(Dialogue Sermon on John 5)

5 After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. 3 In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” 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 making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.” 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk.

Now that day was a sabbath.

Grace and peace to you from our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

· 5 After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

o I wonder, what festival was this?

I wonder, what festival was this?

And the answer is… we don’t really know. This is the only place in the Gospel of John that we hear mention of a festival but we don’t get to hear which one it is.

§ And the answer is… we don’t really know. This is the only place in the Gospel of John that we hear mention of a festival but we don’t get to hear which one it is.

· Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah) is listed in .

Festival of Dedication (Hanukkah) is listed in .

· Festival of Booths (Sukkoth) is listed twice in

Festival of Booths (Sukkoth) is listed twice in

Passover is listed 13 times throughout John.

· Passover is listed 13 times throughout John.

But here, no festival is named.

· But here, no festival is named.

o I wonder, why is Jesus going back to Jerusalem?

I wonder, why is Jesus going back to Jerusalem?

§ Beginning of ch. 4, Jesus starts heading back toward Jerusalem because the word had spread that Jesus was baptizing more people than John.

Beginning of ch. 4, Jesus starts heading back toward Jerusalem because the word had spread that Jesus was baptizing more people than John.

§ Meets up with Samaritans along the way

Meets up with Samaritans along the way

· meets the woman at the well who urgently asks him for the healing water of life.

meets the woman at the well who urgently asks him for the healing water of life.

· Samaritans in the city believed in him because of her testimony

Samaritans in the city believed in him because of her testimony

· 2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.

2 Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.

o I wonder if there is any significance to… ?

I wonder if there is any significance to… ?

§ Sheep Gate: Northeastern Gate—very close to this pool. Gives the sense that Jesus walks into the city and directly into this situation.

Sheep Gate: Northeastern Gate—very close to this pool. Gives the sense that Jesus walks into the city and directly into this situation.

§ Bethzatha or Bethesda—Pool of Healing or Flowing Waters

Bethzatha or Bethesda—Pool of Healing or Flowing Waters

§ Five porticoes—Big pool, four walls and then a separation between pools.

Five porticoes—Big pool, four walls and then a separation between pools.

3 In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.

o I wonder why there were so many invalids there.

I wonder why there were so many invalids there.

o I notice it skips verse 4.

I notice it skips verse 4.

§ Verse 4 is skipped because the older texts that archaeologists have recovered do not include verse 4.

Verse 4 is skipped because the older texts that archaeologists have recovered do not include verse 4.

From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

· From time to time an angel of the Lord would come down and stir up the waters. The first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease they had.

Likely commentary that was introduced later on and then accidently incorporated as part of the larger text.

· Likely commentary that was introduced later on and then accidently incorporated as part of the larger text.

· 5 One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.

o I notice that he had been ill for a LONG time. (longer than most people lived then)

I notice that he had been ill for a LONG time. (longer than most people lived then)

· 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

I notice that Jesus asks him do you -want- to be made well.

o I notice that Jesus asks him do you -want- to be made well.

· 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 making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.”

I notice that the man does not answer Jesus’ question. He simply gives the excuse/reason as to why he has been sick for so long.

I wonder if there is a comparison here between the Samaritan woman at the well who seemed healthy and sought the Living Water compared to this man who is sick and seeks reason to remain so.

· 8 Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.”

I notice that Jesus does not help the man into the healing waters, he simply heals him.

I notice that Jesus still does not have an answer from the man as to whether or not he wants to be healed, but heals him regardless.

· 9 At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.

I notice that the man is made well before he even tries to obey.

I notice that the man does eventually obey.

I notice that this was a sabbath.

I wonder what the man did from there?

He was questioned by the pharisees about why he was walking around carrying his mat on the sabbath—and he blamed Jesus. There is no sign of gratitude or faith on behalf of this man

Possible Themes:

Christ meeting us where we are:

Does this man walk around the city to find Christ?

Does this man or his friends try to get Jesus’ attention at the pool?

Does this man even seem interested in being healed?

Resistance to being made well:

Why does Christ select this person?

Why do you think he perhaps resisted?

What kind of changes would this man have to make if he were healed?

Comparisons with the Samaritans

Woman wants the living water – man does not

Samaritans believe in Christ – “good church-folk” don’t

Work of the Spirit:

Do you think this man deserved to be healed?

Does Christ decide not to help this person because he just gave excuses?

What three commands does Jesus give the man? (Stand/Take Mat/Walk)

Do you think this man had a choice in whether or not he was healed?

What does this mean for us?

The Spirit IS active – we are called to join the work of the Spirit.