Message (05/11/08)

John 5:1-10
The Time Has Come (It’s Our Turn)!

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Introduction: If to follow the language of physics, we are controlled by time/space. It’s true especially for postmodern society, in which we say “time is money.” The same time, being fortune-hunters, we are all waiting for a time in life to claim “now is my turn (time)!” However, when a Samaritan woman met him, Jesus declared “the time has now come” (4:23). And again, when meeting the officer, Jesus promised healing of his son and the son was healed at that very moment (v. 53). Yes, “time” is a major concept of John’s Gospel (1:1; 2:4; 2:3; 3:29; 4:6, 8, 35; etc.). And the truth that John wanted to reflect here is that the time we meet Jesus [or the time we begin a good relationship with God] is the very hour/time that we have been waiting for. So, let us say, “In Jesus Christ, it’s my turn.” For the time has now come!

A Better Day of Life (4:1-16): The first cycle of this story is mostly about the individual life of Samaritan woman (the next is about religious life of the time, vv. 17-42). This woman was depicted as having been waiting for a better day in her life even after five husbands gone (v. 18). Her thirst for real happiness, lasting satisfaction, secure peace couldn’t have come but only bitter divorce and loneliness, instead. However, the time has now come as she met Jesus that day. Jesus promised a life that would never be thirsty again (v. 14). It’s for her and also for everyone who had left/afflicted her (v. 16) and even for the whole village (v. 39).

A Perfect Time & Place for Worship: Then again, in light of continuing story, we know that Jews and Samaritans alike were waiting for some time, a time when Messiah would come and teach them true worship (v. 25). They expected the coming Messiah would fulfill God’s promises in their history so they would be able to truly worship God (vv. 19-20). To that expectation of a perfect time and place in history, Jesus said “the time has now come” (vv. 21, 23). The time for true religiousness/godliness has come in Jesus Christ. He himself is that perfect time! The time has now come for our salvation, true worship, and blessing!

A Time of Healing for Family: Following this, John connected the event with another miracle in Capernaum (4:46-54) as there’s a close relationship between. Here, the officer was deadly battling with time as his son was on his deathbed (v. 47). However, to his desperate situation, Jesus just said a word, saying “your son will live” (v. 50). The shortest condolence and easiest treatment ever made!! To all surprise, the Bible says that his son was healed the exact time at which he met Jesus and counseled his case with him (v. 53). Let us bring all our cares and concerns to Jesus, and our turn will come at that very moment.

Now, It’s Our Turn! To comment all these, here’s a healing of a paralyzed man (5:1-12). He’d been waiting for his turn to get the first place getting into the pool when water stirred. For this uncertain future, thirty eight years had gone (v. 5). However, in spite of all this uncertainty and difficulty, it became so easy to be healed when he met Jesus, who said just three words, “get up, pick up your mat, and walk” (v. 8). Yes, so easy, just to get up and walk (v. 9). The time has now come when we meet Jesus. So, let’s say “it’s our turn.”