Wilt Thou Be Made Whole

Introduction: We are here this morning with the intentions of going out following prayer time to spread the Gospel.

Oftentimes, I can find myself getting discouraged in the results.

Unfortunately, there seems to be a lot more rejection of the Lord Jesus Christ then there are those that receive Jesus Christ as their Savior.

And even though we have many verses in the Bible that prepare us for this truth, it can still seem like at times that our efforts on Saturday and throughout the week are worthless.

I want us to look at this short passage this morning in John chapter 5, that I pray will be an encouragement to you.

Read John 5:1-6

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda [that means by the way House of mercy], having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 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. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 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?

Let’s pray

I want you to make note of this expression in John chapter 5 in verse 6, “Wilt thou be made whole?”

As we consider this passage of Scripture and the situation that the Holy Spirit gives us, let us see a few things.

I. The religious center of the nation of Israel.

Here we are told that Jesus is in Jerusalem and as is often recorded for us, He was present for those feasts that were required by God for the Jews to attend.

Of course, He is God in the flesh, but the Bible tells us that He came not to destroy the law or the prophets but to fulfill the law.

In other words, all the failings of the Jewish people to follow after the covenant they made with God there at mount Sinai with Moses, He would fulfill; the whole law.

Not only that, but He would also fulfill all that was spoken about concerning Himself, the Messiah; the Anointed One.

But I would like for you to note that this was the place that you would expect folks to receive Jesus the Christ. If there was anywhere in the entire world that folks should be ready to receive Him who was spoken about in the law and the prophets, this was the place.

This was the capital of religion for the Jews. This was where the Temple was, this was were the Rabbis taught and had their students. This was the single place in all the earth that you would expect people to receive the Messiah.

And yet in spite of this, you and I are told in the Scriptures that they despised and rejected Him. The One to whom they were looking for!

You and I live in what is know as the Bible belt. We live in the great country, The United States of America. That Light of the World. That Christian nation!

The city on hill, the center of evangelism and World Missions.

Notice also, the second fact presented to us:

II. There was a great multitude of folks that needed healing.

Here we see in this scene given to us by the Holy Spirit a picture of humanity in general.

Of course, these folks had real physical maladies.

But every one of the Lord’s miracles were done with a purpose. Of course God care greatly for our physical health. we think about the fact that even though our bodies are under the sentence of corruption God has set bounds on the general longevity of it. He has allowed our bodies to be self healing until the appointed time that He takes us home. The Bible says, that He feels our infirmities.

I want you to understand however that these miracles were intended to signify who He was and also teach truth.

In this case, we see a scene unfolding that is very traumatic.

Imagine if you will coming into to a place where everywhere you look there is death, disease and destruction!

These were folks the Bible describes as being impotent - that means powerless, blind - unable to see, halt - unable to move, withered - atrophied from that existence.

And this is the situation. Everywhere you look there is great need.

Spiritually speaking this is where we are today, in the city center of religion.

Where churches are on every corner, where men and women everywhere claim to know who Jesus is and yet the vast majority are impotent, blind, halt, and withered.

We find that the Bible tells us that there were in expectation, they were waiting for something.

They knew they needed to be healed, but it was a futile effort.

There was something missing.

Please never mistake this, that the Gospel is what people need. The Lord Jesus Christ the Savior is what they need.

They need to know Him as there Savior. Regardless of whether the individuals we talk to or give a tract to or hang a doorhanger on their door. Regardless of whether they receive or reject it is still what they need.

III. There is a choice to be made, but you can’t make it for them.

It is the most difficult thing in the world, to understand the end result of someones rejection of Jesus Christ.

I imagine if this man had said “no” I will not be made whole, we would not be reading of him rising, taking up His bed and walking.

This is what is being communicated in this miracle. The Lord Jesus Christ asks this man, the same question, every man must answer when presented the Gospel....