SRIPTURUAL REFERENCES
(John 5:1-4) (1) "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."
(John 5:5-6) (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?"
(John 5:7-9) (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."
PROLOGUE
I chose the above scriptures because they give us a picture of some suffering encountered in some of our churches today, and let’s face it, the world is becoming a dangerous place. People are seeking answers, including contemplating taking their own lives because they have run out of reasons to live.
Our founding scriptures describe five porches of misery. I want to pose an important question: “Which one are you on?” One thing that caught my attention is that you had to enter through the sheep gate to reach the porches, where the pool was called Bethesda. Did you know that archaeologists discovered the pool site and a stone with the inscription of an Angel troubling the water?
We all know that Jesus walked by and healed the man waiting on the troubling of the water. Do you remember his excuse that while he was coming, another man stepped down before him and was healed of whatever disease he had? Do you remember that Jesus did not look at him with pity but asked him, "Wilt thou be made whole, Then he followed the question with a command, "rise, take up thy bed and walk."
Sometimes, we encounter difficult times and may get upset at those who caused our problems. We may even get angry with ourselves and question if God truly loves us. Beloved, sometimes we face trials and persecutions that cause us to question our walk with God, even entertaining thoughts like, "Lord, I thought you were my friend, not my enemy." Beloved, this is what I call "hard grace."
I want to speak concerning the story found in John 1:5-9- of a man who was lame in his feet and whom Jesus visited on a very important feast day. The story tells of how his loved ones carried him to sit by a pool of water so that he could wait for an Angel of the Lord to come at a specific time and trouble the water.
The story describes how those who can enter the water will be made whole when the water is troubled. The problem is that others are more physically fit than this man, who can get into the water before him, thus leaving him lame and lying by the pool.
The pool of Bethesda was discovered in the 19th century under the ruins of a church? The archaeological evidence shows a pool varying from 165 to 200 feet divided into two pools. We find in this setting a place called Bethesda, which means "house of mercy" or "flowing water " in the Greek language. In Hebrew, it means “house of mercy” or “house of grace.”
In earlier studies, I noticed that you had to enter through the sheep gate to enter this dwelling, which consisted of five porches where people from all walks of life complained about their problems while waiting for the Angel of God to come at a specific time and trouble the waters of the pools. The scriptures describe this place as the five porches of Bethesda, but I like to call it “The Five Porches of Misery.
“THE HEALING POWER OF FAITH”
The lame man being healed by Jesus at the waters of Bethesda reminds me of the old saying, “Woe is me and misery on me.” Can you imagine all the complaining and crying of desperation as each of those five porches attempted to out-cry the other one, especially if a sick person entered the water at the same time? The Angel moved it, and they were healed of their infirmity.
The man Jesus visited had been carried there to sit by the pools for thirty-eight years and had not received his healing. Notice that the Lord asked him a very important question, "Will thou be made whole?" to which he made his excuses as to why he was not able to get in the water when the water was troubled to receive his healing. Notice how the Lord replied to his answer by giving him a command to "Rise, take up his bed, and walk."
How many of us would have responded to the Lord's command with more complaints instead of obeying it? How many pastors would and have faltered when facing a deacon board that would question the Lord’s command? They know that God wants them to do something, but boards and committees prevent them from executing the Lord’s command.
God has great plans for us, especially those chosen for special services in his kingdom. Sometimes, to get them where they need to be, they may suffer great disappointments designed to take them apart, which will break their will and develop the character and maturity to fulfill their purpose in His kingdom.
There are people today who sit in their misery looking for the physical manifestation so they may get what they need from God, but I feel led in this part of my message to tell you that "Some of you are made to walk on what others are having to swim through." God is a covenant-keeping God. He knows where you are, and He knows when he will drop by and give you a command that will change your life forever.
Did you know that I can say from experience that "Not all sick people want to be healed, or to surrender their lives to Christ." I have had a man during a service who had ice on his head, confined to a wheelchair, rise out of his chair dancing and even actually attempting to help me preach? However, when he realized where and what he was doing, he slipped back into that wheelchair and placed that ice bag back on his head.
There may be a time when we minister in a service, and someone may come forth for prayer. Even though healing may be their actual need, the sad fact is that sometimes their sickness puts them in a place where they get lots of attention. They choose the attention over their healing because they love their misery and being waited on because it brings them attention.
The five porches are powerful symbols of both the harsh realities of human suffering and the enduring hope that can arise from divine intervention and the support of our communities. These structures remind us that pain and hardship are part of the human experience but they do not have to define us.
