04 Jn 05 01 15 Healing the Sick LLBJ by Max Lucado CKV

Healing the Sick

Reflection

1. Think of a time when a friend showed special concern for you during a difficult time in your life. How did that person’s support help you?

Begin your study by sharing thoughts on this question.

Bible Reading

John 5:1–2 ESV

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.

John 5:3 (ESV)

In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

John 5:5 ESV

One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.

John 5:6 ESV

When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

John 5:7 ESV

The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

John 5:8 ESV

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”

John 5:9 ESV

And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

John 5:10 ESV

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.”

John 5:11 ESV

But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ”

John 5:12 ESV

They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

John 5:13 ESV

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.

John 5:14 ESV

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.”

John 5:15 ESV

The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Discovery

Explore the Bible reading by discussing these questions.

2 What do you think motivated Jesus to go to Bethesda (also called Bethzatha) during a time of celebration?

Leaders’ Note: Jesus was willing to be among the potentially unclean people. Jesus seems to have been seeking out this particular person,

Of all the people there desiring to be healed - we know only of this one being healed by Jesus. It seems Jesus may have been reaching this person in particular.

Question 2. You may want to explain that people believed that the springs at this pool in Bethesda held healing powers. The sick laid on the steps descending into the pool hoping to receive healing from the water.

3 This story focuses on one invalid man at Bethzatha. What words would you use to describe this man’s life?

A life of frustration, waste, (seeing what happens later, possible judgment of God, or more likely, God trying to get the man’s attention?

4 Why do you think Jesus chose to help this particular man?

Yes, I believe so - first, there were others there seeking healing, and we do not see Jesus interacting with them. Second, we see later there may have been sin in this man’s life that led to his situation.

5 After healing the man, why was it important to Jesus to find him and speak to him again?

Jesus has to warn him to repent (it seems that his healing did not lead to thankfulness to God, rather a lack of change from such a miraculous healing.

6 What do Jesus’ actions in this story teach us about his character?

Leaders’ Note Jesus continues to be led by the Father and empowered by the Spirit of God. Jesus is submissive to the Father. Jesus willingly heals the man, though Jesus may have known he would at least not stop sinning despite receiving the healing.

Question 6. Take some time to read other passages of Jesus healing the sick: Matthew 4:23–24; 8:3; 12:22–23; 14:35–36; 21:14; Mark 1:30–31; 10:46–52; Luke 13:10–13; 17:11–14. Jesus’ extensive ministry to suffering people reveals his compassion, sensitivity, mercy, and love.

Matthew 4:23–24 ESV

And he went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every affliction among the people. So his fame spread throughout all Syria, and they brought him all the sick, those afflicted with various diseases and pains, those oppressed by demons, those having seizures, and paralytics, and he healed them.

Where did Jesus go? Throughout ALL Gallilee

What did Jesus do? Teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom and healing EVERY diseases and EVERY affliction among the people.

Matthew 8:2–3 ESV

And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

What does the leper ask Jesus? “If you will...”

How does Jesus answer? “I will.”

Matthew 12:22–23 ESV

Then a demon-oppressed man who was blind and mute was brought to him, and he healed him, so that the man spoke and saw. And all the people were amazed, and said, “Can this be the Son of David?”

What is the result of Jesus healing the demon-oppressed man? It opened people to consider Jesus as being the son of David, the Anointed One?

Inspiration

Here is an uplifting thought from the Inspirational Study Bible.

It’s called Bethesda. It could be called Central Park, Metropolitan Hospital, or even Joe’s Bar and Grill. It could be the homeless huddled beneath a downtown overpass. It could be Calvary Baptist. It could be any collection of hurting people.

An underwater spring caused the pool to bubble occasionally. The people believed the bubbles were caused by the dipping of angels’ wings. They also believed that the first person to touch the water after the angel did would be healed. Did healing occur? I don’t know. But I do know crowds of invalids came to give it a try.

