Will You Be Made Well?
Theme:
Text: John 5:1 – 7
Introduction
Before looking at the following story with regard to its practical application, I would like us to consider its theological implications, for in it we find a clear picture of the impotency of tradition and organized religion… Courson Commentary
(John 5:1) After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
(John 5:2) Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda (House of Mercy), having five porches.
This tells us that he was at the right place. At the place of mercy.
5 porches. 5 different lounging places.
The sheep gate is where the sacrifices were brought in.
Getting into the place was easy. There were many locations to get in.
(John 5:3) In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
This was the tradition of the day. There were multitudes of people around on every porch. They were lame, blind and paralyzed. Waiting. When the water was troubled then they would climb in. Supposedly they would be healed.
Waiting on the moving. Waiting on the troubling of the water. Waiting on the stirring.
I am not sure how this works here but what I do see is a picture of the church.
This was the presence of the Lord. They believed an angel would come and trouble the water. We believe that the Holy Ghost comes and troubles, sets on fire, disrupts the congregation.
Act 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.
As in our services when the Holy Spirit falls the there is something stirring in the atmosphere. Why? Faith is high.
Many times there is healing in the atmosphere. The question is do we have faith enough to receive it.
Luke 5:17-20 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. (18) Then behold, men brought on a bed a man who was paralyzed, whom they sought to bring in and lay before Him. (19) And when they could not find how they might bring him in, because of the crowd, they went up on the housetop and let him down with his bed through the tiling into the midst before Jesus. (20) When He saw their faith, He said to him, "Man, your sins are forgiven you."
(John 5:4) 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.
Step into the water by faith. Ezekiel 47. Great illustration of stepping in and going deep.
Again I am not sure of this story but I can tell you that with the Lord when the water is stirring and it is raining in the house the best thing to do is not set back and watch but to get in. Go all in.
(Joh 5:5) Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
Infirmity – impotence. How long 38 years. Now this is not like some others who had been in this place since birth. If it would have we would have been told.
So this man knew what it was like to walk.
(John 5:6) 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?"
"When Jesus saw him" - Jesus sees where we are and He loves us enough not to leave us there.
Now that seems to be an odd question. This man who had been lame for 38 years. Who seemly was sitting at the right place is asked “Do you want to be made well?”
To be healed means change. Change is never easy.
You see change in this mans life means a change of lifestyle. He had gotten used to the position he was in. He was a beggar who made a living off asking from others. This was his lively hood. He had an excuse to be where he was. He was lame. He was hurt. He was broken.
Personal Illustration of Man with son who was a drug addict but in jail. He said he is changed, I hope he is.
Jesus wanted to make him well. The word “well” if from the Greek word hugies it means “to make one whole”. (Strongs) Jesus was not just interested in his physical healing but his whole self.
As we see from vs 7 it was someone else’s fault.
(John 5:7) 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."
Two excuses
Here is the crux of this story.
1) I have no one to help me
I am waiting on someone else to fix my problem. I am waiting on that right word. That right relationship. That right thing that will “fix” me.
2) When I try to get in someone steps in front of me.
This is the whole journey of my life. Everyone else has it better. They get the breaks. They live free while I am bound because of my brokenness. Because of my hurt. Because of my pain.
Honest answer Lord I believe, help my unbelief!
Then one of the crowd answered and said, "Teacher, I brought You my son, who has a mute spirit. And wherever it seizes him, it throws him down; he foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth, and becomes rigid. So I spoke to Your disciples, that they should cast it out, but they could not." He answered him and said, "O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to Me." Then they brought him to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit convulsed him, and he fell on the ground and wallowed, foaming at the mouth. So He asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, [37] all things are possible to him who believes." Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!" Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" So He said to them, "This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting."
(Mar 9:17-29)
(John 5:8) Jesus said to him, "Rise, take up your bed and walk."
Three commands.
1. Rise – we assume this man was lame so to rise would be an impossibility. He had not done this in 38 years. So wow! This took faith
2. Take up your bed. It is time for you to get rid of you problems. It is time to move out.
3. Walk – take action on your change
(John 5:9) And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.
Immediately – right then. By his actions of faith he was made well.
Conclusion - signs
7 Miracles of John
The Seven Miracles In John (signs)
1. Water Into Wine (John 2:1-11) – Power over the natural
2. Healing the Official’s Son (John 4:43-54) – Power over sickness
3. The Healing at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5:1-9) – Power over emotional distress
4. The Feeding of the 5000 (John 6:1-5) – Power of provision
5. Walking on the Water (John 6:16-25) – Power over the elements
6. Healing The Man Born Blind (John 9:1-41) – power over spiritual blindness
7. Raising Lazarus From The Dead (John 11:1-44) – Power over death
Jesus brings complete healing.
