“Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”” (John 5:14, ESV)
On a sabbath day in Jerusalem, Jesus saw a man who could not walk. Jesus knew in His heart that the man had been unable to walk for a long time. Perhaps the man’s legs had atrophied. Maybe he looked weak from years without labors. John 5:5 tells us that the man had been infirm for thirty-eight years! What did Jesus do? He healed the man, right then and there! And then, Jesus told the man to take up his mat and walk! The man was instantly healed. Jesus continued on His walk around Jerusalem.
After a short while, while in the temple, Jesus found the healed man. Jesus said to him what is found in John 5:14, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” For a moment, think about Jesus’ words.
Upon seeing the man at the temple, Jesus remarked that the man was healed. He was whole. He could walk! However, Jesus didn’t leave it at that. Instead, he exhorted the man to “sin no more”. Was it because the man’s illness had been related to previous sin? Possibly. However, Jesus’ final words to the man are even more telling! Jesus told the healed man to sin no more “that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14c). I want you to think about Jesus’ final words to the man. Reflect on their meaning…. for you.
If you examine Jesus’ words, there is a clear indication that sin and the man’s situation are related. Not only had sin possibly caused his previous inability to walk, but sin in the future could also make things “worse”. Worse than not walking for thirty-eight years? Yes.
So many people, even faithful people, lie to themselves. They think some of their sins won’t amount to much. How many times have you heard, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?” or “What happens in the privacy of the bedroom has no bearing on anyone else.” These statements attempt to cover up the fact that sins in Vegas or in the bathroom will ONLY affect those involved in the sins. AND, the sins will only affect things for a short while. However, sin has a way of corrupting the heart, mind, and soul. It has a way of skewing your view of reality, changing values, and influencing evil in and around you. Sin doesn’t magically go away over time. Sin can make you sick long after the fact. Sin can cause you physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. Why do people play down the long-lasting terrible effects of sin?
Behind the barn, an eighteen-year-old from Nebraska took his first hit of methamphetamines. He heard meth caused a rush. Reeling from a breakup with his girlfriend, he was feeling down and out. He thought the meth might just pick up his mood. The young man felt a great high from the use of meth. Sadly, only three years later, he died from a drug overdose. It all started with one hit of meth while hiding behind the barn. That little hidden sin blossomed until it took the young man’s life.
A friend from Kentucky was going through a rough patch in his marriage. While at a gathering at his church, he took up a conversation with a pretty, younger woman. A month later, he cheated on his wife with that pretty, younger woman. They had an affair that only lasted a few weeks. Then, he became seriously ashamed of his actions. However, in the meantime, his affair came to light in the church. People in that church took sides, blamed those involved, and several arguments broke out. What started out as my friend called it, “a little fooling around”, ended up causing two divorces, serious problems in that church, children raised by single parents, and years of resentment in several dozen people.
Sin, no matter how big or small, always has bad side effects. It always causes things to become “worse”, as Jesus explained in John 5:14.
Because sin has a way of causing everything from pain to suffering and death, God wants you to deal with it. Don’t delay. Don’t let sin get its tentacles into your life and bring unforeseen destruction. Work through the sin with God. Confess the sin to God. Atone your sin. If you find yourself reeling from the effects of sin, seek professional help from a pastor or person with a secure faith in God. As long as sin resides in your heart, soul, and mind, worse may befall you.
Leo Tolstoy, the famous author, sowed a lot of wild oats before marrying his true love, Sonya. To make things right before they got married, Tolstoy thought it best to let his wife know about all his affairs and sexual sins. He gave Sonya his diaries. She read them. Still, she married Leo Tolstoy as she was thoroughly in love with him.
However, over the years, Sonya began to hate Tolstoy for his past sins. When she saw one woman who worked on the Tolstoy estate who had a three-year-old child who was the spitting image of Tolstoy, she hated the woman. Sonya knew that not only had Tolstoy had a long relationship with the woman, she bore his child. Sonya never got over her hatred for that woman and her disgust over Tolstoy’s past sins. When Sonya wrote down some of the final thoughts of her life, after fifty years of marriage to Tolstoy, she mentioned how she hated that “other woman”. Tolstoy’s sin tarnished their marriage, caused hate to bloom inside Sonya’s heart, and fueled jealous rage in Sonya’s soul.
Little sins can blossom into big problems. A small error in judgment can have unintended spiritual consequences when sin gets involved. As Jesus said, sin can make things “worse”. Because of this, heed Jesus’ warning to the healed man; “SIN NO MORE!” If you do sin, confess your sin, and make things right. Don’t let sin grow and consume your life or joy or peace. Sin has a way of wrecking everything and everyone it touches.
