And Jesus was saying to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Consequently the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” - Mark 2:27-28
This week we will return to the gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 1-17, as we continue our series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. We will be discussing “An Invalid at the Pool of Bethesda”. This story is only found in John, and is the 3rd of the “signs” recorded in his book. Overall, it is the 10th miracle in our series thus far. Alright, let’s get started…
I. THE SETTING (John 5:1-5)
Jesus departed from Galilee and returned to Jerusalem in order to celebrate an annual Jewish feast. The Bible doesn’t specify which feast it was, but many scholars believe it was either the Feast of Tabernacles or Purim. Near the Sheep Gate, outside of the city at that time, there was a pool called Bethesda that had 5 porticoes, or sheltered porches/colonnades, where a multitude of sick, blind, lame, and otherwise disabled people gathered. According to superstition, whenever an angel of the LORD stirred the waters the first person to get in would be healed. Among those waiting there was a man who’d been lame for 38 years.
The waters in the Pool of Bethesda were believed to have medicinal or healing powers. They were certainly soothing and comforting to those who bathed there, providing some temporary relief, but beyond this there is no evidence that they permanently cured anyone of their illnesses or disabilities. Nevertheless, desperate people gathered there in hopes that this urban legend would prove true. Clearly, the invalid in this story hoped that these waters could heal him.
The Hebrew word Bethesda means “House of Mercy” or “House of Grace”. There are many hospitals around the world today that have the word "Bethesda" in their name. In Biblical times, many sick, injured, or impaired people would go to this pool in hopes of healing, just as today they go to hospitals or clinics. Of course, modern hospitals are a bit more effective than pools…
II. THE SIGN (John 5:6-9a)
While in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda where He met this lame man. Jesus knew that the man had been disabled for many years. Jesus asked him if he wished to be healed. The frustrated man answered that he could never get into the water quick enough to be first, but that someone always beat him to it. Jesus then told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk. Immediately, the lame man became well and did just as Jesus had commanded.
Does it seem strange that Jesus would ask the invalid if he wanted to be healed? The answer seems obvious. Yet, Jesus’ question illustrates an important point. We must want to be healed, not just physically but spiritually. Sadly, there are many who don’t want to be healed, but would rather live in darkness gratifying their sinful desire. Others, like this man, want to be healed but offer excuses why they can’t be. Some believe that they are beyond forgiveness and that God’s grace doesn’t apply to them. The truth is, Jesus can heal and restore anyone who seeks Him.
There were numerous sick and disabled people at the Pool of Bethesda, yet the Bible doesn’t record that Jesus healed any of them other than this lame man… and he didn’t even know who Jesus was. Although it can be hard to accept, experience clearly shows that God doesn't choose to heal everyone. He acts in accordance with His will, and we must trust that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that He knows best. That said, the Bible teaches that God has chosen to spiritually heal any and everyone who will turn to Christ for salvation.
III. THE SABBATH (John 5:9b-13)
As it turns out, Jesus had performed this miracle on the Sabbath day. So when the healed man picked up his pallet and walked home, some of the pious Jews confronted him and charged him with violating the law. The man answered that he was simply doing what he’d been told to do by the one who’d healed him. The Jews asked, “Who was it that healed you?” but the man didn’t know. By this time, Jesus had already slipped away in the crowd.
It is amazing to me that these Jews were more concerned about their extreme, pharisaical interpretation of the law than the fact that this man, who had been lame for 38 years, was completely healed and walking around. They didn’t seem happy or excited at all. On the contrary, they were angry and upset. May we be careful not to display this same type of hypocrisy. We should learn to rejoice with people when good things happen to them, rather than be critical and ungrateful.
IV. THE SAVIOR (John 5:14-17)
A little while later Jesus found the healed man in the temple and warned him not to sin anymore lest something worse happen to him. Apparently Jesus identified Himself because the man hurried and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. They were furious and began slandering and disparaging Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day. Jesus answered them by teaching that the work of the Father (which He was doing) doesn’t stop just because it's the Sabbath, subtly referring to Himself as God.
I tend to think that the healed man went to the temple to express his praise and thanksgiving to the LORD. Furthermore, I believe that Jesus intentionally went and found him there, introduced Himself, and then challenged the man to turn from his sins lest he spend eternity in Hell (“something far worse”). This man needed more than mere physical healing… much more importantly, he needed spiritual healing. My prayer is that he trusted in the Lord for salvation and that we will meet in Heaven someday.
CONCLUSION
What happened that day at the Pool of Bethesda was a healing miracle. Jesus performed it simply by speaking. In so doing, Jesus showed Himself to be greater than superstitions or legends, and again revealed Himself to be the divine Son of God. The physical healing was followed by an invitation for spiritual healing, which is far greater. Perhaps this lame man became a believer and a follower of Christ… I sure hope so.
We have touched on several lessons and applications in today’s sermon. Before I close, let’s review a few of them:
Desperate people will do desperate things, like trusting in superstitions to cure them.
People must want to be healed and offer no excuses for why they can’t be.
It isn’t God’s will to heal everyone physically, but He will forgive anyone who turns to Christ.
We need to rejoice with people when good things happen, rather than criticize and condemn.
God’s work doesn’t take a break on the Sabbath day.
Physical miracles are signs that point to Jesus and the salvation He offers.
We should be more concerned about walking in relationship with the Lord than walking on our legs and feet. That said, please plan to join us again next Sunday as we tackle 2 more occasions during which Jesus performed miracles. See you then.
