INTRODUCTION
Outline
1. The Man’s Complaint
2. The Master’s Compassion
3. The Master’s Commission
Remarks
1. The setting of the lesson is one of joy and celebration. The background of the lesson is, this was Jesus’ return to the city of Jerusalem after performing several miracles. His first visit was to turn water into wine at a wedding. His second was to heal a nobleman’s son, as a result of his faith. John says: “This again is the second sign Jesus did when He had come out of Judea into Galilee,” John 4:54. “After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,” John 5:1. It was one of the feast days of the Jews (the Passover). There was singing, eating and laughter throughout the entire city for many. However, on a porch some where in the same city, at a pool called Bethesda, there was no celebration, no feasting, and no laughter, and no dining or eating. For many that lay there were sick of all types of diseases and illnesses. There was great pain and suffering for many.
2. First, we will discuss the man’s complaint. Our Lord chose not to eat at the house of a friend that he may pass by this pool in order to find a patient, to whom He would shower with compassion and healing. For this patient, like all others sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed; laid there waiting for the troubling of the water. The Lord asked this patient: “wilt thou be made whole?” And the man said to Jesus: “I have no man to put me in the water…” Only one man would be cure this day; when the Lord came to this pool, in answer to the prayers and hope of this man, who was paralyzed.
3. Secondly, we will notice the master’s compassion. The Lord had seen his faith, through the many times he made an attempt to get into the pool while the water was troubled. Our Lord had compassion on the man and said; “Rise, take up thy bed and walk,” verse 8. “And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath,” verse 9. The Lord did not inquire of his faith; nor did the man state that he had faith. His persistency and patience over the course of 38 years demonstrated his faith in God; and hope of getting into the pool next time, to be cure of his affliction.
4. Lastly, we will describe the master’s commission. The Lord found the man healed in the temple, giving thanks to God for his healing. The master instructed him: “See you have been made well. Sin no more, lest the worst thing come upon you,” verse 14. “The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole,” verse 15. My question for you this day: “wilt thou be made whole?” Let's consider our first point.
BODY OF LESSON
I THE MAN'S COMPLAINT
A. The Apostle John writes of a “certain man (in a pitiful state) was there, which had an infirmity,” verse 5. He was a man who lacked friends; he was helpless, but not hopeless. "He laid there with a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water." Bethesda, meant - the house of mercy. Some how God's mercy had seemed to overlooked this man for some thirty eight years. The time of this miracle was during the feast of the Jews; that is the Passover, for it was the most celebrated feast. Many of these sick people were brought by family and friends – and left at the pool during this time, as they attended the many celebrations in the city.
1. It seems the man was forgotten by family, friends, and even those who once laid there with him, but were healed after getting into the pool. There are many today who haven't had one day of peace; one day without pain; one day without feeling helpless; as they lay hopelessly without family and friends, seeing their bodies wasting away. They lay at their own pool. And, some in their own pools. Illustrate: Nursing Homes. How are your family members doing?
2. And we complain about our aches, and pains, and the discomfort of sitting to long on hard pews/chairs. We are blessed; and don't even know it. Illustrate: Our afflictions; our infirmities. They are light weight. Paul writes: “For our light afflictions, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory,” 2 Corinthians 4:17. “Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivereth him out of them all,” Psalms 34:19.
3. And to the young preacher. Paul encourages: “But watch thou in all things, endure afflictions, do the work of an evangelist, make full proof of thy ministry,” 2 Timothy 4:5.
4. James says: “Is any among you afflicted? Let him pray…” James 5:13. Don’t complain, just pray. Pray that the Lord “wilt make you whole.” The word “whole,” is hygiçs. This is where we get our English word hygiene; to be clean or cleanliness. There is a more serious affliction facing all mankind. The affliction of sin and ungodliness.
B. The Lord seen the man’s faith, patience and hope. He made many attempts to get to the water for years. John writes: "When Jesus saw him lie; and knew that he had been now a long time in that case (condition), he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?" Verse 6. This man had this affliction and laid at this pool, at least six-eight years before Jesus was born – or “became flesh.” The Lord witness this man’s faith while yet in heaven-before his incarnation. And Jesus was moved to action by his faith, patience and persistency! We should all pray to have the faith and patience of this man. He was not forgotten! The Lord knew where he was; and how long he had been there. Your afflictions, trials and sufferings are not unnoticed or forgotten by the Lord.
C. Notice the man’s complaint. When Jesus asked about his condition and healing, the man’s complaint: "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."
1. There were no complaints of suffering, no desires for pity, or cries of foul play, merely "I have no one to put me in the water." Some would have given up by now. As they watch others step down in the water before them. But not this man, he struggled many times; dragging his lifeless frame to water’s edge. Only to witness someone else stepping down into the pool before him.
