Jesus Graciously Offers Healing (John 5:1-8)
The Book Of John Series • Sermon • Submitted
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· 759 viewsMessage that reminds us that to benefit from God's amazing grace we must be obedient to His commands. Prepared for Immanuel MBC for Sunday AM April 8, 2018
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Jesus Graciously Offers Healing (John 5:1-8)
Jesus Graciously Offers Healing (John 5:1-8)
Let’s all stand for the reading of God’s Word.
John
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”
Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
John 5:
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
Let’s Pray.
Jesus was under the control of the Father. He did what the Father said. He went where the Father directed and he healed when the Father said to heal. No one Jesus healed deserved to be healed.
This man was healed by the grace of God.
No one could demand to be healed. It was all by God’s unmerited favor that Jesus healed anyone.
In this account of an amazing miracle we are reminded # Truths about the Grace of God!
Map of Jerusalem with highlight on the pool.
Map of Jerusalem with highlight on the pool.
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
Truth #1: All the Jewish Feast Point to the Grace of God Through Jesus Christ.
Truth #1: All the Jewish Feast Point to the Grace of God Through Jesus Christ.
All the feast pointed to Christ and the work He would do to save all mankind. Can you imagine being in Jerusalem with some 2 million people that flocked there during these feast?
Lots of people.
Lots of Pushing and Shoving
Lots of Noise
Lots of smells.
Lots of sights.
Lots of people were in the city but no one more important in the city than Jesus.
When Jesus was there in Jerusalem few believed he was who he said he was. Just a few people had faith in him but this is one of the reasons he did miracles and this is one of the reasons that John wrote and recorded what Jesus did. John said in
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God.
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.
Feast
Passover
Pentecost
Feast of Tabernacles
These three feast were mandatory for Jewish men to attend if possible.
Passover (March) Leviticus 23
Passover (March) Leviticus 23
Dictionary of Bible Themes 7406 Passover
One of the major OT feasts. It specifically commemorates the exodus from Egypt as an act of God’s deliverance. In Israel’s calendar of feasts it was always celebrated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
Passover pointed to Christ
This Passover feast was probably not the feast that Jesus went to Jerusalem for this time. If you study the timelines and compare the gospels if this was the Passover then it means that Jesus would have had a Four year ministry but most believe it was three. Anyway the Passover was a feast that pointed to christ
Jesus ate the passover with his disciples right before he was crucified. Let’s take a look at this feast because today we are celebrating the Lord’s Supper which is related to this Passover...
Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”
So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”
And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?” ’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”
So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.
When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”
That passover was also the institution of the Lord’s Supper which we obediently observed today\. After the Lord’s supper God’s word says in
And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
Luke
The hymn they sung was not “Amazing Grace” like we sing but it was called the Hallel which includes
The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
Jesus is that stone the builders rejected.
These builders are the religious leaders of the old covenant, the Pharisees, Sadducees, and all that were on the Sanhedrin Court. IN ......
Jesus said to them, “Have you never read in the Scriptures:
‘The stone which the builders rejected
Has become the chief cornerstone.
This was the Lord’s doing,
And it is marvelous in our eyes’?
Jesus was crucified on Passover Day as the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. ()
The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!
And so this first feast was important cover but again…This was probably not the feast that Jesus went to Jerusalem for in this situation where he is healing this man. The next feast it could have been is
Pentecost (May/June) Lev 23
Pentecost (May/June) Lev 23
One of the major OT feasts. It specifically commemorates the exodus from Egypt as an act of God’s deliverance. In Israel’s calendar of feasts it was always celebrated with the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
One of Israel’s three major agricultural festivals, the second great feast of the Jewish year. It is a harvest festival, also known as the Feast of Weeks. The original Jewish significance of this festival has been overshadowed by the Christian celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
One of Israel’s three major agricultural festivals, the second great feast of the Jewish year. It is a harvest festival, also known as the Feast of Weeks. The original Jewish significance of this festival has been overshadowed by the Christian celebration of the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
Manser, M. H. (2009). Dictionary of Bible Themes: The Accessible and Comprehensive Tool for Topical Studies. London: Martin Manser.