This week we will return to the gospel of John, chapter 5, verses 1-17, as we continue our series on “The Miracles of Jesus”. We will be discussing “An Invalid at the Pool of Bethesda”. This story is only found in John, and is the 3rd of the “signs” recorded in his book. Overall, it is the 10th miracle in our series thus far. Alright, let’s get started…
I. THE SETTING (John 5:1-5)
Jesus departed from Galilee and returned to Jerusalem in order to celebrate an annual Jewish feast. The Bible doesn’t specify which feast it was, but many scholars believe it was either the Feast of Tabernacles or Purim. Near the Sheep Gate, outside of the city at that time, there was a pool called Bethesda that had 5 porticoes, or sheltered porches/colonnades, where a multitude of sick, blind, lame, and otherwise disabled people gathered. According to superstition, whenever an angel of the LORD stirred the waters the first person to get in would be healed. Among those waiting there was a man who’d been lame for 38 years.
The waters in the Pool of Bethesda were believed to have medicinal or healing powers. They were certainly soothing and comforting to those who bathed there, providing some temporary relief, but beyond this there is no evidence that they permanently cured anyone of their illnesses or disabilities. Nevertheless, desperate people gathered there in hopes that this urban legend would prove true. Clearly, the invalid in this story hoped that these waters could heal him.
The Hebrew word Bethesda means “House of Mercy” or “House of Grace”. There are many hospitals around the world today that have the word "Bethesda" in their name. In Biblical times, many sick, injured, or impaired people would go to this pool in hopes of healing, just as today they go to hospitals or clinics. Of course, modern hospitals are a bit more effective than pools…
II. THE SIGN (John 5:6-9a)
While in Jerusalem, Jesus went to the Pool of Bethesda where He met this lame man. Jesus knew that the man had been disabled for many years. Jesus asked him if he wished to be healed. The frustrated man answered that he could never get into the water quick enough to be first, but that someone always beat him to it. Jesus then told him to get up, pick up his mat, and walk. Immediately, the lame man became well and did just as Jesus had commanded.
Does it seem strange that Jesus would ask the invalid if he wanted to be healed? The answer seems obvious. Yet, Jesus’ question illustrates an important point. We must want to be healed, not just physically but spiritually. Sadly, there are many who don’t want to be healed, but would rather live in darkness gratifying their sinful desire. Others, like this man, want to be healed but offer excuses why they can’t be. Some believe that they are beyond forgiveness and that God’s grace doesn’t apply to them. The truth is, Jesus can heal and restore anyone who seeks Him.
There were numerous sick and disabled people at the Pool of Bethesda, yet the Bible doesn’t record that Jesus healed any of them other than this lame man… and he didn’t even know who Jesus was. Although it can be hard to accept, experience clearly shows that God doesn't choose to heal everyone. He acts in accordance with His will, and we must trust that His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8-9) and that He knows best. That said, the Bible teaches that God has chosen to spiritually heal any and everyone who will turn to Christ for salvation.
III. THE SABBATH (John 5:9b-13)
As it turns out, Jesus had performed this miracle on the Sabbath day. So when the healed man picked up his pallet and walked home, some of the pious Jews confronted him and charged him with violating the law. The man answered that he was simply doing what he’d been told to do by the one who’d healed him. The Jews asked, “Who was it that healed you?” but the man didn’t know. By this time, Jesus had already slipped away in the crowd.
It is amazing to me that these Jews were more concerned about their extreme, pharisaical interpretation of the law than the fact that this man, who had been lame for 38 years, was completely healed and walking around. They didn’t seem happy or excited at all. On the contrary, they were angry and upset. May we be careful not to display this same type of hypocrisy. We should learn to rejoice with people when good things happen to them, rather than be critical and ungrateful.
IV. THE SAVIOR (John 5:14-17)
A little while later Jesus found the healed man in the temple and warned him not to sin anymore lest something worse happen to him. Apparently Jesus identified Himself because the man hurried and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. They were furious and began slandering and disparaging Jesus for healing on the Sabbath day. Jesus answered them by teaching that the work of the Father (which He was doing) doesn’t stop just because it's the Sabbath, subtly referring to Himself as God.
I tend to think that the healed man went to the temple to express his praise and thanksgiving to the LORD. Furthermore, I believe that Jesus intentionally went and found him there, introduced Himself, and then challenged the man to turn from his sins lest he spend eternity in Hell (“something far worse”). This man needed more than mere physical healing… much more importantly, he needed spiritual healing. My prayer is that he trusted in the Lord for salvation and that we will meet in Heaven someday.
CONCLUSION
What happened that day at the Pool of Bethesda was a healing miracle. Jesus performed it simply by speaking. In so doing, Jesus showed Himself to be greater than superstitions or legends, and again revealed Himself to be the divine Son of God. The physical healing was followed by an invitation for spiritual healing, which is far greater. Perhaps this lame man became a believer and a follower of Christ… I sure hope so.
We have touched on several lessons and applications in today’s sermon. Before I close, let’s review a few of them:
Desperate people will do desperate things, like trusting in superstitions to cure them.
People must want to be healed and offer no excuses for why they can’t be.
It isn’t God’s will to heal everyone physically, but He will forgive anyone who turns to Christ.
We need to rejoice with people when good things happen, rather than criticize and condemn.
God’s work doesn’t take a break on the Sabbath day.
Physical miracles are signs that point to Jesus and the salvation He offers.
We should be more concerned about walking in relationship with the Lord than walking on our legs and feet. That said, please plan to join us again next Sunday as we tackle 2 more occasions during which Jesus performed miracles. See you then.