div., a Th.M., and an Ed.D. in Christian Education from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Keith resides in Franklin Springs, GA with his wife Jennifer and their two daughters, Cora and Eleanor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"excerpt","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","slim_seo":{"title":"Defining Discipleship- Discipleship in John 5 - IPHC Discipleship Ministries","description":"Today we continue with our look at the theme of discipleship in the Gospel of John. 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Following Jesus\u2019 stay in Sychar he left for Galilee, where he was welcomed, because many had been witness to the signs he performed in Jerusalem during the Passover (John 4:43-45; cf. 2:13, 23-25). 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Click here to read the full series. In a previous post on discipleship we looked at how one might define it. In this post I want to look at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. 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Here we come to the anonymous character of the man born blind in John 9. The chapter begins with a question. Jesus\u2019 disciples see a man who has been blind from birth (John 9:1).\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/05\/john-9-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/05\/john-9-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/05\/john-9-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/05\/john-9-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":1097,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2015\/01\/20\/reworking-the-paradigm-of-discipleship-a-series-by-keith-marriner\/","url_meta":{"origin":1462,"position":3},"title":"Reworking the Paradigm of Discipleship- A series by Keith Marriner","author":"Kaleigh","date":"January 20, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Today I want to take a step back from our study of discipleship in John\u2019s Gospel to reassess the \u201cparadigm of discipleship\u201d that was developed from John 1:35-51. Are there any additional features that should be added to the \u201cparadigm of discipleship\u201d in light of what we find in\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2015\/01\/paradigm-copy.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":980,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2014\/11\/26\/defining-discipleship-discipleship-in-john-4\/","url_meta":{"origin":1462,"position":4},"title":"Defining Discipleship: Discipleship in John 4","author":"Kaleigh","date":"November 26, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"\u00a0 Today I want to continue our discussion of what a disciple of Jesus looks like with particular attention given to John\u2019s portrayal of it. Last time we discussed John 3 and what Jesus\u2019 interaction with Nicodemus contributes to our understanding of discipleship. Now I want us to focus on\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discipleship Ministries"","block_context":{"text":"Discipleship Ministries","link":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/category\/discipleship-ministries\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"discipleship in john 4 copy","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/11\/discipleship-in-john-4-copy-727x380.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/11\/discipleship-in-john-4-copy-727x380.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/11\/discipleship-in-john-4-copy-727x380.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2014\/11\/discipleship-in-john-4-copy-727x380.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":753,"url":"https:\/\/iphc.org\/discipleship\/2014\/10\/13\/discipleship-in-john-3-small-group-discussions-on-what-discipleship-truly-means\/","url_meta":{"origin":1462,"position":5},"title":"Discipleship in John 3: small group discussions on what discipleship truly means","author":"Kaleigh","date":"October 13, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"This is part 3 in a series on Discipleship. 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