Feast of Tabernacles (Sept/Oct) Exodus 23
Feast of Tabernacles (Sept/Oct) Exodus 23
Dictionary of Bible Themes 7358 Feast of Tabernacles
This feast began on 15th Tishri (September/October) and lasted seven days. It celebrated the first gathering of the fruit and grain harvests and also God’s provision for his people during their wilderness journey from Egypt to the promised land.
Scholars don’t know which on it was that Jesus was attending but it couldn’t be Passover because based on comparing other scriptures it would mean that Jesus minstry lasted 4 years.
The important point was that Jesus was in Jerusalem and up to this point he had not performed a very public miracle like this.
Let’s continue to verse 2...
John 5:
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
Map showing location of the Sheep Gate and pointing out the pool.
Map showing location of the Sheep Gate and pointing out the pool.
You can see where the Sheep Gate is. You can see how near the temple it is and how that you could expect there to be priest, Sadducees and Pharisees near that pool to observe this miracle. This is important as we continue to read because this is the first miracle Jesus did that got public attention and scrutiny.
Bethesda comes from a word that probably means House of Mercy.
Picture of today
Picture of today
Today the Church of St Annes sits right near the site. This is a picture of it. This area was discovered in 1914 by archeologist.
Listen to this.....This miracle really happened. This is the site it happened on. Every detail in the bible is confirmed by archeology so no one can use the excuse that they don’t believe the bible because the physical sites that are spoken of in the bible don’t match up with reality.
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
This verse helps us focus on the second truth....
Truth #2: The Object of God’s Grace is Sick and Sinful People.
Truth #2: The Object of God’s Grace is Sick and Sinful People.
Their motives sick.
Listen to this.....
Their eyes are blind to spiritual things.
While most people are focused on their very very temporary physical health and strive to stay as healthy as possible, God is focused on saving our souls from being separated from Him for eternity because of our sin.
All Physical Sickness is Very Temporary but Spiritual Sickness Affects us Forever and Ever!
All Physical Sickness is Very Temporary but Spiritual Sickness Affects us Forever and Ever!
People are so fearful of their lives and want physical security from people that could harm them but Jesus said
They are paralyzed by Sin and what their souls long for is actually living water!
And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 10:28
Jesus came to deal with the real problem and used healing to get the attention of people so they would believe His words.
Jesus came to deal with the real problem and used healing to get the attention of people so they would believe His words.
The scripture prophesied that the Messiah would do amazing things.
They need the same Jesus the woman at the Well needed. remember what Jesus said to her....
Jesus showing up in this place was a fulfillment of scripture because take a look at
With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
and encourage those who have weak knees.
Say to those with fearful hearts,
“Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
He is coming to save you.”
And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
and unplug the ears of the deaf.
The lame will leap like a deer,
and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
and streams will water the wasteland.
Isaiah 35
The men who were learned in the scriptures should have put two and two together and recognized these miracles as the fulfillment of prophecy there actually were! Instead they focused on themselves and their selfish motives.
This scene of scored of sick people is an illustration of the world in general. You have people without the Lord who have sick hearts.
Unbelievers have sinful and selfish motives.
Unbelievers have sinful and selfish motives.
....they don’t want God to have glory…they want the glory…but God’s word says in
Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
1 Cor 10:31
A Christian’s motive for doing anything should be to bring glory to God!
A Christian’s motive for doing anything should be to bring glory to God!
Listen believers....big reminder!! There will be a test on this before God..the question will be....
Did you do it for the glory of God? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you pick that job? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you volunteer to teach that class? Was it for God’s glory?
Why did you pick that vacation location? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you pick those friends? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you treat that person like you did? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you skip services? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you spend your time that way? Was it for God’s Glory?
Why did you marry that person? Was it for God’s Glory?
and the list goes on and on and on.....
The reality is that God will judge every choice and every decision we’ve made by our true motive for making that choice.
