Blush - Pt. 3 - Pool Parties Or Pity Parties? Series

Blush

Pt. 3 - Pool Parties or Pity Parties?

Cheek coloring moments. We all hate them. That instance in which you would like to crawl in a hole. You thought no one noticed and you discover that everyone saw you fall, fail, make a fool of yourself. You find yourself with a blush.

Like . . .

Society likes to portray and paint Jesus as this passive, gentle, and even soft man. Yet, the truth is that He was controversial, confrontational, and had a tendency to ask people questions that would have reddened their cheeks in embarrassment. I told you last week that Jesus asked some questions that were knee bucklers. He would look someone right square in the eyes and pose questions that would cause folks to blush.

So in week 1 we began in Luke 4:46 and we were asked, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and still don't do the things I say to do?" And out of that we declared that we must become more than followers. We must become obeyers. We must be life locked to Jesus and not just lip locked. Our walk must line up with His talk!

In the 2nd week we examined Mark 4:35-41. It was the account of the disciples blushing at the question "Why don't you have faith yet?" Remember, we have more than enough proof to believe in Jesus! We must have enough faith for our own miracle and we must take Him at and place our trust in His Word!

So, let's wrap this up by looking at another red faced moment that Jesus caused.

Text: John 5:1-9

Soon another Feast came around and Jesus was back in Jerusalem. Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves. Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves. Sometimes an angel of the Lord came down to the pool and stirred up the water. After the angel did this, the first person to go into the pool was healed from any sickness he had. One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don’t have anybody to put me in the pool. By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.” Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot. He picked up his bedroll and walked off.

Jesus is so powerful that people could touch Him and be instantly made whole. He didn't have to notice them. He didn't have to address them. He didn't have to dialogue with them. His power was enough. However, this is an interesting case. Jesus walks into what is basically a hospital ward filled with the sickest of the sick. Those who had tried every means to find wholeness and have miserably come up short. So now they spend their days hoping against hope that they can outrun their sick neighbor to gain access to a healing lottery. Days would go by with no move. Weeks could pass with no water trimmer. Months and no angel siting. It is into this depressing, morbid, hopeless scene that Jesus strolls and stops in front of a long time resident. In fact, Scripture says this man has spent the better part of his life in this place. Jesus knowing this asks either a really stupid or one of the most embarrassing and revealing question He ever posed in Scripture. He asks this 38 year pool side veteran, "Do you want to be whole?" or "Do you want to be healed?"

Of all the gall! I have been here for 38 years every day trying to get healed. I have exited my normal life to wait here for healing. What a ridiculous question. The man answers the question as if Jesus asked him, "Why aren't you healed?" But that isn't what Jesus asked. His question cut right to the quick of the man's heart and I am sure brings about a blush! The same question does the same to us today. Do you want to be whole?

a. Why are we comfortable with our sickness?

The text says this man had been sick for 38 years. He had become accustomed to his disease. His routine was wrapped up in his chains. He probably had his reserved spot around the pool. His comrades had become his friends. He is so wrapped up in his condition that when confronted with an opportunity for change he remains locked in his past rather than seeing the possibility of that moment. He is comfortable with his sickness but Jesus isn’t!