Pick up your mat and walk

Controversy In the Text

Implications arising from the Sabbath

Sabbath was day of complete rest

No one could work on the Sabbath

Ancient History states if anyone defiled the Sabbath Day they would be put to death

Things you could not do on the Sabbath

walk no farther than 1,000-2,000 cubits (half a mile)

couldn’t drink outside the camp

couldn’t draw water into a vessel

couldn’t wear perfume

couldn’t assist an animal give birth

couldn’t help an animal trapped in a pit

couldn’t have sexual relations

Pharisees

They were upset that the paralytic was healed on the Sabbath

more concerned with petty rules than about the man’s health and physical condition

it was about rules (the law)

saw broken rule not the human aspect

What Jesus did on the Sabbath

Entered the synagogue on the Sabbath

Jesus and disciples traveled, ate, performed miracles

Went through grain fields and picked heads of grain

Healed a man with a shriveled hand

Healed a crippled woman of 18 years

Healed a paralytic at the Jewish Festival

Jesus was buried in borrowed tomb

Rose on the 3rd day

Three different conditions of existence

Disabled People

Text says there were a great number of disabled people laying out on 5 porches such as;

blind

lame

paralyzed

invalids

Pool of Bethesda

known as the house of mercy

getting in the pool healed infirmities

Man in text (paralytic)

paralyzed for 38 years

didn’t know Jesus (text said he met a man he didn’t know)

Significance of Number 38

the number 38 is about relationships

relationships include teamwork, pulling together, companionship, diplomacy and cooperation

How are we as humans in disabled situations

illness

debt

bad relationships

hurt

pain

Some humans have been carrying hurt for 38 years

The Water (Pool of Bethesda)

It was familiar locale among the Jews

Pool was actually two pools surrounded by four porticoes with a fifth porticoe between them

Angels went down at a certain season and troubled the water in the pool

Whomever stepped in pool first was made whole of any disease

The water had healing powers because the internal organs of the lambs were thrown into the pool and were stirred up

Archaeological evidence shows that the southern basin had broad steps with landings, indicating that it was a mikveh

A Mikveh was a bath for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism to achieve ritual purity

The northern basin provided a reservoir to continually replenish and repurify the mikveh with fresh water flowing south through the dam between them

The Healing and the Miracle

Jesus tells the invalid to get up, pick up your mat and walk

Jesus didn’t touch the man to heal him

Jesus didn’t use any other means for curing him

Jesus used words to heal him; “Get up and walk!”

Jesus invited conflict by healing this man on the Sabbath

What Happens when Jesus steps in?

When Jesus steps in, it changes the man situation

When Jesus steps into our lives it changes our situation

When Jesus steps in we no longer need to make excuses of why we didn’t get into the pool for our healing

Reasons why we don’t get into the pool

maybe we are in disabled relationships

maybe we have a broken heart

maybe we have been disabled by addictions

maybe we are crippled by fear

maybe we are paralyzed by worry