I Want to Get Well

Jesus shook things up from the moment of His birth. Everywhere He went was, by default, a divine appointment. The Gospel of John demonstrates this on every page.

I like the way Jesus was (and is) unpredictable. In chapter 1, He interacted with Andrew and another man (disciples of John the Baptist) in a unique way. “What do you want?” — catching them off guard, but He had their allegiance from that moment forward. When He met Peter - He spoke prophetic words to him (“you will be called Cephas”). When Jesus saw Philip, He simply said “follow me” — that’s all it took. Nathaniel required another approach…but he followed Jesus 100%. All of them had to go tell someone else about Jesus, the Messiah.

Jesus handled the wine shortage — but not without protesting to Mary (2). When He encountered the money changers cheating people in the Temple Courts, He turned into a roaring lion — defending the Holiness of God.

His conversation with the Pharisee Nicodemus (3) is one of the most important conversations in the New Testament — He clearly set out God’s heart of love and grace. The Samaritan woman in chapter 4 couldn’t have been any different from Nicodemus, yet Jesus’ conversation with her was equally earth-shattering. What an impact Jesus had…many Samaritans came to faith in Christ over those few days.

One thing each person had in common was the fact that they were in the darkness…they needed the light that only the Light of the World can bring. And He brought it! In fact, we all share that in common.

As we move into the latter half of and into chapter 5, Jesus continues to turn the world upside down, one person at a time. He performed 2 healings - one for a man that sought Jesus out and another for a man that didn’t even know who Jesus was. They both faced impossible situations - both needed a miracle.

They both had impossible situations - both needed a miracle. We all need miracles from time to time. Whatever you are facing (financial, physical, spiritual, emotional, addictions, etc.), DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL? I do! I WANT TO GET WELL. I want Powerhouse to get well (AF, Power County, etc.)

We all need miracles from time to time. Whatever you are facing (financial, physical, spiritual, emotional, addictions, etc.), DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL? I do! I WANT TO GET WELL. I want Powerhouse to get well (AF, Power County, etc.)

We all need to get better

I have a “Get Well” card for each of you today! It’s from Jesus. Its the best get well card you can imagine.

“I know you inside and out and I want you to get well. I am the one that will make you well…trust me” Jesus

Jesus knows what ails you and He wants to make you better

No Matter what

Jesus’ purpose is to make you better

Transitional: When you get desperate, you might say or do anything

Explanation:

When Jesus left Samaria…he went back to the region of Galilee — He made His way to the city of Cana — the place of the wedding/wine miracle

John 4:46–52 NIV

Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death. “Unless you people see signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.” The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.” “Go,” Jesus replied, “your son will live.” The man took Jesus at his word and departed. While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “Yesterday, at one in the afternoon, the fever left him.”

John 4:46-52

Urgent faith has no pride

The Message of John 6. The Second Sign—Healing the Official’s Son (4:43–54)

The individual concerned is simply described as a royal official, probably on Herod’s payroll. His anxiety is a deeply human one: his son is dangerously ill at home in Capernaum, some twenty miles away. Jesus’ earlier miracle at Cana is quite probably known to the father and, on the basis of this ‘faith’ in the supernatural power of Jesus, he beseeches him to come to his home and perform a healing miracle on his boy who was apparently, by this stage, at death’s door. Jesus’ rejoinder seems at first blush surprisingly brusque: Unless you people see miraculous signs … you will never believe (48). It is possible, however, to construe this as a challenge to the father to exercise faith in the miraculous power of God operating through Jesus.

If an element of apparent rebuke is present, there is a similarly unpromising response recorded in his reaction to his mother (2:4) and the Syrophoenician woman (Mk. 7:27). As in the other cases cited, the apparent refusal provokes a fuller and more earnest request, Sir, come down before my child dies (49). It is not a moment for discussion of the niceties of faith; action is needed! Action follows though in the form of a promise, You may go. Your son will live (50). It proves sufficient; the official took Jesus at his word (50), and departed forthwith to his home.

When you are desperate …your filters fall away

He begged Jesus to come

He was a royal official, a representative of the king…he was supposed to be dignified

When you are desperate...you can get tunnel vision

Even though Jesus rebuked him (like he rebuked Mary at the wedding), the ruler stayed on message — “Sir, come down before my child dies”

Urgent faith is powerful

Go, your son is healed

Jesus sees through our fear and desperation…His love motivates Him to respond to our faith

In His own way…according to His wisdom

Illustration: I’m sure that certain Patriots and Eagles fans are banking on their team winning the Super Bowl. It’s anyone’s game to win. Only God knows what will happen. But some football fans are so obsessed with their team that if the game is too close, they might fall on the floor and beg God or someone for a miracle. I don’t know how God views that kind of desperation…but when our need to get well drives our faith to it’s knees, you can be sure to get the Lord’s attention

Application

Do you need to get well?