That’s the command. That’s the right motive. Anything else is Sin.
Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.
james
In order to live for God’s glory you must be saved.
In order to live for God’s glory you must be saved.
In order to live for God’s glory you need to be saved.
To be saved you must repent of your sins and ask Jesus to come into you heart. After you are saved you must be obedient to the scriptures and live you life for the glory of God.
when God’s wrath is poured on this earth people will still have a choice to accept God’s grace.
In the end times, as things get very difficult on this earth right before Jesus returns,
Prideful people would rather curse God and die instead of repenting and giving God the glory.
Prideful people would rather curse God and die instead of repenting and giving God the glory.
Everyone was burned by this blast of heat, and they cursed the name of God, who had control over all these plagues. They did not repent of their sins and turn to God and give him glory.
Most people in this world are blind to spiritual things. Because they are tempted by Satan and God....
“He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts,
Lest they should see with their eyes,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”
They are paralyzed by Sin and what their souls long for is actually living water!
They need the same Jesus the woman at the Well needed. remember what Jesus said to her....
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again,
John 4
Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
And so picture all these sick people, laying around this pool and yearning to be made whole.
People need the Lord.
These people were helpless.
They knew they needed help.
They had physical problems that made them needy and basically helpless.
You know unless you have a problem......
Unless you are suffering......
Unless you have something that is not right in your life
you can feel you don’t need help.
People that don’t have serious problems are tempted to think they don’t need God.
People that don’t have serious problems are tempted to think they don’t need God.
You can feel you are all good.
I remember the first time I realized I physically wasn’t all that and needed pay attention to those who loved me or else I wouldn’t grow up.....
If you look closely on my chin you can see a scar which was the result of disobedience, lack of humility and foolishness.
Back in 1973 when I was about 8 years old we lived on HIckam Air Force Base in Hawaii. We lived in area 61 which was near the front gate of the base. Living on the Air Force base was great because 1. We were in Hawaii. 2. The weather was usually great 3. The base was an Air Force Base so it was well kept.
My mom did a great job of making sure we were not “couch potato’s” she was always very active and so she had a bicycle that had two baby seats on it and she would put my sister in the front and my brother in the back and she would take us on bikes rides around the base. I had my own bike and being the big brother, I was always showing off and trying to race my mom.
Well one day as we were riding we came to a rocky, unpaved section of road. Now my mom could not control my bike. Only I could but she would always remind me of safety tips like…..
Don’t ride in the path of cars.Keep you hands on the handlebarsKeep you eyes on the road in front of you
Well on the particular day I decided, as we approached this unprepared, rocky section of road, that it was a good time to race my mom, brother, and sister. I proceeded to let mom know it was time to race.
I took off and got a good lead on my mom’s bike and basically declared myself the winner!!!!
“I won mom!!!” I said…..the only problem is I proceeded to disobey her very quickly….before she could warn me or remind me!
I violated rule 2…keep you hands on the handlebars.
I violated rule 3…Keep your eyes on the road in front of you.
The result was I hit a rock big enough to make my front tire jump and since I was turning on the seat it made the bike twist and turn and next thing I knew I was flying a short bit, through the air and over the handle bars.
The first thing to impact the ground, since my hands were in the air was not my Hands but it was my chin.
The pain was unbelievable….I vividly remember the pain…it hurt so much and the blood! The blood was everywhere!!!
My Mom took me to the emergency room and they had to put 12 stitches to close the wound on my chin.
I literally took it in the chin.
I literally fell flat on my face.
The next two verses are sort of fascinating because they indicate something unusual had happened in this pool prior to Jesus coming.
Now I must add that not all versions of the Bible include this verse:
For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.
As I said not all version of the Bible have this verse but if you look at verse 7 it says
John
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
you have to figure something extraordinary was expected to happen here so people flocked there. This is not uncommon....even today this occurs…there is a shrine in Bangkok called Eawan Shrine. It was outside the our hotel and people from all over Thailand used to come there and leave offerings if flowers and fruits because it was reported that you would have good financial fortune if you did this. It was always crowded.