By openly acknowledging our struggles and actively working toward positive change through individual efforts or collective action, we can journey from a place of despair to a life rich with purpose, connection, and joy. Embracing this journey transforms our lives and strengthens our church and communities' bonds, fostering an environment where hope can thrive.
"INSIGHTS FROM THE FIVE PORCHES OF BETHESDA."
On my way to a revival, the Lord said he wanted me to speak on the subject of “Get off the porch.” As a trucker with many years of experience driving across the continental United States and parts of Canada, I thought the Spirit of God was having fun with me. He sometimes loves to play Bible trivia with me.
One time, the Lord showed me in a vision a sign that read, "Read Luke 25 every day." Beloved, Luke ends at chapter 24, but he also wrote the book of Acts, and Luke 24 ends with Jesus blessing his disciples at Bethany. Acts 1 begins where Luke left off and shows Jesus at Bethany blessing the disciples, The word says that as they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received him out of sight. The word says that this happened at the Mount of Olives or Olivet.
I thought the Spirit of God was playing trivia with me because we have a saying on the CB radio to a slow truck holding up the left lane: “Big truck, if you can’t run with the big dogs, stay on the porch.” Beloved, this phrase means staying in the right lane if you cannot run the speed limit. At the time, I did not know what He was speaking in my spirit until He spoke clearly, “Preach on the Five Porches of Misery.
Beloved, I knew exactly what he was speaking about. The five porches of Bethesda serve as a powerful symbol representing the diverse forms of suffering and struggles people are called to endure.
In John 16:33, the Lord tells us that we can find peace in Him. He reassures us that we do not have to face our trials alone and acknowledges that we will encounter tribulation in the world. Finally, He reminds us that He has overcome the world.
In the chart below, I clearly outline five key aspects that illustrate how each of the five porches powerfully represents lost and broken humanity, specifically in the context of pain and hardship. This encompasses physical ailments, emotional distress, and spiritual turmoil.
1. Physical Ailments: Many people gathered at Bethesda had physical disabilities, representing those suffering
from chronic illnesses or disabilities.
2. Emotional Pain: The porches can also signify emotional struggles such as depression, anxiety, and loneliness
experienced by individuals feeling abandoned or hopeless.
3. Spiritual Despair: Waiting for healing reflects spiritual emptiness and a longing for connection with God,
illustrating how some may feel distant from divine mercy.
4. Social Isolation: Many were left alone at the pool, highlighting societal neglect and feeling unseen or unheard
by others.
5. Desperate for Change: Waiting signifies a deep yearning for transformation and healing spiritually, physically,
and emotionally.
MY CONCLUSION
Sometimes, we encounter difficult times and may get upset at those who cause our problems. We may even get angry with ourselves and question if God truly loves us. These are normal emotions we have all experienced; if we have not, human nature says we will. However, this study is about human suffering and the importance of keeping our eyes on the one who made the way for us to inherit eternal life.
I have always found that I am in the center of God's will when I have his peace in the situation or decision I must make. We must pray to know and experience the peace of God in everything we attempt to do, for there are many distractions the enemy will use against us to get our eyes off our assignment.
We can experience God’s peace, even during a storm, regardless of our circumstances. God’s peace comes from your relationship with Jesus and is not based on your circumstances. The peace Jesus spoke about differs from the peace we experience when life is going well because his peace is an inward peace of the mind and heart that can only come from His Holy Spirit.
When David, hiding out in his caves, said, "Let us look unto the hills of the Lord from which cometh our help and our strength," he was not speaking of the physical hills surrounding him. If he had been describing the physical mountains around him, then he would have described something like seeing all the campfires of his enemies scattered throughout those mountains because, at that time, he was a wanted man.
1. How do you usually respond when you go through hard times?
2. How would you like to respond?
We cannot draw from our future and keep trying to relive our past. All our life experiences have been a training ground for us to become leaders who will make a difference in our culture and leave a legacy for future generations. Who we are in the body of Christ is far more important than what we can do and accomplish on our own. God’s word declares that our works shall be tried by fire when all things are fulfilled.
In conclusion, the five porches of Bethesda stand as a powerful testament to the reality that healing is achievable through faith and action. We must actively seek help and seize opportunities for transformation with confidence and determination. The miracle at Bethesda reminds us that true healing often comes from faith in Jesus Christ. His command to “rise, take up your bed, and walk” exemplifies how faith can lead to immediate transformation.
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
International Evangelist
Miracle Life Church International
