The Man by the Pool...

Think about this, in the moments before their meeting with Jesus, well there was a problem, sorrow, shame, sickness and some cases, death was present in the person or someone close to them.

But that all changed didn’t it.

Jesus showed up...

Jesus did something wonderful in their lives and they were never the same…

Friends when God shows up something happens, something wonderful.

Do you know what the problem is today? People don’t believe God will show up. Some are not even sure He cam help them or do anything to begin with..

Jesus did something wonderful in their lives and they were never the same…

How very sad...

Friends, Jesus is always near… in fact he has promised to never leave us.

Today is the same ..... He is here, ready to help you in your time of need.

So lets look at a miracle...

Today we come to the gospel of John chapter 5 and I want us to consider this miracle that involves the man at the pool of Bethesda, and the events that happen aright after.

The miracles are wonderful, the remind us a His love for us.. that He would come, and would visit so many for the sake of the Kingdom .

So lets go ahead and look at , the first 9 verses

John 5:1–9 ESV

John 5:1-94

Now we know that the feast of the Jews refers to the time of the passover, so it is a great time of remembrance for them. We know it speaks to the time where the children of Israel were living in the land Egypt.

Now we know that

And during this time, we know that God has brought plagues upon the land, the end of which came the last one, the visit of the death angel. And God has told the children of Israel to place the blood of a lamb upon the door posts and as the death angel visited the land, he would pass over them...

And they were to remember this feast each year… and so Jesus and this disciples has traveled up to Jerusalem for this time...

Now while here, the opportunity for this miracle takes place....

1. The Struggle of Needs

If there is anything we can be certain of today, there is a world of needs around us…

Everything from the exploitation of people, to the basic necessities for life.. It is all present in our world, here in America and in the smallest of countries...

And if we went around this room, we could find so many different needs in our lives and the lives of those connected around us no matter who they are..

There are people struggling with their identity, with sin, with relationships, with finances, with truth, their job and honestly the list can go on and on...

Since man sinned in the garden of Eden, needs have existed… sin, hunger, financial, personal,.... the list can go on and on.............................................

Ever since man sinned in the garden of Eden, needs have existed… just like the ones I’ve already mentioned and much much more...

Mankind has needs....

And in our text today, we are about to be faced with a person’s need..

Look back at our text....

John 5:1–3 ESV

So what do we know here:

It was the time of the feast, Jesus and those with him are up in the city of Jerusalem and this day, we know it is the sabbath day.

And they have come to the pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means house of mercy or house of grace, and it is not really a house per say…

It is a couples pools and there are 5 roofs, or porticos, they were situated in the northeast corner of the old city, it was near the Sheep gate. Now these pools of water served all the people in that immediate area of the city.

Now the best thing about these pools was the belief associated with them. It was believed that from time to time an angel of the Lord would stir the water, the old word is “trouble” it, make them bubble up… and when this happened the belief was this… the first person who can make into the water first would be healed....

Hence people with needs are there and they are trying to get into the water in the hopes of having their needs met, in the hope of being set free from this need and there many here..

Verse 3 says there was a multitude of invalids of all types.... they are they are they hope to have their need meet..

And then Jesus steps into the area....

Let me ask you a question today:

what is your need? You know it… You’ve struggled with it… Maybe you’ve tried to ignore or deny it..

Here is what I believe: Jesus stands ready to help if you will but seek His face.

Now let’s move to our second thought for the day....

2. A Question Asked....

A Question Asked....

Jesus and his disciples come to the pools there in the city and they see all these people sitting there, laying there hoping to be made well, praying that today is the day the waters will be troubled and they can make it into the water before anyone else can...

They are desperate, at the end of their life.... hope is all they have and at times, hope is diminished…

And this sabbath day Jesus speaks to one man....

Lets go back to our text....

John 5:2–9 ESV

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

John

Now as Jesus and His disciples come to this place, seeing all who were there this day, there is one who has a great need...

The Bible says there is one who has been a invalid for 38 years, his life was in a horrible shape.

For a person to be handicapped in that day was a tragedy, they were forced to depend on their families, the kindness of others who might contribute to their need in the form of alms for the poor.

The saddest thing is that they could not contribute to their own families and at times others felt that perhaps sin is what left them in that condition.

Now the Bible tells us that on this day, Jesus notices this man and will ask him a question...

Verses 5-6

John 5:5–6 ESV

5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

Do you want to be healed?

Now someone might say… what kind of question is that....? Could any doubt that the sick man would want to be well. He has returned day after day in hopes of receiving his healing…

But the Lord would ask him this question.... I think in part to have the man focus his attention on Jesus and also to detail his case.... so that all might see his heart, his plight and to set the stage for what was getting ready to happen...

Now I know you might say.... Jesus knew all about this man… there was really no need to ask him..

And you are right, Jesus did know all about him, he knew his life and all that had been happening…

But I will tell you today, Jesus loves interaction, I believe He loves it when we take the time to interact with him and share are heart,,

I believe today the Savior has already been speaking to your heart, drawing you..

You see the Savior is calling us.. softly , tenderly...

What is he asking you… Church home

Maybe serving and helping in a area of the church

Maybe He is calling you to missions

What is He is asking you.....

And now we come to the last thought for today....

3. A Wonderful Healing....

A Wonderful Healing....

The man, whose name we do not know is there and He is speaking with Jesus.. he longs to be healed… He longs to be well. He has come to this place day after day...

Jesus is asking him do you want to be healed....

Look at verses 7-9

John 5:7–9 ESV

7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

When asked if he wanted to be healed the man related one problem that effected him greatly.. he had no one to help Him get into the water quickly before someone else got there and received the blessing...

My friends how often do we face life and we fell at times that we have no one...

This man is at the Gate of Mercy, but he has not entered in yet.. But he is holding on to hope.... He is not alone, He is in the presence of the Savior of the World.

My friends we are not alone either, I am here to tell you today, You can never say I am alone, I have no one to help me… You know why?

We have Jesus!

This un-named man has Jesus this day!

Verse 8 Jesus says .... Get up take up your bed and walk!

How, When Jesus says it, it is done… His word is powerful authoritative, and full of mercy and grace...

Now look at verse 9… “And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked.”

Jesus tells him to take up his bed and walk, literally get up and return to your home healed and He did just that, he took up his bed and walked..

What a wonderful healing...

Jesus is speaking to you today....

What is He telling you? Do you need a touch from the master’s hand,

I believe the Lord stands ready to heal you

I believe the Lord stands ready to ask you to come home....

I believe the Lord is calling you to be a part of this church

I believe the Lord is asking you to join where He is working...

Come today....

John 5 ESV

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. 3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” 9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath. 10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’ ” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” 18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will. 22 For the Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. 30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true. 32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. 33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth. 34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. 35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. 36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. 37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, 38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. 39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. 41 I do not receive glory from people. 42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. 43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. 44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? 45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. 46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. 47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

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