Choose a Fulfilling Spiritual Life: It's Up to You!

Introduction

As we continue our journey through the Gospel of John, we see Jesus encountering various individuals in a very personal way. For example, in John 1, Jesus spends time with two disciples, sharing a meal and staying overnight with them. Later, in John 2, He attends a wedding with His mother and disciples. In John 3, Jesus has a one-on-one conversation with Nicodemus, a religious ruler. In John 4, He spends the entire day talking with a woman at a well. Throughout His travels, Jesus ministers personally to people, showing His deep concern for each individual's life. This demonstrates the incredible love God has for each and every person, as He sacrificed the splendors of Heaven to give His life for every single person in the world.

As we come to our text today, we find Jesus ministering to an individual once again. He is back in Galilee after healing the nobleman's son, highlighting the challenges and blessings of believing in Him. Some people struggled to believe, while others experienced great blessings through their faith, like the nobleman and his household.

Now, we find Jesus at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, known for its healing abilities.

John 5:1–3 KJV 1900

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

The pool of Bethesda was located near the sheep gate, where people brought sacrificial animals for the Temple. This pool was surrounded by five porches and was known for the belief that an angel would come down and stir the water, providing healing for the first person to enter the water.

John 5:4 KJV 1900

4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.

As depicted in Scripture, many sick individuals gathered around the pool, hoping to be healed when the water stirred, illustrating their spiritual impotence and helplessness.

My purpose today is to demonstrate how, just like the people at the pool of Bethesda, we are all born spiritually impotent and helpless in our sinful condition. However, we have Christ, the Great Healer and Creator, offering to make us whole. The choice for a fulfilling spiritual life is ours to make.

Let’s start with this thought.

The Predetermined Condition of All People

For this first point, I draw your attention to the condition of this poor man and those around him. Note that Scripture records...

John 5:3 KJV 1900

3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

John 5:5 KJV 1900

5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

John 5:7 KJV 1900

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

The Holy Spirit lays out before the awful condition of these people. As stated, some were impotent. The word “impotent” means they were ill and very sickly. Some of them were blind, meaning they could not see; some were halt, meaning they could not move using their feet; and some were withered, indicating they were deformed. It was quite the site. All of these people, along with the story's main character, the lame man, were at this pool. You can imagine the scene. All around this small pool lay people who were crippled people filled with pain and, perhaps, much despair. Their only hope was the one time of the year when God’s angel would stir the pool's water. Now, think about this. You had to be in the right place at the right time to receive healing. Scripture does not indicate that the stirring of the water was predictable. In other words, it was all a guessing game. So day after day, month after month, these people lay next to the pool, hoping that today was the day. However, just being there was not enough. Healing only came to the first person who entered the pool. Not only was it a guessing game, but it was also a game of outmaneuvering everyone else who desired healing. I imagine some already had their places right next to the pool, so all they needed to do was roll over or fall in. Can you imagine the chaos that ensued each time the water moved? Again, think about it. Put yourself in their place. Your only hope is that pool. When you first arrived, you probably had to set up your cot five, six, or seven rows back from the pool. The hope of being the first one in was highly remote. Perhaps after a couple of months or years, as others gave up hope and left, you could move forward a row or two. Finally, the day comes when you are right next to the pool. All of sudden, a wind blows, and the water stirs. If you are able, you dive in. Nothing happens. How were these people to know if the wind or the angel caused the water to move? Scripture does not say that the angel was visible to them when he came to stir the water. I am sure that the wind often stirred the water, fooling many into thinking it was the angel. Time after time, they fell in the pool. Sometimes, they were the first; many times, they were not. Yet, each time was like a cruel joke. And, yet, it was their only hope.

‌Amid all these hopeless people, a man was more desperate and helpless than they were. Note that the Holy Spirit states that this man was lame. Scripture uses the word “infirmity.” He had an illness which resulted in losing the use of his legs. In fact, for a very long 38 years, this man could not walk. We do not know whether this man was 38 years old or older. It is quite possible that he was lame from birth. The possibility of him having never walked is feasible. No matter his age, losing the ability to walk for 38 years is a long time. Again, just like all the other people beside Bethsada’s pool, he was there because once a year, God’s angel stirred the pool, providing a small glimmer of hope. However, that glimmer of hope was not very bright for this man. You might say there was no hope. Scripture reveals that as he informed the Lord Jesus Christ, this man had no person to help into the pool. Not only was he unable to get there himself, but on top of that, no person was there to assist him. Thus, he had absolutely zero chance of entering the pool before anyone else did. Yet, he was there.

‌As I was studying this passage, I could not help but compare this man and the many people around him to the spiritual plight of all men. We think about these people and realize many had predetermined conditions. They were impotent or sickly people. Some, as we noted, were blind, withered, and lame. I imagine many of them were born into this world with these conditions. Some of them perhaps became this way through accidents or incidents they had not wished upon themselves. Yet, here they were. They were hopeless and helpless. Physically, they experienced the same condition that all people experience spiritually when born into this world.

