Sermon for 10/22/2006
John 5:1-16
Who, What, Why and How?
Introduction:
In the Peanuts comic strip, we find Snoopy thinking to himself:
"Yesterday I was a dog. Today I’m a dog. Tomorrow I’ll probably still be a dog. There’s so little hope for advancement.”
Today in our Scriptures there is little hope for advancement.
It will never get better. But wait?
Thesis: Let’s look at this story from John’s gospel examining it under these four questions, Who, What, Why and How?
For instances:
I. Who? Let’s look at the two main characters, the who’s.
A. The NIV calls him an invalid. The King James calls him an impotent man.
1. The man at the poolside here is probably paralyzed. We know that he cannot walk. In our day, he would be confined to a wheelchair.
2. He has been in this condition for 38 years. Much of that time, he has probably sat at this poolside and begged from people and hoped and prayed that somehow his condition would improve. 38 years in this condition was unheard of in the days of Jesus.
3. There were no wheelchairs in those days and his days would have been spent in the worst of conditions. A person paralyzed many times does not have control over bodily functions. Throughout the day his smell would have worsened. I am sure that he was thankful when someone came to clean him up.
4. His company during the day was the people around the pool. Vs. 3 describes them as the blind, lame and paralyzed. He hangs around people who were just like him. They were all handicapped in some way.
5. Why were they around the pool? Was it a good place to beg? No!
6. Let’s look at vs. 4 in the New King James. The NIV leaves this out because archeological discoveries have unearthed older and older manuscripts of the Bible. The older manuscripts closer to the time of these events when they were written do not contain vs. 4. This was probably inserted by a scribe to help explain what is going on here. It does explain what is going on here.
7. Legend had it that this pool had magical powers. The water of the pool was disturbed once in a while, and the legend goes that the first one into the pool after this disturbance was supposed to be healed. This is what the paralytic man believed, as we see in verse 7. It is interesting to note, that those who were the most able physically would be the first ones into the pool, and they might easily imagine they were healed. One could not just get into the pool and stay there. No, the first one into the pool after the stirring was the first to be healed or so the legend goes.
8. There were a great number of these people. It was during a feast time at Jerusalem. This man is probably the worst case in that crowd of handicapped people. Maybe his family has deserted him. He doesn’t seem to have a lot of help. His hope and his life are nearing an end unless…
B. Jesus.
1. This seems to be early in the ministry of Jesus because it was widely known in Galilee that Jesus was a miracle worker, a great healer. At the end of John 4, Jesus healed a royal official’s son. However, this is Jerusalem and his fame and reputation do not seem to be widely known.
2. Jesus walks through this crowd of bad smells and bodies twisted and malformed. All of these people desired to be healed. Jesus, the great physician, was able and willing to heal. Jesus would do it without favoritism and he would do it for free. But none sought out Jesus.
4. These people were so focused on the water and the movements in that water that they failed to see right in their midst was the healer of all healers. Like today, the Lord Jesus receives no attention from most people.
5. Yet Jesus is not angry with them. He probably just pities them. Jesus Christ is not angry with us who forget him and neglect him, but he pities us from his heart. He wants to heal us but so many are focused on other ways, other people.
6. We know that Jesus is full of grace. (John 1:16 NIV) From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. In Vs. 6 we see that Jesus searches out in this crowd the most pitiful to display his grace and blessings. When he learned about this man’s condition, he went up to him and talked with him.
II. What and Why?
A. What? Vs. 6
1. When people sought out Jesus, he would usually make them identify what they wanted him to do for them. Lord I want to see or I want you to heal my son or cast out this demon, etc.
2. Here the tables are turned and Jesus has sought out this paralyzed man. Jesus comes up and the question he asks is, “Do you want to get well?” The King James says, “Wilt thou be made whole?”
3. This is the what? What?
4. This man has been coming to this pool for less than 38 years and you ask him, do you want to get well? Isn’t that why he is there?
5. Jesus does this for two reasons:
a) To revive some hope in this man.
b) To genuinely see if this man really wants to be healed. What?
6. Do you wish to get well? Perhaps we should ask the question of ourselves. Do I wish to get over my sins? Do I really wish to be free of my worst temptation? Do I want to be free of anger, evil thoughts, or addictions?
B. Why? Vs. 7-8
1. This man is playing the blame game. It is my lack of family support. That is why I am this way. It is because of the tough competition. If those who have lesser afflictions would just get out of here then I could be healed.
