What Jesus Did! 'God Makes Himself Available in Jesus' — John 5:1-3

Saturday, March 28, 2026

Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. Crowds of sick people — blind, lame, or paralyzed — lay on the porches.
— John 5:1-3 NLT

Key Thought

One of John's recurring themes is that Jesus comes to Jerusalem during important feasts to make God's love and grace available to the people. Like he so often does, Jesus puts himself in a place that makes him accessible to everyday people. This group of people in today's verses had serious health problems and had come to a place that legend had made a place of healing. [1] John, however, will remind us once again in the subsequent verses that Jesus catches up all the legend, tradition, and meaning of his Jewish heritage and makes it all come alive in himself. He is the great healer - not legend, not tradition, and not the feasts. This healer makes God available to common everyday folks.

[1] This legend is implied by all the sick people at the pool and is stated in verse 4 that is included in some translations (e.g., John 5:3-5 ASV) and is a footnote in the NLT.

Today's Prayer

Thank you, Father, for walking among everyday folks like me. Thank you for revealing your glory in Jesus. I believe he is my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, Healer, Teacher, Lord, and Friend. I believe you sent him so that I could better understand your heart. Conform my life to his example and his will. I pray this in his name, Jesus my Lord. Amen.

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Illustration

Illustration of John 5:1-3 NLT — Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days.

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About This Devotional

What Jesus Did! is a series of one-year devotional guides through each gospel, using one short scripture passage each day and following the Gospel in sequential order. Each devotional consists of a scripture passage and a reflection and a prayer which open up the day's scripture and show how it challenges you to live for Jesus.

What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

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