Jesus not only died for your sins but is willing to bring healing to you. Is there some sin that tempts you? Is there a past sin you have buried deep in your heart or mind? Is there still a serious wound from a regrettable moment of weakness when sin affected your life? Work it out with Jesus that nothing “worse” befall you!
After a short while, while in the temple, Jesus found the healed man. Jesus said to him what is found in John 5:14, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” For a moment, think about Jesus’ words.
Upon seeing the man at the temple, Jesus remarked that the man was healed. He was whole. He could walk! However, Jesus didn’t leave it at that. Instead, he exhorted the man to “sin no more”. Was it because the man’s illness had been related to previous sin? Possibly. However, Jesus’ final words to the man are even more telling! Jesus told the healed man to sin no more “that nothing worse may happen to you” (John 5:14c). I want you to think about Jesus’ final words to the man. Reflect on their meaning…. for you.
If you examine Jesus’ words, there is a clear indication that sin and the man’s situation are related. Not only had sin possibly caused his previous inability to walk, but sin in the future could also make things “worse”. Worse than not walking for thirty-eight years? Yes.
So many people, even faithful people, lie to themselves. They think some of their sins won’t amount to much. How many times have you heard, “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas?” or “What happens in the privacy of the bedroom has no bearing on anyone else.” These statements attempt to cover up the fact that sins in Vegas or in the bathroom will ONLY affect those involved in the sins. AND, the sins will only affect things for a short while. However, sin has a way of corrupting the heart, mind, and soul. It has a way of skewing your view of reality, changing values, and influencing evil in and around you. Sin doesn’t magically go away over time. Sin can make you sick long after the fact. Sin can cause you physical, emotional, and spiritual distress. Why do people play down the long-lasting terrible effects of sin?
Behind the barn, an eighteen-year-old from Nebraska took his first hit of methamphetamines. He heard meth caused a rush. Reeling from a breakup with his girlfriend, he was feeling down and out. He thought the meth might just pick up his mood. The young man felt a great high from the use of meth. Sadly, only three years later, he died from a drug overdose. It all started with one hit of meth while hiding behind the barn. That little hidden sin blossomed until it took the young man’s life.
A friend from Kentucky was going through a rough patch in his marriage. While at a gathering at his church, he took up a conversation with a pretty, younger woman. A month later, he cheated on his wife with that pretty, younger woman. They had an affair that only lasted a few weeks. Then, he became seriously ashamed of his actions. However, in the meantime, his affair came to light in the church. People in that church took sides, blamed those involved, and several arguments broke out. What started out as my friend called it, “a little fooling around”, ended up causing two divorces, serious problems in that church, children raised by single parents, and years of resentment in several dozen people.
Sin, no matter how big or small, always has bad side effects. It always causes things to become “worse”, as Jesus explained in John 5:14.
Because sin has a way of causing everything from pain to suffering and death, God wants you to deal with it. Don’t delay. Don’t let sin get its tentacles into your life and bring unforeseen destruction. Work through the sin with God. Confess the sin to God. Atone your sin. If you find yourself reeling from the effects of sin, seek professional help from a pastor or person with a secure faith in God. As long as sin resides in your heart, soul, and mind, worse may befall you.
Leo Tolstoy, the famous author, sowed a lot of wild oats before marrying his true love, Sonya. To make things right before they got married, Tolstoy thought it best to let his wife know about all his affairs and sexual sins. He gave Sonya his diaries. She read them. Still, she married Leo Tolstoy as she was thoroughly in love with him.
However, over the years, Sonya began to hate Tolstoy for his past sins. When she saw one woman who worked on the Tolstoy estate who had a three-year-old child who was the spitting image of Tolstoy, she hated the woman. Sonya knew that not only had Tolstoy had a long relationship with the woman, she bore his child. Sonya never got over her hatred for that woman and her disgust over Tolstoy’s past sins. When Sonya wrote down some of the final thoughts of her life, after fifty years of marriage to Tolstoy, she mentioned how she hated that “other woman”. Tolstoy’s sin tarnished their marriage, caused hate to bloom inside Sonya’s heart, and fueled jealous rage in Sonya’s soul.
Little sins can blossom into big problems. A small error in judgment can have unintended spiritual consequences when sin gets involved. As Jesus said, sin can make things “worse”. Because of this, heed Jesus’ warning to the healed man; “SIN NO MORE!” If you do sin, confess your sin, and make things right. Don’t let sin grow and consume your life or joy or peace. Sin has a way of wrecking everything and everyone it touches.
Jesus not only died for your sins but is willing to bring healing to you. Is there some sin that tempts you? Is there a past sin you have buried deep in your heart or mind? Is there still a serious wound from a regrettable moment of weakness when sin affected your life? Work it out with Jesus that nothing “worse” befall you!