John 5:7-8, 14 Jonah 1:11-12, 17
I. Dismal Life Of Paralytic
A. found at Pool of Bethesda – “house of grace and mercy”
B. Must have resided near the Pool – probably crawled there daily
C. He would wait for the angel to trouble the waters
D. He had no one to help him to the water, but yet he would go, day after day, hoping that someday a miracle would happen
E. For 38 years he had endured scorn and ridicule
II. His Condition Was Evidently Caused By Sin - verse 14 Later Jesus found him at the temple and said to him, "See, you are well again. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you."
A. Not all afflictions are caused by sin
1. Job’s comforters were wrong
2. Christ specifically repudiated this idea in Luke 13:1-5
3. Matthew 5:45 …for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust.
4. Christ reinforced the idea in John 9:2 His disciples asked him, "Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" 3 "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.
B. The Pulpit Commentary: “The form of the sentence points to something special and persistent in this man’s habits, rather than to the general corruption of human nature.”
C. Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
D. There are certain habits and lifestyles which bring afflictions
1. Smoking – lung cancer
2. Heavy drinking – fries your liver
3. Drunk driving – jail time
4. Promiscuous lifestyle – increased exposure to certain types of disease
5. Drug abuse – shortened life span
E. Whatever this man’s lifestyle had been previously, it evidently produced this condition of paralysis
1. His condition was his own fault – 38 years of Divine discipline
2. This man needed a God big enough to save him from himself
F. Sometimes it’s easier for us to pray about things over which we have no control
G. A lot of times we bring affliction on ourselves by our stupidity
1. We do something stupid and we sin
2. Because of our sin we are faced with consequences
3. Then we feel guilty and embarrassed that we could be so stupid, and that guilt and embarrassment, instead of pushing us toward the throne of grace, pushes us away
4. It becomes a vicious cycle
5. Sin begins to take it’s toll on you
6. Then one day you find yourself bitter and broken, surrounded by the sick , halt, and lame
a. just as this man found himself lonely and friendless – no one to help him into the water
b. sin makes you bitter – no one wants to be around bitterness and complaining
c. Those around him had no mercy or sympathy – his condition was his fault!
H. Often, from this place of hopelessness and despair we can hear the voice of Jesus calling to us, “Stop sinning, you’re only making things harder on yourself”!
1. But I can’t stop sinning, and I can’t get better – I’ve tried on my own and failed so many times
2. Romans 7:19 For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do. 24 O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
3. That’s why Jesus made His way into a place of sickness and disease!
a. Somebody needed him!
b. Somebody was alone and helpless
c. Somebody was in a hopeless situation
d. Somebody had made a mess out of their life and couldn’t put it back together
e. Somebody needed a God big enough to save him from what he had done to himself
4. Yes, he had made a mess out of his life; yes, his sin had put him into his sorry condition, but Jesus met him right where he was, even though it was his own fault!
III. Jesus Did Not Lecture The Man
A. He’d already had 38 years to think it over
B. I’m sure he’d already figured out where he went wrong
C. Jesus simply asked him a question, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
1. That may seem like a strange question – “of course I want to be”
2. Maybe the man had become so accustomed to life as a paralytic he didn’t want to be healed
3. Maybe he had become so comfortable in his current lifestyle that he didn’t want to change - Revelations 3:15 I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! 16 So, because you are lukewarm--neither hot nor cold--I am about to spit you out of my mouth. 17 You say, ’I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked.
4. Jesus must have had some doubt as to whether or not this man wanted to be healed, or He wouldn’t have asked
a. If Jesus healed him, he might have to get a job
b. “What a small price to pay! I’d gladly work a little bit to support myself just to have my health back!”
c. You’re right, it is a small price to pay physically, but it amazes me that those same men and women who make that statement, turn around and say, “I can’t live for God, it’s too hard. I’m comfortable where I’m at! Don’t shake me up preacher!”
d. Why do we so often have to come to a point of complete brokenness before we decide we can work a little?
e. “Wilt thou be made whole?”
f. Why do we want 38 years by the Pool of Bethesda before we turn and see Jesus?
5. So Jesus must have had some doubt as to whether or not this man wanted to be healed
IV. Remember Jonah
A. He’s running from God, and his shipmates know it – he told them
B. A storm comes up and their lives are in danger
C. Jonah faces stark reality
1. “It’s all my fault!”
2. The only way you’re going to escape this storm is to throw me overboard
3. I deserve it – I got myself into this mess by running from God
4. Toss me over!
D. One of the most comforting verses in the Bible: Jonah 1:17 But the LORD provided a great fish to swallow Jonah…
E. In the midst of Jonah’s rebellion, God was providing a way of escape for him!
F. He’s a God that’s big enough to save you from yourself!
G. We spend a lot of time talking about being saved from Satan and the world, but sometimes we need a Savior Who can save us from ourselves!
V. Look At The Paralytic’s Reply
A. “I have no man, when the water is troubled to put me in the pool…”
B. “I’m doing everything I know to do. My only hope in to be the first into the troubled waters
1. I crawl here day after day
2. I hope against hope for a miracle
3. But I don’t have anyone to help me into the water
4. If you have a better idea, I’m open for suggestions
5. Maybe you could give me a helping hand”
C. “I’m in a hopeless situation here. Here it’s every man for himself; survival of the fittest, and I’m not very fit.’
1. Jesus said – “That’s right, that’s the law of nature under sin”
2. “But you are at Bethesda, the place of grace and mercy. Let me introduce you to a new law of grace and mercy. It asks only one question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” Do you want to be made whole?
VI. Conclusion
A. We know this lame man couldn’t stop sinning on his own any more than he could stand up and walk on his own
B. But the One that said, “Go and sin no more” is the same One that said, “Pick up your bed and walk!”
C. No matter what condition your life is in, you can be made whole!
D. No matter how helpless you feel, no matter how hopeless your situation, there’s a God big enough to save you
E. When the world says, “It’s your fault,” Jesus says, “Come unto me all ye that labor and are heavy laden..”
F. Even if you don’t deserve it! There is a God big enough to save you from yourself.
G. He’s saying, “You can stop any further consequences of sin. Go and sin no more.”
H. You say, “That’s impossible in my own strength”
I. Yes, but there’s a God big enough to do it through you
J. He’s big enough to save you from yourself!
