Mt. Calvary Bible Study Mercy At The Pool

The Need of Mercy

Have you every found yourself in the need of mercy or can we say a favour or compassion from someone?

As we all know if you live long enough you will need a grace period in your life.

In other words you have a need that you cannot full fill. And you are at the mercy of someone else who has the means to fill the void.

The issue usually is two things. #1 you have to have the humbleness to ask and #2 the person who has the means must be compassionate enough to come to your aide.

May be we should add a #3 factor and that is the one in need and the one with the means must cross paths.

Regardless of your social status, financial wealth, physical health and Christian experience you will find your self needed the compassion and kindness of someone else.

We like just call them favours. You know I do you one and you do me one when I need it

We are quick to remind others ( I did you a favour now why you can’t give me one when I need one?)

In our lesson tonight we find that all three variables are at play.

#1 There is a person in need of help that he cannot give himself.

#2 There is a person who has the means to meet his need.

And #3 They both cross paths.

As we examine our text sets up variable #3 first; It reads that there was a feast of the Jews and this brought Jesus and his disciples to Jerusalem.

Note John is the only Gospel that speaks to different Jewish feast other than the Passover. This feast was not the Passover but one the three that required the presence of the Jewish male.

The fact that Jesus honored the Feast; brought him into the proximity of the man who needed healing. (the fact that you honor the worship service on Sunday or Bible study on Wednesday; you are then brought into the proximity of God’s anointing.

The lame man had no conscious of the blessing that was entering Jerusalem on that day thru Christ the Messiah. In reverse you have no idea of the breakthrough, the blessing or the healing that you are entering into when you come into the sanctuary.

Verse #2 tells us of the crossing point. In Jerusalem by the sheep gate there was a pool. a rectangular pool with 5 porches; the fifth one divided the pool. This pool was called in the Hebrew Bethesda (The house of mercy).

As we know the number 5 represents Mercy. Chapter 5 of John , 5 porches at the pool. God gives you five senses, five fingers, five toes, You should show mercy to someone with all of your being.

Next we have the condition of need. The lame man of 38 years. He sat at the pool. The angel at certain times would touch the water and who was first in would receive healing.

38 years of trying with no success. I am at a point that I need some mercy.

The crossing of paths becomes complete: Verse 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?

The final component; the person with the means to meet the need. There is something wonderful that happens when your needs cross paths with the power of God.

Jesus asks him a question that would seemingly have an obvious answer; “Wilt thou be made whole?” In other words, do you want to get well.

But the lame man does not give the obvious answer but rather gives all the reasons why he is still lame.

What the man said is, I’ve been playing the lottery numbers for 38 years and they haven’t call my numbers yet. I go to the Christmas party every years and they never call my ticket number for one of the prizes that they give away.

I turn in my Publisher’s Clearing House form every year and some old 88 year old lady is always winning the money.

Verse 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

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

When there is no man to help me; Jesus will come to my aide.

Man was condemned in sin; and there was no man to come to his aide. But Jesus comes and gives us God’s mercy.