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
This man stayed in this place for 38 years based on a hope that he would be blessed with physical healing if he could just make it to the water at the right time.
Truth #3: It was the Grace of God that Jesus Met this Needy Man
Truth #3: It was the Grace of God that Jesus Met this Needy Man
On this day, at this time, in this place God sent Jesus to this specific man.
Jesus was obedient. He went where the Father led him.
It was not an accident they met.
It was not by luck Jesus picked him out.
It was not because of anything good that this man had done.
It was not because of the family this man was from.
It was by the undeserved favor of God that Jesus came to this man.
Its not natural to pick to mingle with a helpless diseased crowd of people! So Jesus comes to this crowd of people and out of all the many people that are there we read...
When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”
John 5:6
Jesus knows all things. He knew all about this man. He knew this man was a sinner and there is an indication that because of this man’s sinful choices he was in this situation.
It’s not in our text but Jesus later told this man to “go and sin no more” so there was a connection between his condition and his sin.
Truth #4: God Demonstrates His Graciousness By Allowing Us to Make Choices
Truth #4: God Demonstrates His Graciousness By Allowing Us to Make Choices
Jesus asking this man a question was the first step to a major change in his life. God does not force us to be saved although it is best for us.
God is honest and faithful. His questions are meant to help us.
They demonstrate His Love. They are not like the questions of our enemy.
Questions can be a blessing when we answer them honestly.
Questions can be a blessing when we answer them honestly.
But when we answer them wrong they can lead to destruction. Remember this questions:
“Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?”
Eve answered this question wrong and it led to a shattered life and being separated from God.
The question Jesus was asking was to bring wholeness to a broken and shattered life. Now let’s look at the answer......
The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
John 4:
Remember Jesus had never done any miracle like this. No one had a clue he could perform this type of miracle. So the man’s response was not Yes, I want to be healed!
A response of Yes would have indicated tremendous Faith in Jesus but this man was clueless. He may have figured Jesus was basically offering to help him get to the water at the right time.
He didn’t understand the power of the Savior.
He didn’t recognize Jesus as the Creator of the World.
But then Jesus, knowing this man’s heart did the following.........
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath.
John
John 5:
This verse brings us to our 5th and closing truth....
Truth 5: The Best Response to God’s Graciousness is Obedience
Truth 5: The Best Response to God’s Graciousness is Obedience
Can you imagine if this man did not obey Jesus command to get Rise, take up thy bed and walk?
This man immediately had the coordination and strength to get up and walk.
He would be stuck there the rest of his life probably. In the same sad condition simply because he did not obey the words of Jesus.
The good news is that he was blessed because he did exactly what the Lord told him to do although he had not done it for over 38 years!
Remember…
God always, always, always gives us the strength to do what He commands us to do!
God always, always, always gives us the strength to do what He commands us to do!
God commands us to not forsake the assembling of ourselves together and He will provide the strength to do it.
God commands us to not be weary in well doing and he will provide the strength to do that!
God commands us to forgive and He provides the strength to forgive.
Every single thing God commands us to do he provides the strength to do it. When we try to do it without his Help we will eventually fail because the flesh is weak!
God commands his people today to walk and we are blessed when we ask him for the strength to obey and then walk correctly!
We (believers) must walk in love. (Eph 5:2)
We (believers) must walk in love. (Eph 5:2)
And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma.
Eph
We are to walk in obedience to God’s Word. ()
We are to walk in obedience to God’s Word. ()
This is love, that we walk according to His commandments. This is the commandment, that as you have heard from the beginning, you should walk in it.
We are to walk carefully ()
We are to walk carefully ()
E
See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,
I pray for you all often. I pray that you will continue to change.
Continue to become more like Christ.
Continue to grow in grace.
Continue to grow in love.
Continue to grow in obedience.
Why? Because we are a church and God’s plan for the church is captured in
Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us,
to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.
Eph
To God be the Glory for His Amazing Grace that heals us!!!
Let’s Pray...