HELPING THE HELPLESS
John 5:1-9
I heard a story about a man who came home drunk with his drinking buddies late one night. He got his wife out of bed and told her to give them some supper. She went into the kitchen and put some covered dishes on the table. When he lifted the covers, the dishes were empty. She then replied, I hope you enjoy your supper, this is what we had tonight.
Someone has said, the devil’s dishes are always empty, but Jesus fills the Christian dish with many blessings. Here in this story, we have a crippled man who has been cripple for 38 years, but we see Jesus blessing him.
Some say that God help those who help them-selves, and even say it is in the Bible. But that is not true, for God helps the helpless.
I-WE SEE THE DESPEARATE PROBLEM IN THIS STORY: 1-3
A-Notice The Place Of The Problem: 2
Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
This pool of Bethesda meant house of mercy. It was located next to the temple and the sheep gate. This is where the sacrificial sheep were led to for the purpose of sacrifice.
The place of the problem was not in some pagan country but next door to the temple or the Church house of Jerusalem.
Sometimes we forget about those around us who are sick and hurting, and those who are lost.
ILLUSTRATION: I heard a preacher relate a story about a lady in his Church who was in charge of the missions program. He said, though this lady was interested in supporting mission, she didn’t even know who lived across the street from her.
ILLUSTRATION: When I think of that story, I think of WA Criswell and his experience at FBC Dallas, Texas. Someone visited him while he was in the hospital and caught him making many telephone calls. When asked who he was calling, he said, prospects who had just arrived in Dallas. Then he told the person why he was urgent in calling then,. He said one morning during the worship service, a man stood to his feet and said, he had lived several years next to the Church and none had ever visited him from the Church. Bro Criswell said, it cut his to his heart, and he was determined that would never be said again about FBC.
B-Notice The People Of The Problem: 3
In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
These people were sick, some had lost their sight, some were cripple, and some were weak. It was a place of pain and suffering.
This is a description of the spiritual sick. Such as the weak(Romans5:6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.
Some are more spiritually sick than others, but all are sick spiritually, and need Jesus.
ILLUSTRATION: At an evangelistic service conducted in London by Dr. G. Campbell Morgan, a hardened criminal came forward to the altar seeking salvation. Dr. Morgan knelt beside him and pointed him to Jesus the Lamb of God who could cleanse him from all his sins, and he who had been a great sinner believed and was converted.
Then Dr. Morgan saw the Mayor of the city, a man of high morals and greatly respected, kneeling at the same altar, and to him, as to the criminal, he pointed out the Lamb of God who alone could take away sins. In humble self-surrender, the Mayor, too, accepted Jesus as his Savior. A short time before this, the Mayor had sentenced the criminal to imprisonment; and there at the altar the two shook hands while tears of joy ran down their cheeks. For the worst of sinners and the best of moralists there is the same Savior. In none other is there salvation, for “there is none other Name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved” (Acts 4:12).
II-NOTICE THE DEJECTED PARALYTIC IN THIS STORY: 5
A-We See The Paralytic’s Condition: 5
And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
According to the Scriptures, this man had lived with this infirmity for 38 years. He had been sick longer than Jesus had been on the earth! The Bible says that this man had an "infirmity." This word means that he had some weakness or frailness that prevented him from walking about as other men.
What a picture of the sinner who is lost and separated from God by his sins Regardless of what he tries, the sinner is still lost and unable to walk in the ways of the Lord.
ILLUSTRATION: Years ago the S-4 submarine was rammed by another ship and quickly sank. The entire crew was trapped in its prison house of death. Ships rushed to the scene of disaster off the coast of Massachusetts. We don’t know what took place down in the sunken submarine, but we can be sure that the men clung bravely to life as the oxygen slowly gave out. A diver placed his helmeted ear to the side of the vessel and listened. He heard a tapping noise. Someone, he learned, was tapping out a question in the dots and dashes of the Morse Code. The question came slowly: “Is... there... any... hope?”
This seems to be the cry of humanity: “Is there any hope?” Hope, indeed, is the basis of all human existence in Christ!
B-We See The Paralytic’s Complaint: 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.
He tells Jesus that every time he is about to get into the water, someone else beats him there and goes away with the healing instead. Year after year, he has seen his hopes and dream shattered as another person beats him into the healing waters.
The rule at the pool is the same rule the world has today, every man for himself.
“I gave a little party this afternoon at three
’Twas very small
Three guests in all
Just I, Myself, and Me
Myself ate up the sandwiches
While I drank up the tea
And it was I
Who ate the pie
And passed the cake to Me.”
E. A. Wiggam advises, “You will make more friends in a week by getting yourself interested in people than you can in a year by trying to get people interested in you.” Dr. H.C. Moule says that the new grammar of the Christian is first person, He (God): second person, you (others): third person, I (Self last).
III-NOTICE THE DIVINE PHYSICAN IN THIS STORY:
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
The Bible says that Jesus went about doing good. What a refreshing statement, for in our day, many are going about to do bad.
