Following The Word 9

Hope From His Words

Text: John 5:1-16

Introduction

Have you ever went somewhere thinking you were going to receive a particular service or going to a just to find out it was not what you thought?

Have you every thought that there was only one way to accomplish something? However, you come to learn there was another way. Turned out it was actually a better way.

(include picture of the pool of Bethesda)

In Jerusalem sits an ancient water reservoir that served the city and the Temple during the time of Solomon’s Temple; it was known as the upper pool. Later during the expansion of the Second Temple, a second pool was constructed to increase water capacity. As Herod the Great continues his expansion in Jerusalem these pools became a popular place for washing and were thought to be healing waters. They would come to be known as Bethesda, which means “house of mercy,” or “house of grace.” (Brian Hardin)

The timing of this miracle could have been anywhere from the month of March or April. We are not sure what feast Jesus was observing and it really doesn’t matter to the main message of this particular miracle.

There is a contract that I want you to pay close attention to. You have multitude of people who are living with troubling physical issues. They are looking only to their physical problem and a created water source to remove that problem. However, as we have learned already, Jesus is the “Living Water.” While the multitude is looking elsewhere, Jesus interjects Himself into the life of one of those waiting to be healed.

We will notice three things from the story: 1) Hopelessness; 2) An Invitation; 3) A Great Change

1) A Consuming Hopelessness

A. Hopelessness Is A Deeper Issue

a) Under the shelter of one of these porches was where a miserable group of human beings gathered. Notice their despairing illnesses: blindness, lameness, withered limbs, many were helpless yet ALL were hopeless. The fact of them being there spoke to their hopelessness.

These folks were gathered in response to a healing of the lesser problems of their life (physical).

It is believed by many theologians based on the culture of that day and the enormous amount of manuscript evidence we have been blessed with today, that John was probably not leading us to think of an actual angel adding miracle working properties to the water, but rather because of some therapeutic and healing properties available in the water, the story in the town was an angel would come down during a particular festival and provide healing.

This seems plausible in my mind. I don’t think God would allow and angel to do a work that could potentially distract needy sinners from the ministry of Jesus.

b) All of these ailments speak to a much worse spiritual disease:

Weak: Romans 5:6 “6 For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.”

Blind: 2Cor. 4:4 “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.”

Lame: Hebrews 12:13 “13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed.”

We should never forget to have a deep hatred for sin!

Quote: Sin was the original root, cause, and fountain of every disease in the world. God did not create the man to be full of aches, pains, and infirmities. These things are fruits of the fall. There would have been no sickness if there had been no sin. - J.C. Ryle

All of these illnesses are clearly representing proof of the depth of Adams’ fall from God’s original creation.

With such a gathering of people tells the tell of how careless people are about sin.

Prov. 14:9 “9 Fools make a mock at sin: But among the righteous there is favour.”

This would be equal to someone loving his enemies and hating his friends.

Take time look over at the hospitals and doctor office the next you pass by and think of the havoc sin is making on earth.

These physical issues do have some very painful consequences. Yet these are not as serious as the spiritual ones; eternal consequences.

Withered and helpless as all lost sinners truly are.

All of humanity is in a despairing and hopeless condition with a perfect Savior!!!

Let us pray for the soon coming of King Jesus!!

B. Hopelessness is a real personal experience

a) As Jesus approaches this hopeless gathering, He focuses on one particular individual.

This was strategic. Notice how long this guy has been here; 38 years.

You can’t tell me this guy wasn’t well known as well as brushed off to their forgetfulness.

Think about 38 years in this condition!

How deep his desperation and frustration must have gotten.

Every day he watched what seemed to be his only hope vanish as quick as it appeared.

They would go home rejoicing while he remained their in agony.

Everyone was out for themselves while giving no thought to the needs of others.

Have you noticed the longer you live the more we find how selfish the world is?

Prov. 14:20 “20 The poor is hated even of his own neighbour: But the rich hath many friends.”

Jesus is the helper to the helpless and hope for the hopeless!!!

This was the scene that Jesus walked into at the house of mercy.

Side note… what kind of scene would Jesus walk into if He walked into this church; house of mercy?

To be honest, He walks in here every time we gather through His Spirit!

Does he find you only inwardly focused or focused also on those around you?

He actually goes with you wherever you go!!!

2) A Call From Christ

Take a look at verses 6-7

A. Jesus had first hand knowledge of the man’s problem

a) While the lame man had no knowledge of who Jesus was, Jesus knew everything about him.

This man did not simply come upon a miracle, he was approached the Master of all miracles; Jesus Christ!

While the man was focused and waiting on a lesser thing, the great I AM found him!

APP — How sad it is to think of the thousands who are waiting on something far less to help them with the lesser need of their life.

To think for a minute Jesus had to inquire about the state of this man, is a very weak perspective about Jesus.

Jesus knows every sickness and disease! Nothing is hid from Him!

Why did God wait so long to notice him?

Remember, you’ve read the rest of the story. This man was healed at a time when his past struggle became his greatest witness to point a vainly religious culture to the true Jesus.

As long as child of God passes not from His sight, His Spirit will always minister to them.

He might not heal, but He will provide! While God may not give you every good thing, he will never withhold good things from you.

Remember the kind of High Priest Jesus is for you!!!

Once again, Jesus took the initiative!

While the world made this man feel overlooked, neglected, and forgotten, little did he know that himself and his pain never flew under the radar of Jesus’ all seeing eye!!!

B. Jesus extended a simple invitation

This man delayed to simply answer the question; “Are you willing to be healed?”

