The Healer

John 5:1-9 JESUS: THE GREAT PHYSICIAN

Intro: John's Gospel is different from the others in that his primary goal is not to give men a historical treatment of the life of Jesus. John's purpose is to exalt the person of Jesus so that men believe on Him and be saved, John 20:30-31.

In order to elevate Jesus to the proper level, John presents Jesus in a new way in every chapter of his book. We are looking at these portraits of Jesus in John's gallery as we journey through John together. In these verses, Jesus is presented to us as The Great Physician.

Story:

"The kingdom of heaven is like a physician who became wealthy, having discovered a cure for a fatal disease. After some time, when he knew he would not be living much longer, he decided to give his wealth to some people in real need.

"One day he went out on the street and found a man lying of the sidewalk, hungry, hopeless, and almost naked. The doctor took pity on him and extended to him a bank card. He said to him, 'Take this card. It gives you access to a bank account with $100,000,000. You must make withdrawals every day for all your needs and to help others as much as you can.'

"The outcast looked at the card. He looked at the physician. He looked at the card again. He couldn't believe anything the good man said. 'Could it be,' he thought, 'that this stranger has gone out of his mind?' Angrily, he grabbed the card threw it away, spat on his would-be benefactor, and returned to his sidewalk bed.

"The doctor continued his search. He found a poor woman in an equally sad situation. He made the same offer to her, and she accepted the card happily but did not go to the bank immediately. As the day dragged on, she got distracted by her problems and lost the card--the very card that could have solved her problems. And she made no attempt to find the doctor.

"Not long after that, the physician found another man in desperate need and offered him the same deal. The man took the card thankfully and was careful to keep it with him at all times. Wherever he went, he proudly showed his bank card and spoke enthusiastically about the immense amount of money he had in his account. 'I'm rich,' he would say, 'and have need of nothing.' But he was still dressed in rags, still terribly sick, still dirty, disheveled, and hungry, and still dependent on handouts. Whenever he said he was rich, nobody would believe him because he lived just as he did before accepting the bank card.

"Another woman caught the famous physician's eye. She was in the greatest need of all: deathly sick, thin, and weak. The rich man made the same offer to her: 'Take this card. It represents all that you need and more. You must make withdrawals every day for all your needs and for the needs of those around you.' She took the card in her trembling hands and saw her very own name on it. She thanked the rich man and went straightaway to the bank. She walked up to the teller, presented the card, and dared to ask for $100. She could not yet fully understand the vast riches at her disposal. The teller was a friend of the wealthy doctor and was aware of his offers. She could see the woman's true distress and kindly responded, 'Is that all you need? You'll earn more in interest in the time it takes me to count it out than what you asked for!' The woman, in total disbelief, then asked for what she thought was a staggering sum--$5,000.

"The woman rented a small apartment, bought food and new clothes, took a badly needed bath, and went to the rich physician for healing of her sickness as well as advice on how to prevent its recurrence. The woman began to live as much like a rich person as she knew how and sought to imitate the only wealthy person with whom she was acquainted--the physician. Following the instructions given her, the woman went to the bank every day to make withdrawals and shared her wealth with others in need."

This little parable illustrates for us the truth of what Jesus desires to do for everyone of us this morning. He longs to take us from where are and bring us to where we need to be.

As we go through this passage this morning, we are going to have the opportunity to see the Great Physician in action. Let's observe Him as He delivers this man from the bondage of his affliction and as we do, please know that He can do the same for you if you will allow Him the opportunity. This morning, let's look together at Jesus: The Great Physician.

His Desperate Condition

John 5:1–5 NKJV

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, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 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. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

He Is A Disabled Man

According to the Scriptures, this man had lived with this infirmity for 38 years. He had been sick longer than Jesus had been on the earth!

The Bible says that this man had an "infirmity." This word means that he had some weakness or frailness that prevented him from walking about as other men.

What a picture of the sinner who is lost and separated from God by his sins - Isa. 59:2; Rom. 3:23.

