sunday sermon snippet 05 July 2026
and [Jesus] said to him, “Do you want to get well?” (John 5:6)
This week’s posting of the Sunday Sermon Snippet comes from this past Sunday’s sermon on John 5:1-18. The title and aim of the sermon were the same — to help us see “God’s Plan to Make Us Well and Give Us Rest.” After pondering these purposes of God for our lives over the course of our study of this powerful story from the life of Jesus, and his interactions with a man who’d been disabled for 38 years, we reflected on how we might respond to what Jesus has done and said. I’ve included that snippet below…
…and if you’d like to check out the whole sermon, just click here.
How Will You Respond?
It’s interesting: we’re not told how the man responds.
But I wonder: how will we respond to God’s plan and offer for us — to make us well, to give us rest.
Will we face our sin, be honest about it, and repent — turn away from it? Will we admit that we are trusting in things other than Jesus, things that just keep failing us, no matter how many times we’ve tried them? Will we lay those false hopes down at his feet, and rest, finally, in Jesus?
When I was younger, I remember thinking that Paul calling himself the chief of sinners was just too much. Like maybe it was a bit of false humility. Like, “I know I’ve really arrived, but I’ll say this so you can tell me how it’s true that I have.” But I know now, a few decades later, he really meant it. That the closer he grew to Jesus, step by step, in the glory of his radiance, he could see, far more clearly, the things still needing fixing in him.
And so as I imagined myself in the story, sitting over in the corner, listening to Jesus, watching it all play out, what he’s doing, I’m shocked at how often in my life I’m not resting in Jesus. It saddens me to look back on my life, to look back on my week, and to see how so often I’m working so hard…I’m resting in the work, trying to achieve all these things I’m supposed to, that I should be doing, in the work, thinking, if I do, when I finally do, I’ll be at peace. I’ll be able to rest. I can look at it and say, “See it. Complete.” And let out a deep breath.
But do you know what it takes to be a Christian?
It takes the Christ. It takes Jesus. You see, what Jesus has said and will say over and over again is you can’t do this. You have to rest in him. The foundation for your Sabbath rest is his working. Friend, he’s worked for you, is working for you right now, will work for you forever, world without end.
Maybe it would be easy for you to look in the mirror with me, and ask, as a Christian, “Why are you so weary? Have you noticed that even though you’re supposed to be rested in him deep in your soul, you’re very soul-weary? So what is the other thing you’re resting in? Your career? A friend? A spouse? Your money? Your possessions? Your supposed obedience?” (I get these questions from Tim Keller)
And do you know what he says to you, dear friend? Listen to what he says to you, my brothers, and sisters. You heard it at the beginning of this service, Matthew 11:28-30, but let me give it to you in slightly different words:
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”
(The Message)
Are you ready to do that?
I hope you are.
There is absolutely no reason for us to leave here weary. There just isn’t. That would be our fault.
Listen, you being here is no accident.
Jesus, by the Holy Spirit, is here now, and he’s come looking for you.
Jesus wants to make you well.
Jesus wants to give you rest.
Might you say it out loud with me again?
“Jesus wants to make me well, and give me rest.”
Now, are you willing to admit your helplessness,
and that the things you’ve been trying haven’t been working?
If so, pick up your mat, and go with Jesus.
Because he’s our only hope.
If you’d like to check out the whole sermon, just click here.
