Help Me God, I Feel Helpless Series

Alba 7-28-13 (Revised 10-2-2022)

HELP ME GOD, I FEEL HELPLESS

John 5:1-9

Have you ever felt hopeless — helpless — at the end of your proverbial rope? Have you ever cried out, “God help me”?

That’s a loaded question, because I think we’ve all been there. In one way, or many ways, we’ve been there. When we’re there, we have options, even when we don’t think so.

Today, we’re going to look at a passage which leads us to talk about being hopeless and helpless. In John 5:1-9, we read a story about a question and a healing to a hopeless and helpless man.

1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.

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. 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 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?”

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.”

8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath.

One of the first things that we learn from this account is...

1. THE LORD KNOWS YOUR NEED

Verse 6 “Jesus saw him lying there. He knew that the man had been in that condition for a long time." Jesus saw...and knew.

Richard Jensen, in his book The Crucified Ruler (C.S.S. Publishing Co., Inc., 1987) says, “The IRS knows me by my tax numbers. My state knows me by my driver’s license number. My bank knows me by my account number. My employer knows me by my social security number. My insurance company knows me by my policy number. On and on it goes for you, for me, for everybody. Everybody knows my numbers. I’m not sure that anyone knows me!”

Well, Jesus does. According to John 10: 2-3, Jesus says, “He who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.”

Later Jesus tells us in John 10:14-15 “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own. As the Father knows Me, even so I know the Father.”

What an important message to hear from our crucified and risen Lord. We are known by God! We can be honest with ourselves, with others, and with God, who sees and knows!

And we are known intimately, not just by our numbers. Jesus knows us personally. He knows us by our character. He knows what is in our heart and soul. He knows us by our name.

Remember what the woman at the well said about Jesus? She said,

“He told me all that I ever did.” John 4:39

Jesus knew about Judas. He knew in advance that Judas would betray Him. Look in John 6:64,“For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were who did not believe, and who would betray Him.”

Jesus knows everything. He can see down inside, what we are thinking and feeling. We don’t need to cover it up. We shouldn't kid ourselves. Jesus knows our problems,... and the solutions. He knows our malady AND our cure!

Think of the songs we sing: "Jesus knows all about our struggles" and another...

"No one understands like Jesus. Every woe He sees and feels.

Tenderly He whispers comfort. Every broken heart He heals."

These words are true. We can take heart. We may feel helpless, but God sees us, not for who we are, but for our potential. And He doesn’t throw the clay away. He continues molding and shaping.

When God saved us He didn’t just see us as the sinner we ’were’...He saw the ’thou shalt be!’

So, when someone doesn’t like who you are, ask them to be patient, because God’s not finished with you yet! Tell them "He’s still workin’ on me."

But according to our text for this morning, we discover that just like this helpless man, we are not only personally known by God, with all of the positive qualities we may have, but known as well by our shortcomings, our failures and our needs.