Power In The Water?

Introduction

Opening Hymn: More About Jesus 245

Closing Hymn: Power in the Blood 294

Nineteen kilometres from my home in Bristol, England, is the World Heritage city of Bath.

In the city centre you can visit a restaurant — where I’d go for afternoon tea and a slice of cake — called the Pump Room.

Next to the Pump Room is a much more ancient structure, a Roman temple built around 3 hot springs, where the Romans built baths.

These hot Springs rise to a temperature of 46° and the water contains 43 minerals. Because there was no natural explanation to the springs the Romans believed that they came from the Gods.

Thus, over the years claims have been made about their curative powers from curing diabetes, arthritis, improving the condition of the kidneys, the lungs as well as the skin and many other ailments.

It was believed, and some still do believe today, that there’s power in the water.

[Pray]

Scripture: John 5:1-9

In the opening of chapter 5, we have an account of a man who is paralysed.

We don't know his name; we don't know his age; we don’t know anything about this man except for one thing - he waited 38 years by the pool of Bethesda in the hope that he would be cured of his disability.

I can't imagine putting my life on hold for 38 years. If I were to count back 38 years it would take me to 1984 (I was 21 at that time).

Can you envisage wanting something so badly that you are prepared to wait for that length of time?

Before we delve into a bit more detail about this encounter, if you read from John, chapter 4 you'll notice that there are three incidents that indirectly involve water:

Water x 3

The first incident occurs in verse 1 of chapter 4 where Jesus is wrongly accused of baptising people; yes people were being baptised but by John the Baptist. The Bible clearly says that Jesus did not baptise.

The second incident is Jesus's encounter with the Samaritan woman that takes place at a well that the Samaritan woman implies is more important to her identity and culture than Jesus could be. She would soon learn otherwise.

And the third incident is Jesus traveling back to Cana where at the wedding feast he turned water into wine and as a result many who attended the wedding believed in him.

It is very clear that water played a central role in peoples traditions and belief systems. It wasn't just the Romans who thought that there was power in water.

In Jesus’ day water wasn’t just a commodity it was a very primary resource in the economical, social and spiritual life of Jewish society.

Is it any wonder that this paralysed man put his life on hold for 38 years for something special to happen? Only water could have that kind of impact on someone's life.

A Place of Contradictions

As we read about this encounter between Jesus and the paraytic what evolves are a number of contradictions:

House of Mercy

Let’s begin with the name Bethseda meaning House of Mercy. It feels to me that over 38 years this man had no mercy from anyone.

A Place of Healing

It was meant to be a place of healing yet it was filled with a multitude of sick anf dying people. Compare that to when Jesus was in town:

Mark 6:56 NLT

Wherever he went—in villages, cities, or the countryside—they brought the sick out to the marketplaces. They begged him to let the sick touch at least the fringe of his robe, and all who touched him were healed.

A Place of Hope

It was meant to be a place of hope, but with each year his hope of healing faded. We don't know when he lost all hope, but when Jesus found him all hope had vanised.

Jesus to the Rescue

When help finally arrived he thought there is still, after 38 years, power in that water. When help arrived he still made excuses.

Don’t Stand For Something, Fall For Anything

There’s a saying that if you “If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.” There are too many of us willing to accept mediocrity and rubbish in our lives because we don’t stand for anything.

How many of us for example are trampled on and disrepected in our homes or in our work and we settle for it,? That’s what happens when you’re beaten down and stepped upon.

This man wasn’t just paralyzed physically, he was paralyzed emotionally, spiritually and mentally.

But, when Jesus entered into his life that changed, notice this interaction between him and the Jewish leaders:

John 5:9–11 (NLT)

Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking! But this miracle happened on the Sabbath, so the Jewish leaders objected. They said to the man who was cured, “You can’t work on the Sabbath! The law doesn’t allow you to carry that sleeping mat!” But he replied, “The man who healed me told me, ‘Pick up your mat and walk.’ ”

He stood up literally and spiritually to those Jewish leaders, you can almost hear it in his voice.

Brothers and sisters when you come to accept Jesus in your life, not only do you stand for something, but you stand in Jesus’ confidence and power!

Conclusion

How does this story relate to baptism? There are some people who think that there is something supernatural about baptism, and like the Romans, they think that there is power in the water.

Baptism is important but it’s only an outward sign of what is happening on the inside and in fact the most important baptism has nothing to do with water. According to John the Baptist:

John 1:33 (NLT)

I didn’t know he was the one, but when God sent me to baptize with water, he told me, ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and rest is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’

This is where the power lies in Him who baptises with the Holy Spirit. Note the words of the author Dennis Smith:

Dennis Smith, Spirit Baptism and the 1888 Message of Righteousness By Faith, 19

Understanding and experiencing the baptism of the Holy Spirit is essential for the Christian to experience Christ’s continual presence in our lives...If we do not understand and experience the baptism of the Holy Spirit, we will not enjoy the fullness of Christ living in us, we will not have His righteousness manifested in us, or have the victories necessary to become just like Jesus and be ready for His second coming (1 John 3:2). Also, our service for Him will be less fruitful.

I believe there are still some Christians who have placed their hopes in a water baptism. If you have, I’m sorry to say this but you are spiritually paralysed.

But there is hope, because today Jesus is saying to you “get up and walk”.

Today, Jesus wants to give you power. Power that can transform your life.

Nearness to him, intimacy with him, assimilation to his character—these are the elements of a ministry of power. HORATIUS BONAR

Power in the water? No, there’s power in Jesus