Regardless of what he tries, the sinner is still lost and unable to walk in the ways of the Lord.

He Is A Desperate Man

The very fact that he is here at this pool in his condition is proof positive that this man is desperate for healing.

Imagine him dragging his broken body toward that pool.

He Is A Disappointed Man

In verse 7 He tells Jesus that every time he is about to get into the water, someone else beats him there and goes away with the healing instead.

Let me remind you that sin will disappoint you over time.

His Wretched Companions

This man was surrounded by others who were in the same shape as himself. They offered him no comfort and they offered him no help.

A Compassionate Savior

John 5:6 NKJV

6 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?”

(Ill. Jesus is pictured here as the compassionate Savior. He is shown doing three great works that prove this true.)

He Is Shown Choosing The Sinner

According to the Bible's own witness, there was a "great multitude" there that day. Jesus could have gone to any person in that place, yet for His own reasons, He went to this man.

This is nothing but pure grace!

What a picture of Jesus and His work in salvation!

He passes by and knocks on our heart's door, John 6:44.

He reaches out to us in love and calls us unto Himself, Jer. 31:3; Matt. 11:28.

When the sinner responds in faith, Rom. 10:9-10, Jesus comes in and works the work of salvation in our hearts and lives, Rom. 10:13.

This is a work of grace and grace alone!

He Is Shown Caring For The Sinner

Jesus knew everything there was to know about this man!

He knew that he was crippled, that he was unable to walk.

That he was unable to stand and carry his own bed.

Jesus knew that this man was totally dependent upon others for everything he had in life.

Yet, Jesus reached out to him anyway! What a picture of His grace! (Bethesda = "House of Grace.")

He Is Shown Coming To The Sinner

In what may be the greatest move of all, Jesus literally comes to where this poor man is lying and reaches out to him in genuine grace and love.

It is one thing for Jesus to love us and to do so in spite of our wickedness.

However, it isn't until He actually comes to us that we have the opportunity for salvation.

There are 3 ways in which Jesus comes to the sinner.

He Came As A Sacrifice

The first time Jesus came, He came to die!

He Comes As A Savior

Today, when Jesus comes to the sinner, he comes as Savior. He comes as One offering eternal life to all who will receive Him into their hearts and lives.

He Comes As Sovereign

One day, if the sinner doesn't respond to the Gospel message and come to Jesus, he will find himself facing Jesus as judge.

The same Jesus who has the power to save you today, will one day have the power to sentence you to the lake of fire, Rev. 20:11-15.

The Overwhelming Miracle

John 5:6–9 NKJV

6 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?” 7 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.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

There Is An Offer

Jesus asks the man if he would like to be healed. The man responds by appealing to the flesh and tells Jesus that he has no one to help him into the pool.

This man is guilty of the same thing that so many others are guilty of, he is confusing the physical with the spiritual.

Jesus came to offer him physical healing from a spiritual source, but this man still has his eye on the what he can accomplish.

Even today, Jesus comes to the lost sinner and makes an offer of salvation. The common responses are,

I am not good enough,

I can't hold out,

I have been too wicked,

It won't work for me, etc.

The problem is that sinners are looking for a physical solution to a spiritual problem.

There Is An Order

Jesus tells the man to get up and walk.

Jesus just told this man to do something that he hasn't been able to do in 38 years, if ever. T

o me, this is a pretty incredible command! However, all that was required on the part of this man is simple, child like faith and obedience to the call of Jesus.

There Is An Outpouring

When this man responded to Jesus' command by faith, he was immediately healed and he was able to get up and walk.

This miracle required no input from the crippled man, all he had to do was get up and walk at the command of Christ.

(Ill. Jesus Christ has the power to take any life that is broken and ruined by sin and make it over again. He is all-powerful, all-saving and awesome! He will lift you out of the affliction of your sins if you will only come to Him when He calls you.)

Conc:

What has cause you to lay by the pool? isn’t about time you listen to the voice of Jesus when he said, ‘take up your bed and walk.”