A-Notice The Compassion That Is Shown: 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?
According to the Bible’s own witness, there was a "great multitude" there that day. Jesus could have gone to any person in that place, yet for His own reasons, He went to this man. This is nothing but pure grace.
You and I as Christians are to follow the example of Jesus and have the compassion He had
ILLUSTRATION: A. J. Gordon once said, I have long since ceased to pray, “Lord Jesus, have compassion on a lost world!” I remember the day and the hour when I seemed to hear the Lord rebuking me for making such a prayer. He seemed to say to me, “I have had compassion upon a lost world, and now it is for you to have compassion.”
ILLUSTRATION: A train was pulling into the depot. On the platform stood a very small, crippled body. His basket was filled with fruit and nuts to sell the passengers. The train had not yet come to a full stop, when a businessman had swung himself from the train and in his haste collided with the boy on the platform. The basket was overturned and its contents scattered.
The man saw what had happened, but, as the crippled fruit boy was the only one concerned and as the man was in a hurry, he walked away toward the city without a word.
Just then the train stopped and a traveling man alighted. He, too, had important business in the city, but here was a boy in trouble. The traveling man comprehended the situation in a glance—the scattered fruit, the crippled boy, the distress on his face, and the tears in his eyes. The man said nothing, but set down his bag, and quietly but rapidly, assisted the boy to gather and replace in the basket the fruit and packages which could be rescued from amid the hurrying feet.
The task was completed and the traveler was about to leave when he reached into his pocket, and taking out a silver dollar, he placed it on top of the basket. As he did so the boy looked up through tears into the face of the man and said, “Say, Mister, be you Jesus?”
“No,” said the man, “I am not Jesus, but I am one of His followers, and as I go about, I try to do the things which I think He would do if He were here.”
—Christian Triumph
B-Notice The Cure That Is Shown:9
And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Jesus tells the man to get up and walk. Jesus just told this man to do something that he hasn’t been able to do in 38 years, if ever. To me, this is a pretty incredible command. However, all that was required on the part of this man is simple, child like faith and obedience to the call of Jesus.
Someone has said, faith see the invisible, believes the incredible, and receives the impossible.
He was healed forever, he would have no relapse, for Jesus said, take up thy bed, for he wouldn’t be coming back here again.
Someone said, when a person who has a alcohol problem get saved and leaves their bottle in the cabinet they are not leaving their bed, they are making provisions for the flesh
ILLUSTRATION: Gypsy Smith tells of pushing through in the Scotland streets and feeling a tug at his sleeves. At first he thought someone was trying to get ahead. The tug came more persistently and he saw a little girl in rags, holding something wrapped in dirty paper. “What is it, my dear?”“ I want you to have my candy. ”“Why?”“Oh sir, because we have a new daddy at home. He was never sober, but last Saturday, he was sober because he sat in your meeting, and now he is so wonderful at home.” Gypsy Smith took her and the candy and hugged her, with tears down his eyes. The little girls was so grateful for “a new daddy” that she was willing to give up candy which was precious to a child.
C-Notice The Command That Is Shown: 8
Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
Jesus said, not only rise up, but walk. Notice where he walked to in verse 14, Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.
When Jesus changes a person, he expects them to act changed, to follow Him in all His ways.
ILLUSTRATION: A house girl once sought membership in Mr. Spurgeon’s Metropolitan Tabernacle. She was refused at first, then Mr. Spurgeon called her back and asked for further evidence of her change of heart. Replying the domestic said: “I have none except that now I sweep under the mats and rugs in the house where I am employed.” “It is enough,” said Mr. Spurgeon, “we will receive you into our fellowship.”
So Many are missing out on the abundant life in Jesus when they fail to follow Him.
A preacher once said, One morning I heard an advertisement on the radio that startled me. The announcer was telling of a special offer for Life magazine. He closed by saying, “Enjoy Life at half price.” How many people are trying to enjoy life at half price! But it doesn’t work.
When the call comes to the sinner lost in his sins, the only necessary response is faith. Jesus comes to men who have lived their entire lives in the grip of sin. He passes by and says, "Get out of the gutter and follow me!
Jesus Christ has the power to take any life that is broken and ruined by sin and make it over again. He is all-powerful, all-saving and awesome! He will lift you out of the affliction of your sins if you will only come to Him when He calls you.
Conclusion- A mother and her small daughter were discussing the dolls in a department store. "What does it do?" the child would ask about each one. The mother would answer, "It talks," or "It wets," or "It cries." The dolls were rather expensive, so the mother tried to direct her little girl’s interest toward an ordinary one that was more reasonably priced.” Does it do anything?" the child asked. "Yes," the mother replied, "It listens." The little girl reached eagerly for the doll.
JESUS IS LISTENING FOR YOU WHO ARE HELPLESS TO CRY OUT TO HIM FOR HELP
