The Miracle at the Pool.

Text : John 5:1-15

Introduction : We are in Summertime now and pools are opening up everywhere in fact there are 53 Outdoor pools in NY across the five boroughs. They are open from 11.00am to 3.00pm then from 4.00pm-7.00pm. Pools can be places for excercise, activities, parties, swimming. Great events and memorable events has occured around pools but also it can be a place of danger if not supervised well. However water in pools has to be treated well in order to kill the pathogens in the water. If you courageous and can swim the hot and humid weather can be unbearable in NY during summertime so one way you can cool yourself is by taking a dip in the pool maybe you will find the opportunity to connect with people who are also cooling out who is to tell what may happen thats why today as we take a look at the narrative told by John we see Jesus came by a pool that brought about a miracle in the life changing experience of a man from hopelessness to hope and full of life.

Background : Jesus goes up to Jerusalem to a feast near the Sheep Gate John did not tell us which one howeverJews were obligated to go up to Jerusalem for 3 major annual feasts: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. He was going to one of them but he came to the pool of Bethseda which is located just north of the temple Mount. Some scholars sugested this was a place for the rich was like the country club of the 1st century but over time it deteroiated however many believed once a year there was the stirring of the water by an angel and people will be healed and so scripture says a great number of people those who were disabled used to lie- the blind, the lame, the paralyzed then there was a man paraylzed 38 years - The scene like a hospital, sick people, vunerable, brookenness,maginalized-for some its their home, maybe their relatives drop them. One scholar noted people are on top one another there is a sense of desperation. The good news it is in those places Jesus shows up.

A.JESUS SEES AND KNOWS YOUR CONDITION v6 -When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time he asked him “Do you want to get well” - Jesus saw more than his outward appearance.

Qestion - ‘Do you want to get well”

What kind of a question is this- Are you blind.

If you asking the question it means you have the means and what it takes to resolve my situation.

Response v 7 Sir the invalid replied “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in someone else goes down ahead of me.

When we become comfortable with our context we get so use to it that we fail to see what God maybe be doing right before us. The pool or Jesus.

B. JESUS SPEAKS WITH AUTHORITY TO OUR CONDITION v 8 “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” at once the man was cured he pick up his mat and walked.

One theologian noted :A miracle is an unexpected outpouring of God’s power and grace in an event that defies ordinary explanation, which occurs for the purpose of advancing God’s kingdom and to annouced the kingdom is here.

C. JESUS OPERATION IN OUR LIVES CAN CREATE CONFLICTS v 9b “The day on which this took place was a Sabbath and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed It is the Sabbath the law forbid for you to carry your mat. -People rather celebrate their religious tradition than to celebrate your deliverance and freedom from the tyranny of hoplessness. Not everybody is happy for you when you change position and location.

As the Hebrew sabbath was regarded as a day of rest, all acts absolutely unnecessary were considered a violation, a “breaking” of the sabbath, which appears sufficiently from the commandment (Ex. 20:8–11); and the head of the household was held responsible for the keeping of this commandment

Mk 2:27 The sabbath was made for man not man for the sabbath

Seven healings on the Sabbath

Demon -possessed man in Capernaum Mark 1:21-27.

Peter’s mother-in-law in Capernaum Mark 1:29-31.

A man with a withered hand Mark 3:1-6.

A woman bent over Luke 13:10-17.

A man with dropsy Luke 14:1-6.

A man born blind John 9:1-14.

A invalid man John 5:1-9.

What you notice about all these healings

The man had no idea it was Jesus. The man told me pick up my bed and walk.

D. JESUS NEVER LEAVES US CLUELESS AS TO WHAT HE IS ABOUT V14

Jesus finds him in the temple-place of worship and affirms him but also gives a warning - Stop Sinning, NKJV Sin no more

Sin kills, it destroys, it disrupts, it brings heartache and pain. The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life.. James 1:13-15 “No one who is being tempted should say, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each one is tempted when he is dragged away and enticed by his own desires. Then desire, after it has conceived, gives birth to sin, and sin, when it is brought to completion, gives birth to death.”

When you are healed and Jesus gives you a new lease in life you do what this man did in v 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.