Does someone you love need to get well?

Spiritually, physically, emotionally,

Ask Jesus — trust Him and don’t give up

Transitional: The royal official knew Jesus could heal his son…his faith was urgent and relentless, but some folks don’t even know that getting well is an option

Explanation

John 5:1–8 NIV

Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” “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.” Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”

Jn5 1-

The Message of John 6. The Second Sign—Healing the Official’s Son (4:43–54)

The individual concerned is simply described as a royal official, probably on Herod’s payroll. His anxiety is a deeply human one: his son is dangerously ill at home in Capernaum, some twenty miles away. Jesus’ earlier miracle at Cana is quite probably known to the father and, on the basis of this ‘faith’ in the supernatural power of Jesus, he beseeches him to come to his home and perform a healing miracle on his boy who was apparently, by this stage, at death’s door. Jesus’ rejoinder seems at first blush surprisingly brusque: Unless you people see miraculous signs … you will never believe (48). It is possible, however, to construe this as a challenge to the father to exercise faith in the miraculous power of God operating through Jesus.

If an element of apparent rebuke is present, there is a similarly unpromising response recorded in his reaction to his mother (2:4) and the Syrophoenician woman (Mk. 7:27). As in the other cases cited, the apparent refusal provokes a fuller and more earnest request, Sir, come down before my child dies (49). It is not a moment for discussion of the niceties of faith; action is needed! Action follows though in the form of a promise, You may go. Your son will live (50). It proves sufficient; the official took Jesus at his word (50), and departed forthwith to his home.

Here’s something cool to point out: A pool with the 5 colonnades, located in the north quarter of the old city, has been identified by archaeologists as the pool in question. We are dealing with actual history, not legend or fable.

Sometimes an intervention is needed

“Do you want to get well?”

That would be wonderful, sir! But it can’t happen. Trust me…I know

Illustration: I know from first hand experience how people in trouble often choose to ignore, deny, and/or make excuses for their trouble. If you ask them, “do you want to get well?” they might say yes, but then come all the reasons they can’t. People suffering under the darkness of addictions are in such bondage that getting well (delivered) isn’t even on their radar. They need life-support…they need an intervention. It wasn’t that man’s fault that he had been an invalid for 38 years. Jesus chose to do an intervention for Him.

Illustration: I know from first hand experience how people in trouble often choose to ignore, deny, and/or make excuses for their trouble. If you ask them, “do you want to get well?” they might say yes, but then come all the reasons they can’t

Sometimes shock-therapy is in order

“Get up! Pick up your mat and walk!”

So he did…the healing was immediate and miraculous

Application:

Do you need to get well but you have lost hope in the possibility?

The most important area to get well is in the inner man

We are lost and without hope until Jesus intervenes - the Holy Spirit draws us to Him “Do you want to get well?” Do you want life, real life?

The Lord is here today — it’s time to wake up and get current of His love and power

Transitional: Whether or not you pursue Jesus for help or He intervenes when you don’t even expect it...

Explanation

John 5:14 NIV

Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.”

Remember that Jesus made you well

Live to please Jesus because He made you well

I began this message today with a get well card from Jesus

“I know you inside and out and I want you to get well. I am the one that will make you well…trust me” Jesus

Some have strong faith like the royal official

You have learned, through desperate and difficult circumstances to trust in and lean on God for every need

Even in the face of the most urgent of needs — you look to God for the answer

Can you share that faith with others?

Some don’t even ask God for help when faced with urgent situations, like the invalid at the pool

What will you do???

“Do you want to get well?”

Determine to step out and believe God for your answers

The Holy Spirit will enable you to step up and step out if you will

Some simply ride a spiritual roller coaster — calling on God when you need Him, but when the crisis is over, slipping back into your old ways.

Determine not to be that person

Remind yourself every day that Jesus is your Savior…He is the one keeps you and makes you well

I Want to Get Well

Introduction

Big Idea

URGENT FAITH WILL DO ANYTHING TO GET WELL

FAITH ON LIFE-SUPPORT NEEDS SHOCKED INTO GETTING WELL

ALL FAITH SHOULD BE FOR THE LONG-HAUL

ALL FAITH SHOULD BE FOR THE LONG-HAUL

ALL FAITH SHOULD BE FOR THE LONG-HAUL

CHALLENGE