Jesus Will Go Out Of His Way To Get To You

Title: Jesus Will Go Out of His Way to Get to You

Theme: Shows that Jesus will do whatever it takes to get to us.

Text: John 5:1 - 9

Joh 5:1-9 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, [17] 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. [18] (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.

Introduction

"5:1 All Jewish males were required to come to Jerusalem to attend three feasts: (1) the Festival of Passover and Unleavened Bread, (2) the Festival of Weeks (also called Pentecost), and (3) the Festival of Shelters. Though this particular holy day is not specified, the phrase explains why Jesus was in Jerusalem.” - Expositors Commentary on John

Jesus being a “good Jew” was entering into Jerusalem to attend one of these feasts. We are not told which one but He was “fulfilling” His requirement as a Jew.

Notice what happens next, there was this pool that was in Jerusalem near the “Sheep Gate” which was one of the entrance gates in Jerusalem. Here many people believed that there was healing properties in the water, but you had to get “in the water”. Jesus goes over to this place.

Here He meets a man who had had an infirmity for 38 years. Wow! I am not sure how long he had been coming here but I could imagine it was a long time. His problem was his infirmity kept him from getting in. Then there was the problem of no one helping him. Why? 1) the others were just like him and they needed a miracle also, they were focused on their miracle 2) the people who were well were not stopping by, they were busy 3) he had been tossed by the “wayside”. But thank the Lord Jesus stops by the wayside. He cares for those who cannot care for themselves. He meets him where he was, even if Jesus has to go out of His way.

You don’t believe me?

Ask the Woman at the well – John 4

Vs. 4 KJV “He must needs to go through Samaria”

Vs. 4 NKJV “He needed to go through Samaria”

Why? There was a woman that was coming to the well that needed salvation. It was not His normal routine. Jews did not travel through Samaria. But there was a woman who needed salvation. Jesus will got out of His way to bring salvation.

Romans 5:6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Ephesians 2:13-16 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. (14) For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, (15) having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, (16) and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity.

God initiated salvation. God finds us to save us. It is God who reconciles man to Himself.

Image of Jesus knocking at the door in Revelation 3.

Jesus will go out of His way to save us.

You don’t believe me?

Ask the disciples in the boat in Matthew 14:22 – 33

The disciples find themselves in the middle of a torrential storm. They are frantically rowing just to keep the ship upright. I am not even sure if the effort was to get back to the shore or just to keep the boat on top of the water. Seems like they are just trying “not to sink”. Have you ever been there?