Five Steps toward Responsibility (John 5:10-14)

John 5’s theme is authority, power, and testimony. Jesus’ long-distance healing miracle of John 4:46-54 is contrasted with Jesus’ up-close and immediate healing miracle of John 5:1-9. In John 5:10-14, we learn three lessons: (1) let love guide you, (2) take ownership, and (3) stop sinning, start obeying.

Rules over mercy: breaking the Sabbath – not breaking the Sabbath (John 5:9-10) [let love guide you]

Assigning blame: the healed one blamed the healer (John 5:11-13) [ownership signals maturity]

Jesus’ command (John 5:14) [Live godly]

Being responsible is identifying and accepting the consequences – good or bad. Responsible behavior has five elements: honesty, compassion/respect, fairness, accountability, courage

Five steps toward responsibility: take, stop, silence, refuse, use [ownership signals maturity]
1. TAKE ownership for your thoughts, motivations, attitudes, feelings, words, actions (me & mine)
2. STOP blaming others, past, situation (not that)
3. SILENCE complaining (control your words)
4. REFUSE to take responsibility as poison (not personal or demeaning, but mature)
5. USE responsibility & consequences as fertilizer for growth of character, skills, relationships, future

What do you need to take responsibility for?