A. INTRODUCTION: JOHN 5:1-18
1. Springtime and Passover. “There was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” (John 5:1).
2. This miracle happened on a Sabbath. “On the same day was the Sabbath” (5:9).
3. This crippled man was with many other sick people. Commentaries say approximately 3,000. “In these lay a great multitude” (5:3).
4. Why were so many sick present at this place? “Waiting for the moving of the waters” (5:3).
a. Angel came once.
b. Angel came on regular schedule.
c. Tradition, an angel never came.
Do not wait for an unseen angel, look for Jesus to heal.
5. Why did Jesus approach only one sick person? “When Jesus saw him lie . . . he saith unto him, ‘Wilt thou be made whole?’” (5:6).
a. He was the only one not expecting help from an angel.
b. He was the only one who had faith’s potential to obey Jesus.
6. What does the pool look like?
B. THE LAME MAN
1. How long had the man been lame?
a. 38 years. This is symbolic of the 38 years Israel was punished to wander in the wilderness.
b. No friends or family. Had to get to Bethesda by himself (crutches).
2. Was the man’s sickness a punishment from God?
a. No. God does not arbitrarily punish sin today. If so, we would all be sick.
b. Self-inflicted. Did the man sin to become lame? “Now don’t sin as you did before, or something even worse may happen to you” (5:14, TLB).
c. Results. Sickness or injury is result of germs, infection, accident, or exposure to disease.
3. How are the man’s excuses like ours?
a. “I have no man” – blamed conditions.
b. “When the water is troubled” – blamed circumstances.
c. “To put me in the water” – blamed geographic place.
d. “Another steppeth down before me” – blamed people
e. “The same day was the Sabbath.” These are not days of miracles.
4. Why does God not heal everyone?
a. A miracle is the interruption of the laws of nature for the divine. God’s regular plan is to operate the world by His laws, even though these laws are influenced by sin, corruption, and disease.
b. Sickness has a purpose. “Three different times I (Paul) begged the Lord to make me well. Each time He said, “No” (2 Corinthians 12:8, 9, TLB).
c. Sickness is symbolic of our struggle in a world ruled by the results of sin.
d. Sickness is Satan’s tool. Job’s illness.
e. Sickness reflects the aging process that leads to inevitable death.
f. Sickness reminds us we are human and forces us to trust in God.
g. No sickness in Heaven. “He shall wipe away every tear, there shall be no death, or pain, or sickness, or crying; for these former things have passed away” (Revelation 21:4, ELT).
5. How was the man healed?
a. The words of Jesus. “Rise up” is egeire, a present active imperative meaning, “Get up.”
b. Personal initiative. For 38 years he waited on another.
c. Obedient faith. “Took up his bed,” i.e., “sleeping bag.”
d. Did what was impossible. To repent and quit sinning is impossible apart from God’s transformation.
6. What were the results of this miracle?
a. Witness to crowd. Man was well known.
b. Defiance of man-made rules. Jesus did it on the Sabbath.
c. Opposition. “Therefore, did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath” (5:16).
d. Revelation of His deity. “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work” (5:17). Jesus said that God was his Father, making himself equal with God (5:18).
If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:
Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.
Dr. Towns’ email is eltowns@liberty.edu.
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