2. He never quit trying, though he never got into the pool. This is what Paul meant in 2 Cor 4:16-18 "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day..." The lesson is simple; keep trying, keep praying. God will make a way for your healing, your cure and your forgiveness.
D. The angel’s preparation for healing, in the pool. The angel troubled the water. He like others waited for the angel to trouble the water. This reply lets me know he understood the place where healing was to occur, and that is; in the pool. Illustrate: Healing in the church.
1. The prophet Zechariah: "In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness," Zechariah 13:1.
2. The Apostle Paul: "…(that) Christ loved the church, and gave himself for it: that he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, that he might present her to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish," Ephesians 5:25-27.
3. The church is the place of healing; place of cure and forgiveness for all the sins. Notice John again: “And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. And He Himself is the propitiation for ours sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world,” 1 John 2:1-2. Christ has opened that fountain for sin and for uncleanness!
E. Provisions for healing and cleansing. "Whosoever steppeth down first was made whole of whatsoever disease he had." Each time as he made his way to the pool, someone steppeth down before him. He knew his healing was in the water! Let us not misunderstand; God places His healing, His cure and His forgiveness where ever He desires!
1. God's provision for cleansing and healing was in the water then; and in the water now! At a certain season, the angel of the Lord troubled the water. Jesus troubled the water nearly 2000 years ago; and it hasn't settled down yet! There is healing, cleansing and forgiveness in the water. Wilt thou be made whole?
2. Naaman the Leper and Elisha the man of God. There was cleansing in the water for Naaman; after dipping 7 times in the river Jordon. 2 Kings 5:13-14
3. “Is there no balm in Gilead; is there no physician there? Why then is not the health of the daughter of my people recovered?” Jerimiah 8:22. There is a balm; but there is no faith, trust or obedience in the people of God.
4. The great physician. Jesus is the great physician. Jesus said: “…They that are whole needed not a physician, but they that are sick,” Matthew 9:12. Let me clearly say, there is cleansing in the water. But you must get into it with Jesus. Paul says: “Therefore being buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also must walk in newness of life. For if we have been united (planted) together (with Him) in the likeness of His death…,” Romans 6:3-6. Illustrate: Blood for remission of sins. John 19:34; Matthew 26:28; Hebrews 9:22; Acts 2:38, 22:16. See also Ephesians 2:1-10.
II THE MASTER'S COMPASSION
A. Jesus visited the Pool of Bethesda. He went to the place where the sick were; the helpless, the neglected. He found His place among the outcast there and elsewhere. Our Lord had a ministry full of compassion, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering the sight of the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord," Luke 4:18-19.
1. Two blind men - "Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes; and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him," Matthew 20:34.
2. The Leper - "And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean, and Jesus moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and said unto him, I will, be thou clean," Mark 1:40-41.
3. A Multitude - "And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick," Matthew 14:14.
B. Compassion for the man. Jesus found this man there, who had an infirmity for 38 years, verses 5-6. And asked: "Wilt thou be made whole?" Jesus heard his response; and was moved to action as a result of his compassion for the man. God had shown compassion every season when he dispatched his angel to trouble the water. Somehow he had not gotten into the water in time. Yet he continued his attempt year after year. He never quit trying! Falling short each time.
C. A miracle performed. Jesus seen his faith and determination and had compassion on him. Jesus looked beyond what he was, to what he could be, after his healing. Jesus did not inquire of his faith. He merely replied: "Arise take up thy bed and walk. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked; and on the same day was the Sabbath." Verses 8 & 9 Illustrate: Fake healers; always requiring faith. Jesus did not ask if he had faith. His healing was due to the love and compassion of the great physician, Jesus.
D. It is unlawful for thee to carry thy bed. He who was healed said: “He that made me whole, the same said unto me. Take up thy bed, and walk.” Who healed you? Inquired the religious leaders. "And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place," Verse 13. The certainty of the healing was apparent. But the person performing the miracle was unknown to the man.
1. Once again we see religious leaders missing to blessing of this healing; only to see the violation of the law. “The son of man is Lord of the Sabbath,” Matthew 12:8.
2. Jesus healed another on the Sabbath, a woman with an infirmity for eighteen years. The ruler of the synagogue spoke against it. “The Lord then answered him, and said, Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering?” Luke 13:10-17. See also Luke 14:5 Ox in a pit.
E. Persecution of Jesus. Verse 16. This miracle began the Pharisees persecution of Jesus for doing good on the Sabbath day. The Lord argues that His Father worketh on the Sabbath day.
1. My Father worketh on the Sabbath. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” Our heavenly Father worketh on the Sabbath.
2. I work on the Sabbath. Jesus healed many on the Sabbath!
3. They sought to kill him.
4. Why? “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God,” John 5:16-17.
5. The equality of Son of God to the Father. Illustrate: Oneness Doctrine. Ephesians 4:1-7; “One Spirit, One Lord, and One God the Father.” Jesus the Word; God in the flesh, John 1:1-3, 14.
