Jesus Brings Healing
On May 23, 1939, the S-4 submarine Squalus sank off of Portsmouth, New Hampshire. The entire crew was trapped in what appeared to be a prison house of death. Eventually though, each of the thirty-three crewmen were rescued. When the rescue squad reached the stricken sub, one of the divers tapped with metal on the hull in an effort to locate the sailors. He then placed his helmet up against the side of the vessel and he heard the familiar tapping – the longs and the shorts – of the Morse Code. What was the message that was being spelled out from within? It was repeating the same question. The question was, "Is... there... any… hope?"
That is the question that people across the world are asking today. Is there any hope. We live in a world of hurt and pain, and we hide our hurts so closely so that no one can ever penetrate and see us for who we really are. And desperately, we search for hope in our lives. Just . . . beneath the surface are scars of past, painful hurts . . . There are wounds that never properly healed . . . There are more recent injuries, something someone said, something someone did, something someone neglected to do. Some hurts go so deep that they shape who you are even today, and some are so incredibly sore that it just takes a word or a look to open the scab, and create fresh hurt on top of hurt. We long for hope, and we long for healing.
If you have your Bible with you this morning, I invite you to turn with me to John 5. If you’re here without a Bible of your own this morning, we have copies in between the chairs. And if you don’t have a Bible of your own, please take one of ours home with you. We’ve been going through John’s gospel and looking at Jesus to see him as he truly is, the son of God come to live among us. John’s goal is that we might place our faith in him. Today, we see Jesus as the one who gives hope.
Watch with me on the screen as we see the passage dramatized for us, and follow along in your Bibles. Show Video Clip***
Prayer – for God to bring us hope and healing
To quickly recap where we are at in our journey through John, we have seen Jesus start his ministry being baptized by John the Baptist, going into the wilderness, calling disciples, and going up north, through Samaria, and spending time in Galilee, centered in Capernaum. He performs his first miracles there and then he returns down to Jerusalem. We see in verse 1 he has come down for a Jewish holy day. Three times a year all Jews went to Jerusalem: Passover, the feast of Tabernacles, and Pentecost. Most likely this is Passover, for John records all 4 Passovers during Jesus’ earthly ministry. If so, this means this is about a year after the events we saw in John 4. The first year of Jesus ministry was a peaceful one of doing signs and the people receiving him gladly. Now, the second year begins, and it will be one of seeing more conflict.
Jesus comes into the city, and he comes to a pool that was called Bethesda, or “house of mercy.” It’s right by the sheep gate, where tradition tells us all the sheep were brought in for sacrifice at the temple. And the pool is filled to overflowing with the sick, blind, lame, anyone who needed healing, for from time to time an angel came and stirred the waters and healed those who reached the water first.
Jesus meets a man there who had a need. He is sick; he has been for 38 years. Think about the discouragement and depression and despair that must have mounted up after all those years of sickness with no healing. He still went through the efforts to be healed, but with no hope.
I’d like us to look at three things Jesus offers.
I. Jesus offers physical healing – Jesus comes to the man, and he begins with a very interesting question. He says, “Would you like to get well?” The first step to healing is to
A. We need to understand the need - Many people are looking for hope in all the wrong places. They are looking for a miracle, but they are hoping to find it in guessing the daily lotto number or striking it rich in a throw of the dice or the deal of the cards. But they don’t admit that they need God’s help.
The man in our lesson today knew he needed help. But Jesus doesn’t stop there.
B. We need to choose healing over hurt.
Many don’t choose healing because healing means losing their income, leaving their friends, or no longer being able to lean on others. And likewise, some of us actually choose to hold onto our hurts,
because we would rather complain, we’re not done seething in anger at those who hurt us, because we know it’ll take WORK to get better, and besides, we rather like the sympathy we get, or the attention, or the feeling of playing the martyr. But Jesus asks, "Do you want to get well?" If you do, then it’s gonna mean admitting your hurt and choosing healing over hurt. "Do you want to get well?" If I heal you, your life will do a complete reversal. You’ll be expected to get a job & relate to people on a different basis. Are you ready for that change? Do you really want to get well?"
Jesus comes and offers this man physical healing that he so desperately needs. But he does much more than that, for he knows that his needs go much deeper.
II. Jesus offers emotional healing - After 38 years of sitting by the pool and watching others get healed, the man must have been completely hopeless. Even though he probably still made attempts at trying to get into the pool, he probably never expected to get healed. Notice he responds to Jesus’ question with an excuse. He casts the blame on others. In verse 7 he says I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred up. Do you see what he’s saying about the depth of his hurt? He’s saying, “I’m not only crippled, but:
#1, “I’m friendless: I have no one to help me.”
#2, “I’m flailing: While I am trying to get in. . . ” I’m straining and struggling and flailing, and it’s not doing any good.
#3, “I’m frustrated: someone else goes down ahead of me."
Does any of that ring a bell with you? Doesn’t that sound like so many of us, in our hurts . . . friendless, flailing, frustrated? We so easily make excuses, especially when we have no hope. What most people need is to be forced to stop saying `can’t’ & say `won’t’ instead." "They need to see what they are really doing, so we make them face up to it by saying, `I just won’t get along with my wife.’ `My husband & I won’t communicate.’ `I won’t discipline my kids the way I should.’ `I won’t find time to pray.’ `I won’t stop gossiping.’ When they change their "can’ts" to "won’ts" they stop avoiding the truth & start facing reality." We need to determine what we really want, & as God’s people, learn to say with the apostle Paul, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" [Philippians 4:13].
Jesus comes and challenges the man to have hope once again. the man had a limited vision. He wants Jesus to stay and put him in the water. Jesus wants to take him away from the pool. The man sees only how God can help him in his circumstances; Jesus sees how his circumstances can be completely changed.
Jesus’ answer was simply, Rise up! There was no pity or patronizing; Jesus told the man to get himself together and walk. At that point the man had two choices - he could remain in his retreat from humanity, or he could trust the stranger with this new idea and get up. But he was called to action. He was called to faith and hope. Jesus does not just offer physical healing, but he reinstills hope in this man once again. He stands, and is healed.
III. Jesus offers spiritual healing - Jesus knows that the greatest need this man has is a spiritual issue. Look in verse 14. It appear that this man’s problem was in some way tied to spiritual issues. It is true that sin has consequences. Our society tries to tell us that we can do anything we want - it’s our choice - we have the right to our bodies - and no one can tell us otherwise. But the truth is we are affected - often tragically - by our sinful choices. But let’s remember that Jesus is able to offer us forgiveness and a new start. If this man’s sickness was really brought on by sin, what Jesus is really offering this man is a new start.
There are other times where Jesus heals and says , “Your sins are forgiven you.” Let’s remember that that is what Jesus ultimately wants to give us today. Forgiveness. A fresh start. Spiritual healing.
Today, do you want to be healed? Are you struggling physically? Michigan winters are notorious for depression and anxiety. Do you have a health need? Remember that God still heals today, and we should ask for physical healing.
How are you doing emotionally? Have you given up hope? Are you looking for God to work in your life? Do you expect him to help you with your attitudes and emotions?
How is your spiritual life? Do you have a right relationship with God? Remember you sin has consequences!
Today, are you ready to stand, pick up your mat, and walk with Christ?