Picture a battleground strewn with wounded bodies, and you see Bethesda. Imagine a nursing home overcrowded and understaffed, and you see the pool. Call to mind the orphans in Bangladesh or the abandoned in New Delhi, and you will see what people saw when they passed Bethesda. As they passed, what did they hear? An endless wave of groans. What did they witness? A field of faceless need. What did they do? Most walked past, ignoring the people.

But not Jesus. He is in Jerusalem for a feast.…

He is alone. He is not there to teach the disciples or to draw a crowd. The people need him—so he’s there.

Can you picture it? Jesus walking among the suffering.

What is he thinking? When an infected hand touches his ankle, what does he do? When a blind child stumbles in Jesus’ path, does he reach down to catch the child? When a wrinkled hand extends for alms, how does Jesus respond?

Whether the watering hole is Bethesda or Bill’s Bar … how does God feel when people hurt?

It’s worth the telling of the story if all we do is watch him walk. It’s worth it just to know he even came. He didn’t have to, you know. Surely there are more sanitary crowds in Jerusalem. Surely there are more enjoyable activities. After all, this is the Passover feast. It’s an exciting time in the holy city. People have come from miles around to meet God in the temple.

Little do they know that God is with the sick.

Little do they know that God is walking slowly, stepping carefully between the beggars and the blind.

Little do they know that the strong young carpenter who surveys the ragged landscape of pain is God.

(From He Still Moves Stones by Max Lucado)

Response

Use these questions to share more deeply with each other.

7. How were others who witnessed this healing affected?

Great question - we don’t know. Some may have wondered, “Why him and not me?”

Some may have given glory to God - we just don’t know.

8. What are some of the challenges of ministering to people with a serious illness? What are the rewards?

The challenges are that many are not healed miraculously. Few may be healed completely, others some and others may die. Some may question God and lose faith if they are not healed.

The rewards are that some draw closer to God even when they are not healed because the Lord has made Himself known to them and they are saved. In these cases, God gets glory despite the lack of healing, because a greater healing has occurred spiritually as one is reconciled with God through Jesus Christ.

9. How can we demonstrate God’s love to people who are suffering?

Spend time with them. Encourage them. Listen and care.

Additional Questions

10. Why is it important for believers to minister to hurting people?

Everyone needs hope. Those who are hurting often times feel God is far away. We need to encourage them that God does care, and He works through others. Going through their suffering is not a sign of God’s judgment, but God wants us to turn to Him and lean on Him. God helps us through others.

11. Do you know someone who is hurting? How can you reach out to that person?

Take a moment to ask the Lord who is in your life that is hurting and ask the Lord how you can help.

What are ways we can help someone?

12. How can we become more sensitive to the suffering of others?

For more Bible passages about helping the needy, see Matthew 25:34–46; 1 Thessalonians 5:14-16; Hebrews 6:10, 11.

Matthew 25:34–46 ESV

Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ “Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’ Then they also will answer, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to you?’ Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

When do we know when to help? When we see the need.

1 Thessalonians 5:14–18 ESV

And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

What three groups of people do we see in verse 14? the idle, the fainthearted, the weak.

Are they all helped in the same way? only in being patient. There will be those that need to be admonished, or corrected. Others that need encouragement, and those who desire and attempt to do good, but need help.

How are verses 16 through 18 support us in serving others mentioned in verses 14 and 15? They help us to be in the right frame of mind, to be in step with the Spirit and with God, and to approach serving others in the right way, as well as enable to serve them.

To complete the book of John during this twelve-part study, read John 4:43–5:47.

Prayer

Forgive us, Father, for ignoring the needs of others. Help us respond to the suffering around us. Fill us with your love. Give us your compassion for the hurting, your love for the despised, your mercy for the afflicted.

Journaling

Take a few moments to record your personal insights from this lesson.

How have I felt God’s love for me during painful times?