How can John 5:3 inspire us to serve those in need around us? Seeing the Scene John 5:3: “Here a great number of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed lay in the colonnades.” • A vivid picture of human suffering—people crowded together, waiting, hoping, overlooked by most passers-by. • The verse reminds us that physical, emotional, and spiritual needs still gather all around us today. What Jesus Noticed • Jesus entered the colonnades, not avoiding them (v. 6). • He saw the individual (“a man there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years”) as well as the multitude. • Matthew 9:36: “When He saw the crowds, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” • His compassionate gaze models the first step in service: notice people others ignore. Why This Inspires Us • The needy were not outside God’s plan; they were central to Christ’s ministry. • James 2:15-17 calls faith dead if it ignores a brother or sister “without clothes and without daily food.” • Galatians 6:2: “Carry one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” • Christ’s literal actions in John 5 give a clear mandate: real people, real needs, real help. Practical Ways to Serve Today • Look—intentionally scan your workplace, school, church lobby, or neighborhood for “colonnades” where need gathers. • Listen—ask simple questions (“How are you doing?”) and allow time for honest answers. • Act— – Prepare a meal, deliver groceries, or offer transportation for someone ill or elderly. – Volunteer at a local shelter or medical clinic. – Tutor a struggling student or read to a child whose parents work late. • Partner—invite family, friends, or small-group members to join; shared service multiplies impact. • Share—along with meeting practical needs, share the hope of the gospel (Romans 1:16). Scriptures That Echo the Call • Matthew 25:35-36, 40—serving “the least of these” is serving Christ Himself. • Proverbs 19:17—“Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the LORD.” • Luke 10:33-34—the Good Samaritan “saw” and “had compassion,” then bound wounds and paid expenses. • 1 John 3:18—“Little children, let us love not in word and speech, but in action and truth.” Stepping Forward John 5:3 invites us to enter modern colonnades with the same eyes and heart Christ displayed. Notice the multitude, focus on the individual, and let compassion move to tangible care. The verse is not merely historical; it is a present call to serve those waiting for hope right beside us. |
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