Lent Day 12 [3.3.2026] The Assurance of the New Covenant

Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." - John 5:8

Scripture: John 5:1-15

The pool of Bethesda served as a camping ground for the disabled and diseased. A later addition to our scripture clarifies why such people came to visit this pool: “From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.” So when the waters stirred there would be a race to be the first one in the pool.

Jesus encounters a man who had been disabled for 38 years. This man could not walk and despite laying by the pool had no hope of healing because others would leap ahead of him when the waters began to stir. Jesus asks the man, “Do you want to get well?” The man so clearly desires to be healed or would not have come to the waters in the first place, so why does Jesus ask Him this? The question has such an obvious answer that the man answers by explaining his plight rather than saying yes, to which Jesus tells him to pick up his mat and walk. Upon the words of Jesus, the man stands up, picks up his mat, and begins to walk. Not knowing who Jesus even was, he tells this story to some Pharisees who rebuke him for carrying his mat as a form of work on the Sabbath. It was only a bit later that Jesus came to find this man and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” Jesus does not threaten the man by claiming he would suffer another disability or return to his broken state if he sinned, rather Jesus was referring to the greater suffering that would happen if he used his ability to walk in sin rather than follow Jesus.

Today we consider how our physical freedom may lead us to live grievous lives rather than holy ones. This man could have hoped for nothing more than to walk like everyone else, but in doing so has opened the door to great potential and great risk. Jesus warns the man not to use his freedom for sin, but to live a holy life of great impact. Certain freedoms and abilities in our lives, social media, the internet, driving, listening to music, are great blessings that have the potential to honor and glorify God but are often used for worldly purposes and pleasures. Jesus’ words remind us that these freedoms have great risk and should be carefully disciplined into purity and holiness.

Reflection:

1.     What is a freedom that has led to sinful habits rather than holiness?

2.     How can we fast from this sinful habit and turn this freedom into a platform for worship?

Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for the many freedoms and abilities you have given me. I want to repent for those freedoms that I have not used for your kingdom and purposes. Help me to radically use every opportunity and platform to further your love and truth to this world. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.  

제목: 새 언약의 확신본문: 요한복음 5:1-15

베데스다 연못은 병자들과 장애인들이 모여 있던 곳이었습니다. 후대에 덧붙여진 설명에 따르면, “가끔 주의 천사가 내려와 물을 휘저으면, 그때 물이 움직인 후에 가장 먼저 들어가는 사람은 어떤 병에 걸렸든지 낫게 되었다”고 합니다. 그래서 물이 움직일 때마다 가장 먼저 들어가기 위한 경쟁이 벌어졌습니다.

예수님은 38년 동안 병을 앓아온 한 사람을 만나십니다. 그는 걷지 못하는 사람이었고, 연못가에 누워 있었지만 물이 움직일 때마다 다른 사람들이 먼저 들어가 버려 치유의 소망이 없었습니다. 예수님은 그에게 “네가 낫고자 하느냐?”라고 물으십니다. 그는 분명히 낫기를 원했기에 그곳에 와 있었을 것입니다. 그렇다면 왜 예수님은 이렇게 자명한 질문을 하셨을까요?

그 질문이 너무도 분명했기에, 그는 “예”라고 대답하기보다 자신의 처지를 설명합니다. 그러자 예수님은 “일어나 네 자리를 들고 걸어가라”고 말씀하십니다. 예수님의 말씀에 그 사람은 곧 일어나 자리를 들고 걸어갑니다. 그는 예수님이 누구인지도 모른 채 이 일을 바리새인들에게 이야기했고, 그들은 안식일에 자리를 들고 간 것을 일로 간주하여 그를 꾸짖었습니다.

조금 후 예수님은 다시 그를 찾아오셔서 말씀하십니다. “보라, 네가 나았으니 더 이상 죄를 짓지 말라. 그렇지 않으면 더 심한 일이 생길 수 있다.” 예수님은 그가 다시 병들 것이라고 위협하신 것이 아닙니다. 오히려 새롭게 얻은 능력과 자유를 죄에 사용한다면, 더 큰 영적 고통이 따를 수 있음을 경고하신 것입니다.

오늘 우리는 우리의 육체적 자유가 오히려 죄로 이어질 수 있음을 생각해 봅니다. 이 사람은 걷는 것만으로도 충분히 기뻐할 수 있었지만, 그 자유는 큰 가능성과 동시에 큰 위험을 열어주었습니다. 예수님은 그 자유를 죄에 사용하지 말고, 거룩하고 영향력 있는 삶을 살라고 권면하십니다.

우리의 삶 속에서도 마찬가지입니다. 소셜 미디어, 인터넷, 운전, 음악 감상과 같은 많은 자유와 능력은 하나님께 영광을 돌릴 수 있는 축복입니다. 그러나 동시에 세상의 쾌락과 욕심을 따르는 도구로 사용될 위험도 있습니다. 예수님의 말씀은 우리가 가진 자유를 절제와 거룩함으로 다스려야 함을 상기시켜 줍니다.

묵상 질문:

1. 나의 자유 중에서 거룩함이 아니라 죄된 습관으로 이어진 것은 무엇인가요?

2. 그 습관을 금식하며, 그 자유를 예배의 도구로 바꾸기 위해 나는 무엇을 할 수 있을까요?

   
   

기도:

하나님 아버지, 제게 주신 많은 자유와 능력에 감사드립니다. 그러나 그 자유를 하나님의 나라와 목적을 위해 사용하지 못했던 것을 회개합니다. 제게 주어진 모든 기회와 플랫폼을 통해 하나님의 사랑과 진리를 전하는 삶을 살게 하소서. 예수님의 이름으로 기도합니다. 아멘.