Do you want to get well?

Introduction

Have you ever had one of those friends that’s good at everything?

couple examples of people

other folks have everything handed to them

Do you ever feel like you work just as hard as others with less in return?

Emma caught me in this

Want to talk about a common poison among Gen Z today

The setting: Bethesda

Read John 5:1-15

v. 6 — May not be assuming self-pity

v. 7 — He thinks the water will heal and he wants Jesus’ help

v. 8 — Jesus ignores his superstition and heals him + has him offend the religious leaders by carrying his mat

v. 11 — Is he being obedient to Jesus or making an excuse? (I’ll say what I think later)

v. 14 — Sin may be connected to handicap

The poison: self-pity (v. 7)

Why I think it’s self-pity; read — he doesn’t even tell Jesus he wants to be healed (or carried to the water to be healed) before he jumps into explaining that he can’t beverse 7

yes, maybe Jesus would’ve said “don’t you want to be healed” (if self-pity)

but the man would’ve also said “yes, will you carry me down?” (if no self-pity)

It’s a poison among our generation (extreme examples: people identifying as disabled; folks faking sicknesses)

2 things that often cause self-pity

unchecked entitlement

unmet expectations ()Proverbs 13:12 — Hope deferred makes the heart sick.

once those lead to self-pity it’s especially easy to coddle…

…why? it’s intoxicating to be pitied, even if just by ourselves; we end up the center of attention, even if by being passed over by the world

3 ways self-pity can manifest itself in our lives

Accepting defeat instead of building faith

“I can’t” (7a)

Assumes others can find healing that he can’t

In his defense, he was stuck for 38 years. We get stuck in a negative feedback loop of confirmation bias.

Parker as an athlete

People of faith focus on the victories, not the losses

[Faith as a spiritual gift to fan into flame]

Positioning ourselves as the victims in life instead of as victors in Christ

“I have no one” (7b)

Focusing on what we don’t have instead of what we do

What occupies your life more? The things others have that you don’t, or all the spiritual blessings you do have in Christ?

We make ourselves the victims because we didn’t get the scholarship, the internship, the looks, the intelligence, the good parents, the money, the relationship, etc.

“More than conquerors” means a victor’s mentality is the bare minimum for Christians

Making circumstances outside us, not Christ within us, the catalyst for change

“someone else always gets there first” (7c)

Contentment is a spiritual issue, not a material one

Change in heart, not a change in relationship status/job/location

Self-pity robs you of that heart

We need a way out, but…

…you’re gonna have the temptation to go back

“You can’t work on the Sabbath!”

The antidote: the gospel (v. 11, 14-15)

Did you notice how he responds?

v. 11 — (For whatever reason) he picks obedience to Jesus over his past

v. 15 — The leaders wanted to know who broke the Sabbath; he told them who healed him

He switched his focus from all that has gone wrong in the past to the one who healed him

If you want the antidote to the poison of self-pity, it’s the gospel

Self-pity is fueled by unchecked entitlement and unmet expectations

We realize we’re not entitled to anything but condemnation

We then expect nothing but punishment

Instead, we get grace

We expect, at best, to be servants; instead we’re friends (John 15:15)

I can promise life will let you down…

you’ll apply to 100 jobs and not get one

you’ll stay single much longer than you want

your relationship with your parents will shift and frustrate you

you’ll battle with infertility

your spouse will disappoint you

your kids will wear you out

you’ll get passed over for the promotion

you’ll get sick when others seem healthy

Mark 10:28-30

The great temptation will be to pout/wallow, but the gospel reminds us that God has not forgotten, and invites us to praise 

Make Jesus your prize — who does not meet our expectations, but in the absolute best way possible