Christ Is Risen! š
Acts IX, 38 – āĻĪ±ĻĪ±ĪŗĪ±Ī»ĪæĻ Ī½ĻĪµĻā – āparakalountesā - āimploringā.
Continuation of the story of the work of the Apostle Peter. The healing of Aeneas is in harmony with the healing of the man who was lying down at Bethesda, which is read from the Gospel today. The second miracle is the resurrection of the righteous virgin Tabitha, who, on the occasion of the reading, also has a memorial day (she is a saint, righteous, as is evident from the description given to her in the passage).
Peter does these miracles by the action of the Holy Spirit, that is, it is the Holy Spirit in the name of Jesus Christ through the Apostle Peter who performs these miracles.
We can see a similarity with the raising of a dead young man by the
prophet Elijah (but the Old Testament prophet had to pray several times
and touch the body of the young man, although the bones of the prophet
Elisha who received the double prophetic gift
of Elijah after him,
resurrected the dead man through the accidental
(but in fact – by the
will of God) touch of the dead body (the Holy Spirit through the relics
of the prophet Elisha performed the miracle of the resurrection of the
dead).
In fact, the story shows that Peter became like the Lord Jesus Himself in these miracles, as He had said earlier about those who truly believed in Him.
It is also important to note that Peter believes that the miracles
will be performed, that is, he knows
about them in the Holy
Spirit.
For more on the faith of God, see the article here:
https://oleksandr-zhabenko.github.io/en/PowerOfHuman.html
John V, 4 – āĪµĪ¼Ī²Ī±Ļā – āembasā – entered into
(the
water).
John V, 7 – āĻĻĪæ ĪµĪ¼ĪæĻ ā – āpro emouā – ābefore meā.
John V, 11, 15 – āĻ Ī³Ī¹Ī·ā – āhygieā – (made) āhealed, healthy, whole, soundā.
The story of Jesus Christās healing of a man who was had an infirmity on the Sabbath (hence the name of todayās Sunday – the Sunday of the man who had an infirmity).
The man had been like this for 38 years (of all the miracles described in the Gospels, this is the longest documented duration), which at that time (according to the usual measures of that time) was most of a personās life.
The Lord, having healed the man, tells him not to sin again, lest something worse happen to him.
This is definitely not about a possible other illness that would have lasted longer than the one from which the man was healed, because then his total life duration would have been much longer than the average at the time (remember that he was at the pool as an adult, sick for 38 years, so he was definitely in his 50s).
Moreover, the Lord does not speak of forgiving the manās sins before healing him, but warns him not to sin.
Therefore, in view of all this, as well as Jesusā other healings, we can think that the man was not a clear sinner, but he was not a clear righteous man either. We can see the humility with which he waited patiently for his turn for years, apparently not quarreling with the healed who had gone before him, which shows his prudence and patience, and his possible kindness. We can see his faith in Godās action in this place (but not his faith in Jesus Himself before the healing).
The Lord, seeing his patience and humility, grants him healing
simply for free
. At the same time, His purpose is to bring the man to
faith after the healing, which is why He manifests Himself to the healed
man after he has witnessed the fact before the Jews.
In view of all this, we can think that Jesusā words sin no more
are
another means of salvation for this man – to strengthen his sound faith
and testimony about Jesus, to establish him in a state of long suffered
purity.
They also serve as a lesson to all those who receive unexpected and desired blessings from God – the better thanksgiving to God will be purity from sin and a righteous godly life.
I would also like to note that the reading shows that there is
meaning in the so-called holy places
and pilgrimages to them, to
shrines, but most of all in faith in Christ Himself.
Glory be to Thee, our God, glory be to Thee!
Source:
07052023.html