Quote: Perhaps it revealed the object of the man’s faith as being in others, who he hoped would help him, and, ultimately, in the power of the pool. His hope of salvation may have been a mixture of faith and works (Ephesians 2:8–9). The ineffectiveness of that formula had been all too obvious for thirty-eight long years.11 Charles C. Ryrie, The Miracles of Our Lord (Dubuque, IA: ECS Ministries, 2005), 25.

It seems he had been waiting on the religious leaders to see his need and help him.

He had come to realize that the religious leaders did not care about the needy, but only themselves.

His problem was a lack of “opportunity,” not a lack of will.

Quit continuing your life in hesitance to simply believe on Jesus!

There is no more vain an idea than Jesus not willing to receive all who will confess their sinfulness and confess a trusting faith in Him.

The same Jesus who came to Bethesda (the house of mercy/grace) is also reaching out as the possessor of all mercy and grace and offering you the same question, “Are you willing to be healed?”

1 Peter 5:10 “10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”

Titus 2:11 “11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,”

C. Jesus’ provision was to redirect this man’s faith

Take a look at verses 8-9

What is interesting about this miracle is that there was not a pre-surrendering of faith before Jesus performed it.

This miracle was an act of which to open this man’s eye’s to who Jesus was and in turn believe on Him.

God does miraculous things and even takes steps to provide for those who makes excuses for trusting Him!

While we do learn that his condition was brought on by sin, we don’t see where Jesus forgave him of sin in this moment or this man coming into relationship with Jesus.

While there was no faith needed to receive this miracle, faith began to grow.

This man did have to rise up on his own feet.

It was all of Jesus, yet He enjoys making us exert ourselves to show our faith and obedience.

Q — Has God already put the provision in front of you but you are in doubt that it is enough?

Notice the timing between Jesus’ words and the actual healing; there is none!!! INSTANTANEOUS & COMPLETE!!!

This man just entered into a whole new world.

NOTHING is too hard for Jesus to accomplish!

This man simply obeyed the power of Jesus’ word.

It is not hard to believe this miracle happened when you understand that Jesus is the creator of all creation. That includes every muscle, nerves and bones in the human body.

Hebrews 4:12 “12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”

We can learn a great spiritual truth here:

Quote: The proof of our spiritual cure is our rising and walking. Hath Christ healed our spiritual diseases? Let us go whithersoever he sends us, and take up whatever he is pleased to lay upon us, and walk before him. Matthew Henry, Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible: Complete and Unabridged in One Volume (Peabody: Hendrickson, 1994), 1943.

Quote: By grace we are saved, through faith. Faith is never stated to be the cause of salvation in the New Testament; it is rather the channel through which the grace of God comes to us.11 Charles C. Ryrie, The Miracles of Our Lord (Dubuque, IA: ECS Ministries, 2005), 25.

3) A Consuming Change

A. He came under religious judgement

Verses 10-11

“The Jews” is often time “not” referring to all of the Jews, but to the Jewish religious leaders of that day.

This was a clear challenge to the Jewish traditional religion and became a stumbling block.

Jesus would continue to do more miracles on the Sabbath for this very reason.

Exodus 20:10 “10 But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”

The Jewish leaders had made the Sabbath the most miserable day of the entire week.

Even today, there are “burden-like” rules for the Sabbath: Toilet paper- It is forbidden to tear the perforated line to separate toilet paper or paper towels. You can either prepare some toilet paper and paper towels before Shabbat or just use tissues and napkins instead

Notice what Jesus said about the Sabbath:

Matthew 12:8 “8 For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day.”

Mark 2:27 “27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath:”

Jesus had more sense and sympathy than the Jewish leaders.

B. He was unreserved to give thanks to God

Verses 12-14

This man’s first encounter with Jesus was not one where who Jesus was was made very clear.

He had never seen Jesus before. Maybe he had heard of Him.

It wasn’t about the knowledge this man had about Jesus, but the knowledge Jesus had about him.

Can you reflect back to your coming to know who Jesus was?

Where was the first place this man went after Jesus healed him? THE TEMPLE

He did not let a day pass by!

He went there to return thanks to God. He at this point had not repented and trusted Christ.

Application — How often do you return praise to God when he provides for you?

C. He was made aware of sin’s power

Notice Jesus’ pursuit of the spiritual:

Jesus healed him, yet He was not done with him.

His sin had robbed him of the best years of his life all the way into late middle age.

LISTEN…many of our human woes are the direct result of sin.

Jesus calls his attention to consider deeply what He had just done for him. (V14)

“lest a worse thing come to thee”

You would have thought 38 years would be enough for him never to forget.

Too often, our nature is to forget what God has done for us.

D. He remained unmoved from false religion

Verses 15-16

I believe these last two verses give a sad reality of this man’s spiritual condition.

Q — Did this man have to return to the religious leaders of the Jews? NO!

Instead of turning in faith to Jesus and turning away from the fear of the religious authorities, he caved under that pressure of being thrown out of the Temple and reported Jesus to them.

Yes, he got to remain in the temple by shifting the blame on a man by the name of Jesus, but he remained only a religious man in the eyes of God.

It wasn’t a temple that he needed, it was the “living temple;” Jesus Christ!

He didn’t need some kind of created water, He needed the eternal Living Water; Jesus Christ.

He didn’t need to conform to a burdened system over the Sabbath, He needed to ONE who created the Sabbath and the ONE who give you eternal rest.

This tells us the dangerous strong hold “false religion” has on the heart and mind of people today.

Jesus came with words of life that are the only hope for mankind.

Conclusion

Are you today still under the pressure of some kind of religious system? Jesus came and threw the gauntlet down on man’s created burden of false religion and cleared the record to who’s words reign supreme and give life to the hopeless soul!

John 14:6 “6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”