## Believe in Miracles: Healing at the Pool of Bethesda

## John 5:1-9

John's Gospel is different from the others in that his primary goal is not to give men a historical treatment of the life of Jesus. John's purpose is to exalt the person of Jesus so that men believe on Him and be saved.

(John 20:30-31) And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: {31} But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name.

In our study of the miracles we find in the Gospel of John we have considered Jesus turning the water into wine, and healing the nobleman's son, both in Cana of Galilee. Now our attention is brought to Jerusalem and to a man who has been unable to walk for 38 years. Our text is found in John chapter five.

Read: John 5:1-9

As we said last week, Jesus' miracles were not done in cookie-cutter fashion. That is one thing that is exciting to me. It speaks to the Lord's authority here on earth. It really is less about the miracle, and more about the miracle worker, Jesus. Let's consider the miracle before us today.

I. A Sick Man v1-5

A. John tells us he is a disabled man

1. According to the Scriptures, this man had lived with this infirmity for 38 years.

2. He had been sick longer than Jesus had been on the earth!

3. The Bible simply says that this man had an "infirmity".

4. This word means that he had some weakness or frailness that prevented him from walking about as other men.

5. As such, he is a picture of the sinner who is lost and separated from God by his sins.

(Isa 59:2) But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

(Rom 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

a. Regardless of what he tries, the sinner is still lost and unable to walk in the ways of the Lord.

b. The sinner may be able to put on a good show and have all the appearances of being right with God…

c. But the fact remains that God knows the heart of the sinner and He knows that the sinner is still dead until he tastes of the life that can only be found in the Lord Jesus Christ.

B. John tells us that he is a disappointed man v7

1. He tells Jesus that every time he is about to get into the water, someone else beats him there and goes away with the healing instead.

2. Year after year, he has seen his hopes and dream shattered as another person beats him into the healing waters.

3. A man can try many things to bring peace and salvation to the soul.

4. He can try works, religion, goodness, giving, praying, etc, but none of these things will ever be able to save the soul of man.

5. It takes the blood of Jesus to accomplish this.

6. Whatever a person may decide to try, outside of Jesus, they will be sadly disappointed.

C. John also tells us that he is not alone. v3

1. This man was surrounded by others who were in the same shape as himself.

2. They offered him no comfort and they offered him no help.

3. They were as desperate as he was to be released from their own prisons.

II. A Sympathetic Savior v6a

A. Notice His great grace.

1. According to the passage, there was a "great multitude" there that day.

2. Jesus could have gone to any person in that place, yet for His own reasons, He went to this man. Why?

3. This is nothing but pure grace!

4. Grace = unmerited favor; Bethesda means "House of kindness."

5. "Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me"

6. We have done nothing to deserve His love.

7. We have done nothing to earn our salvation.

8. It is only by His grace that we can be saved!

B. Notice His great care.

1. Jesus knew everything there was to know about this man!

2. He knew that he was crippled, that he was unable to walk, that he was unable to stand and carry his own bed.

3. Jesus knew that this man was totally dependent upon others for everything he had in life.

4. Yet, Jesus reached out to him anyway!

5. Jesus looks beyond our faults and our failures and cares for us in spite of our sins.

(Rom 5:8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

6. Isn't it an awesome thought that Jesus knows everything about us, and yet He loves us?

(Mark 2:17) When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

III. A Supernatural Experience v6b-9

A. He makes the man an offer.

1. Jesus asked him if he would like to be healed.

2. The man responds by appealing to the flesh and tells Jesus that he has no one to help him into the pool.

3. This man makes the same mistake that many make today.

4. They only think in terms of the flesh.

5. But this was an offer for supernatural healing!

6. Even today, Jesus comes to the lost sinner and makes an offer of salvation.

a. The common responses are, I am not good enough, I can't hold out, I have been too wicked, It won't work for me, etc.

b. The problem is that people are looking for a physical solution to a spiritual problem.

c. The sinner needs to be saved!

d. That is something that no man can do for himself!

e. It takes the power of God, the conviction of the Spirit and the blood of Jesus to accomplish this for the sinner.

B. Salvation is by faith.

1. Jesus tells the man to get up and walk.

2. Jesus just told this man to do something that he hasn't been able to do in 38 years, if ever.

3. However, all that was required on the part of this man is simple, child like faith and obedience to the call of Jesus.

4. Jesus comes to men who have lived their entire lives in the grip of sin.

5. He passes by and says, "Get out of the gutter and follow me!"

6. Some refuse because it sounds too simple.

7. Jesus doesn't require perfection; He just requires faith in Him!

C. The result of faith.

1. When this man responded to Jesus' command by faith, he was immediately healed and he was able to get up and walk.

2. All that this miracle required from the crippled man was trust and obey.

3. Jesus calls all to be saved, and all that is required is to trust and obey.

IV. The Scornful Jews v10-16

A. It was the Sabbath! [10-12]

(Jeremiah 17:21) Thus saith the LORD; Take heed to yourselves, and bear no burden on the sabbath day, nor bring it in by the gates of Jerusalem;

1. They are upset because of their over concern for the Sabbath.

(Mark 2:27-28) And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

2. This reveals their problem of focus.

3. Instead of rejoicing in the healing of this man's infirmity, they were complaining about him carrying his bedroll.

4. Talk about not seeing the forest for the trees!

5. Jesus was bringing rest to this man who had been sick for 38 years.

6. His response to the Jews who were questioning him, 'I am just doing what I was told to do!'

B. Who told you to do this? [13-15]

1. I don't know!

2. He had not heard of Jesus…unlike the Nobleman in chapter four, he wasn't looking for the Lord…the Lord came looking for Him.

3. Later Jesus found him again, and gave him an exhortation: Sin no more!

4. Perhaps this indicates that his infirmity was due to sinful behavior…or it could be that the Lord was challenging him to live the rest of his life for God's glory.

5. Failure to do so would bring the chastening of the Lord.

(Hebrews 12:6) For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.

6. Now he has the answer to their question; he tells the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

C. Who does He think He is?

1. Rather than rejoicing in what had taken place, the Jews are angry.

2. They begin to plot and plan to kill Him.

3. Jesus tells them more than they want to hear.

4. The rest of the chapter is very important as the Lord reveals Himself to them.

5. Note: v40

(John 5:40) And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.

Next time: Feeding the 5000 John 6:1-14