‌Listen to the Holy Spirit’s description of every person born into the world.

Colossians 2:13 KJV 1900

13 And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses;

2 Corinthians 4:3–4 KJV 1900

3 But if our gospel be hid, it is hid to them that are lost: 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

Romans 5:6 KJV 1900

6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

I read these verses because each one describes our spiritual condition. We find remarkable similarities when you compare what they say to what we read about these people beside the pool of Bethesda.

‌For example, the first verse I read in Colossians notes that we were dead in our sins. In other words, we were completely unable to do anything about our condition. A dead person cannot move, talk, or think. This man, the lame man, was not dead physically. Yet, he could not move or walk. He had no power in his legs by which he could move quickly into the pool to receive healing. He was completely unable to do anything about his condition.

‌Again, the verses in 2 Corinthians note that we were “blinded” by the God of this word. Just like the blind who sat next to that pool and were completely unable to see when the water stirred, so is every person born into this world born spiritually blind. They are completely unable to see or perceive the things of God.

‌The last verse was Romans 5:6 and it noted that we “without strength.” In other words, the most physically healthy person born into the world is born spiritually impotent. They have no spiritual strength.

‌You see, you and I were born with predetermined conditions. These conditions were spiritual blindness and impotence. We are born unable to do anything about our spiritual condition. We were born just like these people lying beside this pool. We were hopeless and helpless to do anything about our condition.

‌Thus, our demise was also predetermined.

John 3:16–19 KJV 1900

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 17 For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Note that we came into this world already condemned with an appetite for evil. Why is that? It is because of our father, Adam. A long time ago, when the world was young, and God created man without sin, Satan deceived both Adam and Eve into sinning against God. In that moment, they brought upon all humanity a spiritual infirmity. In that moment, we became spiritually blind and impotent. We lost all ability to know and understand the things of God. No more evidence is needed for this fact than to consider the very first humans born into this world - Cain and Abel. Cain, without remorse, committed the first murder. He did not just kill some random person. No, he killed his blood brother. Why? Cain was born with the same sickness and impotence that all of us are born with.

‌Such is fallen human nature. No one escapes this terrible spiritual ailment. We are all party to it.

Romans 3:23 KJV 1900

23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

Romans 5:12 KJV 1900

12 Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

We have no strength, no spirituality. We are just like these people sitting beside a pool day after day, wishing and hoping that our condition will change. Yet, hour after hour passes, and nothing has changed. We remain in our filth and stench with no hope or help in sight.

‌Suppose that was the end of the story; it would be miserable. However, there is more to this story than just a pathetic and wretched scene of hopeless people.

‌Note with me this morning...

The Phenomenal Choice Christ Offers

John 5:6 KJV 1900

6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?

Oh, what a wonderful scene is laid out before us! For 38 long years, this man lay by this stinking pool, demoralized, broken, and discouraged. He was utterly unable to move or do anything. He had no one to help him. The darkness of his situation completely overwhelmed him. His only faint glimmer of hope was that, by some miracle, he could make it into the pool only when the angel stirred the water. His mind was utterly fixated on that only possibility. Yet, the reality was he would never walk again.

‌Then, Jesus enters. Now, imagine again the scene. He is lying there as always, on the same miserable day doing the same miserable thing without any hope. Suddenly, the sun is blocked by the shadow of a man standing beside him. He looks up, and some stranger he has never met is there. Then, this stranger, with great kindness, looks down at him and says, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

‌Now, we know the lame man’s initial reaction!

John 5:7 KJV 1900

7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.

Let me put his reaction into today’s sarcastic vernacular if I may.

‌“Seriously, man, look at me. Yep, I am going to jump up and run right over there as soon as that water moves, even though I have been lying here for 38 years with dead legs. But as you can see, I have no one to help get there anyway, and even if I did, some jerk would jump in that pool ahead of me!”

‌Christ then replies...

John 5:8 KJV 1900

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

Here is my point! For all the darkness this man experienced due to his physical ailment, Christ the Light of the World was standing there offering healing. This man, along with all the other people there, is a testament to what was already noted in this great book of the Bible.

John 1:1–5 KJV 1900

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men. 5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.

Standing beside that man was Life. Standing beside that man was Healing. Standing beside that man was a well of everlasting nourishment. Yet, this man and the entire crowd did not recognize Him. Despite their lack of knowledge and inability to discern Christ's power, God’s grace came shining through the darkness.

‌The lame man’s hope was a man-made pool that, over time, became hopeless. However, the moment Christ stepped into his life, everything changed. Christ brought the needed hope, help, and healing.

The only answer for this man was Christ. And Christ offered all that this man longed for by saying to him, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

‌We were in the same condition. Remember Ephesians 2.

Ephesians 2:1–3 KJV 1900

1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.

