“Do You Want to Get Well?”
John 5:1-15
JN 5:1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. 5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?" 7 "Sir," the invalid replied, "I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me." 8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk." 9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, `Pick up your mat and walk.’" 12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?" 13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there. 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." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
INTRODUCTION
• As I have said earlier, I want to focus 2005 on our being spiritually healthy believers in a spiritually healthy church
• This morning, I want to ask you the same question that Jesus asked the man at the pool: “DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?”
• Let’s take a look at the man’s:
I. AILMENT {vs 5}
5 One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to get well?"
• Jesus’ question is very interesting here…He seems to be focused on the man’s WILL more than his physical problems
• Are we at the point where we even WANT to change spiritually?
• Look very closely at this man’s problems:
1. HE WAS STATIONARY
a. He had not moved on his own for many years
2. HE WAS STILL
a. He had not stood up
3. HE WAS STRAPPED
a. He was unable to do anything on his own
• Who would even WANT to remain that way? YET, churches are full of people who do just that:
1. THEY ARE STATIONARY
a. They have not moved in any way spiritually in years
2. THEY ARE STILL
a. They are not able to stand at all spiritually
3. THEY ARE STRAPPED
a. They cannot do anything spiritually on their own
• Jesus wants to take you from where you are now and do something great in your spiritual life!
II. ACQUAINTANCES {vs 1-3}
1 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie--the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
• Look whom the man was surrounded by: people who did not walk, you could not see and were unable to move
• It is a picture of how one’s environment can have an impact on one’s spiritual condition
• Show me your friends and I will show you your future
III. ANSWER {vs 8}
8 Then Jesus said to him, "Get up! Pick up your mat and walk."
• Jesus had a specific plan of action for the man
• Likewise, Jesus has a specific plan of action for you as well this year
JER 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
• But, you must put yourself in a place to hear the Lord’s direction
IV. ACTIONS {vs 9a}
9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked.
• It wasn’t enough to hear from the Lord, the man needed to act on it and do what Jesus said
On the highway, if you hear sirens, you better respond
On a golf course, if you hear “fore” you better respond
At home, if you hear “Honey” you better respond
• My desire for you in 2005 is that you would do more than hear from God…but that you would act on it!
V. ADVERSITY {vs 9b-12}
9 At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath, 10 and so the Jews said to the man who had been healed, "It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat." 11 But he replied, "The man who made me well said to me, `Pick up your mat and walk.’" 12 So they asked him, "Who is this fellow who told you to pick it up and walk?"
• This man received an answer to a 38-year old problem and look what happened…adversity was right around the corner
• Friend, some of you have faced adversity on the heels of great spiritual success and you have allowed that adversity to stop your spiritual growth
ILLUSTRATION
"EAGLES AND STORMS"
Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages below, the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm. It simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.
• Don’t let adversity impact your spiritual life! Allow your spiritual life to impact the adversity you face.
VI. ABSENCE {vs 13}
13 The man who was healed had no idea who it was, for Jesus had slipped away into the crowd that was there.
• This demonstrates one of the biggest tragedies in the church…to be a person who had been touched by Jesus but as no idea who Jesus really is
• Look what Paul had to say:
PHP 3:7 But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. 8 What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord
• God help us to move from a people who have a bunch of experiences to become a people who truly KNOW GOD!
Dan 11:32 …but the people that do know their God shall be strong, and do exploits.
VII. ADVICE {vs 14, 15}
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." 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
• Look at what Jesus did at the end of this story:
1. He CAUGHT him
2. He CONFIRMED what happened
3. He CAUTIONED him
• This is for those of us who have been touched by Jesus once before:
1. He is looking for you, friend
2. Let Him verify all He has done in your life
3. Heed his counsel to you and obey it!
RESPONSE
• I want to ask you the question again this morning: “DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?”
• In what way does the Lord need to touch your spiritual life today? Will you allow Him to do so? Will you listen to His commands and obey Him?
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