John 5:1–15 KJV 1900

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 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 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. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk. Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole.

ILLUSTRATION:

When a mountain is in your way what do you do?

Just ask Ramchandra Das, 53, who lives in Bihar, India.

In order to access nearby fields for food and work, Das and his fellow villagers had to take a 4.3-mile trek around a mountain.

Fed up with the obstacle, Das did something about it. With just a hammer and chisel, he cut a 33-foot-long, 13-foot-wide tunnel through a narrow area of the mountain.

It took Das fourteen years to complete the task. And get this: Das isn’t the first person to do such a thing.

He was inspired by another villager who cut a 393 feet-long, 33 feet-wide, 26 feet-high passage through another mountain so that villagers could reach a local hospital.

That man was motivated to do so when his wife died because he was unable to get her to the hospital.

Jesus came across a man who was determined to get well, but found he was powerless to do so on his own.

THE POWERLESS MAN

1. SORROWFUL CONDITION

John 5:5 KJV 1900

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

John 5:14 KJV 1900

Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.

2. FRUITLESS EFFORT

John 5:7 KJV 1900

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.

3. MERCIFUL DELIVERER

John 5:6 KJV 1900

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?

Psalm 142:3 KJV 1900

When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, Then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked Have they privily laid a snare for me.

4. PERSONAL CALL

John 5:8 KJV 1900

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

5. SUDDEN CHANGE

John 5:9 KJV 1900

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.