2. The paralytic blamed everyone else for his continued affliction. It’s common today for people to claim “victim status.” We justify our own bad behavior by blaming someone else. So, who do you blame?
3. I have tried to help people who could not be helped and failed. Why? Did they refuse my help? No. The problem is that they really didn’t want help for their problems. They just liked what their problems did for them. Cannot help someone unless they want help!
4. Stop blaming others and start focusing on the real problem, us. We need to see that when we are so sick and tired of our condition, when we have hit rock bottom, then is when Jesus can heal us. For some they have to go through much torment to reach that point, for others it doesn’t take as much, but when we reach the end of our rope, when we have abandoned all else except Jesus Christ, then and only then, will Jesus heal us spiritually. WE have to come to the end of ourselves, and then Jesus will heal us.
5. Many people love their sins and their condition outside of Christ so much, that no matter how many sermons they hear or who loves them and tries to help them, it doesn’t matter because they love their sins more than anything else. When we say I have had enough and I am willing to surrender all to be made well, that is when Jesus Christ can heal our sin sick souls, not until that point.
6. If the question was strange, the answer was even stranger. Could it be this man found comfort in his affliction? Healing would bring change and new responsibilities. Change and responsibilities can be scary.
7. This man should have been enthusiastic and said, “Yes, I want to be made whole. Please help me.” But no!
8. Seeing into his heart Jesus said, “Get up and walk!” Confused but willing, the guy actually found out he could stand up and walk. Praise the Lord!
9. Many people cannot see something better; they are just satisfied living in their filth!
III. How? Vs. 8-16
How not to get well?
1. Just wait. This is what these people at the pool did. They expected some sign or wonder to overtake them like this legend of the healing waters at the pool. One day some emotion will hit me. One day I will be so impressed. One day I will see a vision. One day God will speak to me.
2. IF we are waiting for something like what happened to the apostles on the Day of Pentecost, or Saul, later Paul, on the road to Damascus to happen to us, most will be lost and never respond. Waiting is dangerous.
3. (John 4:48 NIV) "Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders," Jesus told him, "you will never believe."
4. We should also not preach this way. Just wait or just sit in your seat and you can be saved. Is that they way it was done in the New Testament? Billy Graham and his crusades have people come forward. Why? Jesus Christ was crucified publically and the least we can do it declare Jesus Christ publically.
5. (Mark 16:15 NIV) He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. (Mark 16:16 NIV) Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned.
6. Wait at the pool is man’s gospel and it has destroyed many.
7. The devil wants to tell you, “Wait for a better time.”
8. This man waiting at the pool’s edge was often disappointed, and was in deep despair. He was getting old and his enthusiasm was going away. That is why the Lord asked him that ridiculous question.
9. I hear and believe the Bible. (James 2:19 NIV) You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that--and shudder.
10. A word for us today is come. It is used much:
a) (Mat 11:28 NIV) “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
b) (John 7:37 NIV) Jesus stood and said in a loud voice, "If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink.
c) (Rev 22:17 NIV) The Spirit and the bride say, "Come!" And let him who hears say, "Come!" Whoever is thirsty, let him come.
11. One of the deacons here said that it would be great if we had someone come forward every Sunday morning. Christianity is not a sit in your seat faith!
How do we get well? We see much of the how illustrated in this story:
A. Hear the message. Vs. 8. We are sick and Jesus is the cure!
B. Believe. Vs. 9- Respond to the message. Act on it by faith.
C. Confess. Vs. 15- Some see this as betraying Jesus. I see this as the man wanting to give a good confession. (Mat 10:32 NIV) "Whoever acknowledges me before men, I will also acknowledge him before my Father in heaven. (Mat 10:33 NIV) But whoever disowns me before men, I will disown him before my Father in heaven. (Mat 10:34 NIV) "Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For some this will mean confessing Jesus Christ to those who are less than enthusiastic.
D. Be baptized. (Acts 2:38 NIV) Peter replied, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. And you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
E. Live for Jesus. Vs. 14. Evidently this man’s condition was caused by some sin. Some things are the direct result of sin and some things are not the direct result of sin. This man’s condition was the direct result of some sin. (1 John 3:9 NIV) No one who is born of God will continue to sin, because God’s seed remains in him; he cannot go on sinning, because he has been born of God.
Invitation and Conclusion:
Carroll Roberson- Wilt Thou be made whole? Do you want a new life? Wilt thou be made whole? And believe in Christ. Do you want to be washed as white as the snow? God’s question to you Wilt Thou be made whole?
(2 Cor 5:17 NIV) Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
