After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. 5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? 7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. 8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath. John 5:1-9 KJV
And many other signs truly did Jesus in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book: 31 But these are written, that ye might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing ye might have life through his name. John 20:30-31 KJV
I've always had a slight dislike for this man because of John 5:15! However my dislike is irrelevant because the Bible says this was written that we might believe! So let's dive right in, believing the Holy Spirit for revelation knowledge and enlightening!
A. WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? DUH! YOU THINK?
Let's see:
The man had been there a long time.
He had that infirmity for 38 years!
He was by the pool for one purpose only: Healing!
And here comes, (to him), a total stranger asking the obvious! Wilt thou be made whole?
So it seems as though Jesus asked a stupid and silly question huh, which deserved an equally stupid and silly response?
Aren't we all tempted to be a smart aleck with the wisecrack and obnoxious comeback? Sometimes we may be a wee bit polite and refrain from vocalizing what we really think, but it's there all the same!
But remember this!!!
God's foolishness is wiser than men!
He never asks foolish questions! He never voices the redundant! HE'S RELEVANT!
Every Word is for a purpose and it WILL accomplish that purpose. We can chose to respond foolishly and lose out big time, or take Him seriously at His Word, when He lays down the challenge!
When someone has been in a unfortunate way for a long time, sad things happen.
1. We can become accustomed and adapted to the condition until we accept it as the norm. When this happens our vision becomes hampered and nearsighted. We no longer see the big picture! We just potter around mentally in our tiny world! It's so tiny because it consists of only three persons; me, myself and I. Oh no, that's really only one person!
2. We can lose hope and become caught and entangled in the bondage of discouragement and bitterness. Discouragement and bitterness are a faith-killing tag team!
When what we expect does not happen, it can be discouraging! Ask Elijah! When discouraged, we are ready to give up and let things run their course. We fall into the "whatever" mode, using that offensive and impolite one word statement of dismissive indifference! Bitterness is generally tagged in quickly, and not only does the affected ones end up with a confused and distorted outlook, living in silent resentment, but they become carriers of the deadly disease, affecting others with whom they associate! Its poisonous influence can destroy a whole congregation! Ask Joshua and Caleb!
3. We can go through the motions even though we have given up. We are now doing something, not because we want to, but because we're expected to! There's no joy, no eagerness, no sense of anticipation and expectancy! Just a dull routine, and a despondent discharge of duty! We exhibit the hanging hands, feeble knees and twisted feet mentioned in Hebrews 12:15!
This man was waiting there and kept trying! He never gave up.
The man could have said like so many of us today: "DUH! Why do you think I am here?" But he didn't! His answer to Jesus shows something about his character. He never gave up! He never stopped trying. Somebody was always there before him, but he kept on trying. He had one motive, one focus, one goal! To get to the pool when it was stirred! He did not know who Jesus was! He did not know Who was standing before him! But his future depended on his response. Would it be cynical hopelessness? Would it be angry at the unfairness?
He said, While I am coming another steps down before me. But he never stopped coming! He never stopped trying!
Some of us have given up! We now live under a covering of indifference and cynical skepticism. We come to church and go through the motions, then go out and continue our ordinary lives, because we have given up on the inside. We have stopped trying. We have adopted the form of godliness, and are doubtful about the power, or have denied the power. We have allowed unbelief to slowly settle into all the tiny spaces of our persona. We have allowed it to slowly harden and stiffen in our hearts creating an unyielding statue!
For 38 years but he never gave up! He kept going to the altar! He kept trying even though he never got it. And that is what Jesus wanted to hear! What is my attitude telling God about me today? Have I given up, and am I just going through the motions?
B. WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? HUH! WHO'S ASKING?
THE CREATOR! The Bible introduces God as creator! "In the beginning GOD CREATED!"
The creative power of God is immense and beyond human imagination! Think of the tiny invisible atom, and the energy contained in the nucleus of combined protons and neutrons! Think of the city-shattering energy released, when atomic nuclei are split as an atom bomb is detonated! Mass changes into enormous amounts of energy!
