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?
They look out across the water and there comes Jesus. Now they didn’t recognize Him at first, honestly they were afraid. Sometimes we don’t recognize Jesus until He gets there. I
I love what Jesus says, vs 27 NLT “But Jesus spoke to them at once. "It's all right," he said. "I am here! Don't be afraid." Powerful words that Jesus speaks to us even today.
Peter being the ever “active” one. Cries out to Jesus, “If it is you, let me come to you” So he gets out of the boat.
No sooner had he gotten out, walked on water that he began to sink. What does Jesus to? He reaches down and saves him. Wow! Even in Peter’s lack of faith.
Jesus was go out of His way to save us. Even if He has to walk on water.
You need more proof, You don’t believe me?
Just ask Cleophas and the unnamed disciple in Luke 24:13 – 35
They were both confused and discouraged. They were walking from Jerusalem to Emmaus. They were trying to process the events of that had taken place over the weekend. In the last few days their Messiah had been trialed, beaten, and crucified. Now there was talk that the tomb was empty. There was a lot to process.
Talking about a range of emotion. Up and down. Broken hearted to fear to some hope.
As they are walking down “this road” Jesus meets them. They did not recognize Him. “Their eyes were constrained.” Why? Maybe they were hurt too much. Maybe they were afraid to trust. Maybe they had lack of faith. Who know. But that did not stop Jesus.
Jesus went out of His way to meet them, to walk with them.
Jesus will go out of His way to meet you in your confusion, discouragement and hurt.
You don’t believe me?
I could tell you of many other stories. Stories where Jesus broke religious traditions to heal people. The man with the withered hand, our opening story the man at the pool of Bethesda, or woman with the infirmity for 18 years. Jesus had to skirt religious tradition to heal the people.
Jesus will go out of His way to get to us.
You don’t believe me?
Three Hebrew Children in Daniel 3
Ask the three Hebrew children caught up in the fire. You know the story. They were there because they would not bow down. They were there not because they knew that they would not be burnt. As far as they knew this was the end. This was it. They were preparing to “meet their maker”.
But Jesus had other plans. He met them in the fire.
Conclusion
Where are you today? What is happening in your life? Are you confused? Are you lost? Do you need a healing. Jesus is here to meet you. He is going out of His way to get to you.
