Lessons from A Pool Party
John 5:1-9
Introduction
Let’s suppose that I had in my hand one big lollipop and I heard outside of this window a whole bunch of children playing. So being the generous person that I am, I decide that I going to go outside and find the neediest child and give them the lollipop. It is great gesture on my part but some of you might angry at me because I didn’t give your child a lollipop. Some of you might get angry at me for giving to one child and not to the others. Most of you might think that was not just of me to give that lollipop to one child in front of all the other children.
Now let me ask you a question. Do you think Jesus is just? But what if Jesus would walk into an area that is filled with people that are blind, lame and paralyzed and pick out only one person to heal; why is He not unjust like you just said that I was?
In our passage of Scripture tonight, Jesus performed only one miracle in front of a whole bunch of people who each needed a miracle.
Since I know in my heart that Jesus is not unjust; He was not doing something to contradict His nature; then there has to be something else that is happening that Jesus wants to call my attention to and teach me through this passage.
So tonight, I want us to learn some lessons from this pool party, when Jesus heals the disabled man, who had been disabled for thirty-eight years.
I. Jesus’ question reveals that not every sick person wants to be healed.
John 5:6 “When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?”
You don’t see every alcoholic or drug addict beating down the doors of a treatment center demanding to be let in so that they can find healing.
You don’t even find people who are physically sick going to the doctor until sometimes later when their illness has gotten a whole lot worse.
And when I’m the first one to drive up on Wednesday night or Sunday morning, I don’t notice a crowd of people knocking at the church doors yelling I can not wait to be saved- let us in now!
Could it be that some of things that I am going through in my life are simply because I don’t want to get well. I am not willing to let go of my problem. I would rather hold on to my problem and be in control of it then hand in over to Jesus and lose control.
So, I think a legitimate question that I must ask myself is: “Do I want to be healed?”
II. Noticed where the disabled man is laying.
John 5:2 “Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.”
He is lying near the Sheep Gate by the Five Colonnades near the pool of Bethesda. This would have been an area of great wealth and prosperity. It would have been a place that if you were touring the area as a visitor that you really would want to put on your itinerary as a must see.
Now picture the people that are there they have two things in common: despair and sickness. Despite all the wealth and prosperity right there; they were stuck in their despair and illness.
God has all this vast wealth of things available for us. But in spite of all that there are people who would stay stuck in their sickness and despair.
Think what happens when a lost person dies. They had the potential of all that God has and instead they chose to remain in their sin.
It is the same picture as this place.
III. Jesus picks out the one who is probably the worst of the worst.
John 5:5 “One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.”
John 5:7 “"Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.”
Certainly, thirty years, I would say that he has been there one of the longest times. He is the senior citizen of lying in this spot. Secondly, his situation is kind of hopeless. If in 38 years, he has not been the first to the pool when it was stirred what would give him any hope that sometime in the next 38 years he might some how be the first to the pool.
Jesus picks him out because He wants to show us that nothing is impossible for God. There is no problem too big; there is no sinner too bad that God can not save.
He teaches us that whatever the situation, we should not give up hope because our God can do the impossible.
IV. Notice the invalid takes Jesus at His Word?
John 5:9 “At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath,”
There was no hesitation on the man’s part. He took Jesus at His Word.
When He tells you that you are forgiven; do you without hesitation release the guilt that you were carrying?
When He tells us that He will provide; do you without hesitation release the worry that fills your mind?
Conclusion
Actually, by healing this man Jesus was not being unjust. By healing this man, He was teaching us that He can bring healing into everyone’s life. No matter what your situation- nothing is impossible for God.