III THE MASTER'S COMMISSION
A. Praise in the temple. "Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple." Verse 14. This was a time for praise and thanks giving. Rather than joining the feast - he went to the temple to give God thanks for his healing. Illustrate: The thanksgiving of one. “Where are the nine?” Luke 17:12-19.
1. "Praise ye the Lord. O give thanks unto the Lord. For he is good, for his mercy endureth forever," Psalm 106:1.
2. "Enter into his gates with thanks giving, and into his courts with praise; be thankful unto him, and bless his name," Psalm 100:4.
B. A time of Prayer. This was truly a time of prayer. "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray and not to faint," Luke 18:1. Also: 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray without ceasing.” All of us should pray in thanksgiving for our own salvation and God’s grace. Acknowledging our sins to God; and beseeching his compassion and forgiveness.
C. Purity of Life. "Jesus saith unto him, Behold, thou are made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee." See also John 8:11, to the woman caught in the very act of adultery he says: "Go, and sin no more." We have been saved to live a life of purity.
1. However, during this time some believed that the sickness and suffering of others is as a result of their sins. Remember the blind man in John 9. The disciples asked: “Master who sinned, this man or his parents?” Jesus said: “Neither this man nor his parents sinned, but that the works of God should be revealed in him,” John 9:1-38. Illustrate: Consequence of Sin.
2. We must live a life apart from sin and unrighteousness. Paul states: “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,…Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works,” Titus 2:11-13.
3. We are a chosen generation. Peter said: “But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light…,” 1 Peter 2:9. The church has been called out of darkness. And in Colossians 1:13, Paul affirms: “(God) He hath delivered us from the power of darkness and translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son.” The church!
D. The Lord promised perilous times. "Lest a worse thing come unto thee," Verse 14. Notice Jesus: "Whosoever putteth his hand to the plow…," Luke 9:62.
1. Peter said: "For if after they have escape the pollution of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ; and they are again entangled therein, and overcome, the latter end is worse with them than the beginning. For…known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandments delivered unto them. But it is …, the dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire," 2 Peter 2:20-22.
2. What a pitiful picture for one who once have tasted of the grace of God; and the Holy Spirit; and who have known the love of Christ. Brethren, let this not be one of us; or even one of ours!
3. We have been cleansed and made holy. Therefore, let us live to bring glory and honor to Him that has made us not only whole; but also holy. Peter says: “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; because it is written, be ye holy; for I am holy,” 1 Peter 1:15-16.
E. Proclaimed his healing. After talking to Jesus, the man left his presence and found the Jews and proclaimed it was Jesus that healed him. "The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole," Verse 15. Jesus would make you whole today. If you would come unto him in simple faith, trust and obedience.
1. Matthew 11:28-30 "Come unto me all ye that labour...."
2. Revelation 22:17 "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely."
3. Is there one today that seeks the healing, cure or forgiveness of the great God and our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ?
CONCLUSION
A. Sermon Outline
1. The Man’s Complaint
2. The Master’s Compassion
3. The Master’s Commission
B. Summary of main points.
1. The setting of the lesson was one of joy and celebration. It was one of the feast days of the Jews. There was singing, eating and laughter throughout the entire city for many. However, on a porch somewhere in the same city, at a pool called Bethesda, there was no celebration, no feasting, and no laughter, and not dinning or eating. For many that lay there sick with all types of disease and illnesses.
2. First, the man’s complaint. Our Lord chose not to eat at the house of a friend that he may pass by this pool in order to find a patient, to whom He would shower with compassion and healing. For this patient, like all others sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed; lay there waiting for the troubling of the water. The Lord asked this patient: “wilt thou be made whole?” And the man said to Jesus: “I have no man to put me in the water…” Only one man would be cure this day; when the Lord came to this pool, in answer to his prayers and hope for healing.
3. Secondly, the master’s compassion. The Lord had seen his faith, through the many times he made an attempt to get into the pool while the water was troubled. Our Lord had compassion on the man and said; “Rise, take up thy bed and walk,” verse 8. “And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath,” verse 9. The Lord did not inquire of his faith; nor did the man state that he had faith. His persistency and patience over the course of 38 years demonstrated his faith in God; and hope of getting into the pool next time to be cure of his affliction.
4. Lastly, the master’s commission. The Lord found the man healed in the temple, giving thanks to God for his healing. The master instructed him: “See you have been made well. Sin no more, lest the worst thing come upon you,” verse 14. “The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole,” verse 15. My question to you this day: “wilt thou be made whole?”
C. Invitation. H,B.R,C,B. Invitation. "Come unto me all ye that labour...," Matthew 11:28-30.
D. Persuasion. "Knowing therefore the terror of the Lord, we persuade men...," 2 Corinthians 5:10-11.
E. Exhortation/motivation. "And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely," Revelation 22:17.