Einstein defined the amount of energy in his equation E=mc2 where energy (E) is mass (m) multiplied by the speed of light (c) squared.
The "Little Boy" bomb used in the Hiroshima bombing of August 6, 1945 employed 141 lbs of enriched uranium of which less that 2 lbs underwent nuclear fission. There was total destruction one mile in diameter while within a two and a half mile diameter everything flammable burned!
In the reverse, give or take errors in calculation, that vast amount of energy, stored up in that small amount of material is what was required to make the atomic nuclei stay together and was used in creating it! Now think of the mass of the earth which is about 1.3 x 1025 pounds, very small by astronomical numbers! Think of the millions, nay billions, nay trillions, who knows, of planets and stars in the universe! The energy locked up in them beggars description and staggers the mind! All that incomprehensible amount of energy, required to bring about all the mass of the universe, resulted when God spoke and said Let there be!!! The power of God's Words is displayed in creation!
For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast. Psalms 33:9 KJV
Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Hebrews 11:3 KJV
Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Hebrews 1:3 KJV
The Word of His Power!
It upholds all things!
Should the Word fail all things disappear! Can you imagine what happens when the Word no longer upholds all things?
When the day of the Lord comes and the Lord withdraws the upholding power of His Word things will suddenly go KABOOOOOOOM!
But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up. 2 Peter 3:10 KJV
The creation is, every single moment, solid evidence of the creative, sustaining Power of The Word! We're surrounded by His upholding power! That power is around us, above us, beneath us and WITHIN US! Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Ephesians 3:20 KJV. That power works within us.
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 KJV
Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Proverbs 30:5 KJV. His Word is Pure Energy and Power!
This Word is that by which we are born again! Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever. 1 Peter 1:23 KJV
It is no coincidence that Jesus is called the Word of God!
And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. Revelation 19:13 KJV
John 1:1-2 KJV In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John 1:14 KJV
AND THAT WORD WAS ASKING THE MAN "WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?"
C. WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE? UH! WELL, DO YOU?
How much did the Syrophoenician woman want a healing for her daughter? She ignored insults to get her prayer answered. She wanted that healing badly! She wanted only the crumb that was discarded! It was enough for the healing and deliverance she desired!
How much did Bartimaeus want to see? He was willing to create a scene to see the scenery! He wanted to see so badly! He wanted the attention of the WORD, and was determined to continue making himself a public nuisance until he got that attention!
The centurion understood the authority and power of the WORD The centurion answered and said, Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof: but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. Matthew 8:8 KJV
The woman with the issue of blood wanted only to touch the hem of the garment belonging to the WORD!
"WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?" The Word challenges you and it is no idle challenge, no passing whim or fancy! The Word is REAL! The question is real!
How long will we continue to take it? To roll with the punches, taking everything as they come without fighting back? How long will we continue to remain aloof, untouched, unmoved in unbelief? How long will we continue to give slick answers; to live slick answers! O LORD, the hope of Israel, all that forsake thee shall be ashamed, and they that depart from me shall be written in the earth, because they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living waters. 14 Heal me, O LORD, and I shall be healed; save me, and I shall be saved: for thou art my praise. Jeremiah 17:13-14 KJV
Broken lives, broken families, broken relationships, broken up people! Wretched lives, ignoring the WORD Who came in flesh, and offered Himself up on Calvary!
Why?
So that His Body can be broken for us! So that the WORD can be a part of us, and we a part of Him! So that His Blood can validate, authenticate and substantiate the covenant between us and Father, where all He has is now ours, and all our broken, battered, beaten and bruised lives are handed to Him for healing and re-creation! So that we're no more strangers but children, beloved of Father, and drawn to Him with cords of Love! So that we can touch Life, be connected with Life! So that we can live where the healing waters flow and that Life can flow through us!
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Romans 1:16 KJV
But the word of the Lord endureth for ever. And this is the word which by the gospel is preached unto you. 1 Peter 1:25 KJV
SO! WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?
