Did Jesus Really Say That? Teachings of Jesus [Part 5]

Introduction: Healed From My Past

Tonight’s lesson focuses on a place called, Bethesda. In Bethesda, there was a pool that attracted a ton of disable individuals. The term “disable” simply means sick or ill; weak. The individuals in Bethesda believed they could enter the stirred water and receive a healing from their jumping into the water.

There seems to be a superstitious sense of religion in this activity that Jesus opposes by healing the man without use of the water.

The Gospel according to John 1. The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (5:1–15)

If John intends any symbolism, it may be along the following lines: just as the water from the purification pots of the orthodox could neither produce nor be mistaken for the new wine of the kingdom (2:1–11), and just as the water from Jacob’s well could not satiate the ultimate thirst of religious people who may have looked to genuine revelation but whose views were widely viewed as aberrant (4:1–42), so the promises of merely superstitious religion have no power to transform the truly needy.

However, it is clear that this disabled man was given this disability after once not having it. This means, he knew what it was like to be healthy and strong. However, some sin led him to become disable.

God is demonstrating that we do often make mistakes. However, we serve a God that can heal us and free us from our bad mistakes and make us whole (John 5:14).

John 5:16-47

After Jesus healed the man, there’s a theological and spiritual message that comes from the healing of the disabled man. The lesson comes from the controversy Jesus’ behavior on the Sabbath leads to a very important and bold teaching: Jesus is the active agent working on behalf of the Father through the delegated power and purpose of God. In other words, Jesus did what He did and said what He said, because He was the only person in the history of creation delegated to do it.

John 5:17-23

John 5:17–23 CSB

17 Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” 18 This is why the Jews began trying all the more to kill him: Not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal to God. 19 Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, the Son is not able to do anything on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, the Son likewise does these things. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him everything he is doing, and he will show him greater works than these so that you will be amazed. 21 And just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so the Son also gives life to whom he wants. 22 The Father, in fact, judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all people may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

The delegation status of Jesus Christ makes Him the one by which all receive life. However, I often wonder at what point does death really become a problem for mankind? At or before Adam’s transgression. I am inclined to say before Adam’s transgression, because death existed—whether over man or not. Therefore, the problem is the possibility of a problem. Jesus’ compliance to the Father’s will brings resurrection from the grave; the passing from death into life.