John 5:8-14 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁸ Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” ⁹ And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath. 

¹⁰ So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” ¹¹ But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” ¹² They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” ¹³ Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. ¹⁴ 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.”

I want to point out one very important issue here. Verse 13 says the lame man did not know Jesus.

I can relate to this in ways many do not. My first encounter with the power of God happened very much like this. I was angry, I was troubled and I wanted to change. God touched me personally and took away the anger. I was left with this overwhelming wonder. What just happened? I did not know Jesus.

This flies in the face of nearly every sermon I have ever heard. Then just as with this lame man, Jesus found me and talked to me. His words were simple direct and powerful. He did not condemn me for my past condition, my sinfulness, but warned me that sin has consequences that may be worse for me.

Did the lame man obey someone he did not know?