There was a time for many of us here this morning when we were spiritually blind and ultimately impotent. We could do nothing. Our condition was just as hopeless and helpless. It was then that we encountered Christ.

Ephesians 2:4–7 KJV 1900

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: 7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.

Then, Christ came and asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

‌I would imagine someone sitting here this morning is in that same condition. You know that you are helplessly and hopelessly lost without Christ. Your life has no meaning. There is nothing but darkness and despair. You are just as impotent as this man. However, I am here to share the great news that Christ stands beside you this morning. He says to you, “Wilt thou be made whole?” As He does, you now have a choice to make. You can hold on to hope that an angel will stir the waters, knowing you have no chance of making it into the pool. Or, you can make the same choice this man did. You can choose to place your faith in Christ!

‌You see, FAITH is...

The Primary Component for Spiritual Healing

John 5:8–9 KJV 1900

8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.

You will note that Christ gives this man three commands.

‌The first command was “rise.” The second was “take up thy bed.” Last, but not least, was “walk.”

‌Regarding spiritual resurrection and healing, Christ has given us similar commands.

‌First, we are instructed...

Acts 16:31 KJV 1900

31 And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.

Romans 10:9–10 KJV 1900

9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

Romans 10:13 KJV 1900

13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Spiritual healing and resurrection begin with believing. You must accept the authority of Christ. You will never walk if you sit there trying to reason it all out.

If you ignore His plea to be made whole due to your own unbelief, you will never experience the blessing of eternal life with all its spiritual vitality. Instead, you will continue to waste way in your miserable condition of condemnation. However, those who believe and rise experience the vigor, health, strength, and liveliness of spiritual life in Christ.

‌Second, not only are we to rise, but we are to “take up our bed.” This man’s bed was most likely a simple mattress that was thin and easy to roll up. As we know, this man not only obeys by getting up but also by rolling up his mattress, never to return to that spot again. There was no need. He had been made whole. Instead, he followed Christ’s instructions and moved on with his life. He did not return. He was healed. He was whole. We must do the same. Once we have believed, we move on. We do not return to the old way of life. Why? We are new creatures in Christ. We are no longer slaves to sin. Now, we are free from that bondage.

Romans 6:18 KJV 1900

18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Romans 6:22 KJV 1900

22 But now being made free from sin, and become servants to God, ye have your fruit unto holiness, and the end everlasting life.

Third, there is the blessedness of the walk. Christ commanded him to “walk.” Think about this one for a moment. What was the one thing this man could not do to get into the pool of water? He could not walk. Yet now, Christ says to him, “Walk.” He no longer needed that pool of water. Now, he was made whole by his faith in Christ. It is the same for us. The moment we place our faith in Christ, we experience spiritual healing. We are transformed from impotent and helpless to empowered with God’s Spirit and given His strength to live each day. We no longer need the pool of water that provided nothing but despair. Instead, we pick up our bed and begin a new walk/journey with Christ.

Romans 6:4 KJV 1900

4 Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life.

Remember Ephesians 2. Look again at that passage and note these verses.

Ephesians 2:8–10 KJV 1900

8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 9 Not of works, lest any man should boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

May I say that today is the day if you are here this morning and have never placed your faith in Christ? Just as Christ found this lame man among all the lame and sickly people around that pool, He is standing next to you this morning. He knows your life. He understands the darkness that you are feeling. He offers Himself as the only means of spiritual healing and resurrection. He says to you this morning, “Wilt thou be made whole?” All He asks is that you believe. Place your faith in Him. If you will, you too can rise, take up your bed, and walk with Him for the rest of your life. You will walk with Him for all eternity. However, if you choose not to believe, you will remain spiritually impotent without hope.

Conclusion

Let me conclude with this thought, and I will be done. Many will hear this message and object to it. They might claim that a person can achieve spiritual healing in many different ways. What are they doing? They are holding on to hope that an angel will stir their pool and be healed. The only issue is that such hope is not a sure thing. You can sit around and wait daily, hoping that healing will come. However, there is no guarantee. You may never make it into the pool in time. How can you even be sure that when the water is stirring, it is an angel, not just the wind? There is too much uncertainty. Yet, the whole time, Christ is standing there saying, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Christ, who is the Creator of the Universe and has the power to resurrect people from the dead and can, with one word, bring people in and out of existence, is offering to make you whole. There is no doubt that He can do what He offers to do. How foolish is it to keep hoping for a pool of water to heal you when the One Who created the angel who stirs the pool offers you complete spiritual resurrection and transformation?

‌All it takes is for you to respond with faith. Believe. Do as He commands! Rise, take up your bed, and walk! Put your trust and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. He is the One Who has already done everything to make you whole. He gave His life, paid the penalty of your sin, and then sealed that with His resurrection from the dead. He is the way, the truth, and the life. There is no other way unto the Father. There is no other way to be spiritually healed. Will you accept His standing offer this morning? Wilt thou be made whole?