Let’s pray
Read:
John 5:1–9 (Page 986 – ESV)1
“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.”
We read these few verses in seconds, maybe a minute and a half.
But I would like to leave our fly-by and parachute down for a closer look at this city
Three people or groups come to mind:
Downtown Jerusalem
First – Oblivious Celebrant, feasting (Oblivious to any internal or external danger)
Enjoying the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, celebration with family and friends.
Perception – No problem! I’m OK “in need of nothing”
Outlook – Physical, Natural, Material.
He thinks “no doubt all things will continue as they are.”
Plan of action – Party on! Eat, drink and be merry!
Luke 12:16-17,18-19,20-21 (Page 965 – ESV)
“And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.” ’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.” (Luke 12:16–21, ESV)
So we see the outcome of the self-sufficient attitude.
This man has arrived at the checkout being impoverished before God.
But this is not the desire of God! He would have us rich!
(2 Corinthians 8:9 Page 1070)
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.”
True Riches, Gifts to repentant believers:
- The Spirit of God to indwell and guide us (John 7:39, Acts 10:45, Eph 1:13)
- Mercy to escape judgment we do deserve (Titus 3:5, James 5:11, 1 Peter 2:10)
- Grace to be blessed with what we do not deserve (Eph. 1:7, Acts 20:24, 15:11, 18:27, Titus 2:11)
- Eternal life so that we might be preserved (John 10:28, 17:2, Rom 6:23)
- Inheritance so that we might be enriched (Eph. 1:18)
- Glory (Eph. 3:16; Rom 9:23; Php. 4:19)
- His goodness (Rom. 2:4)
- Wisdom, Knowledge (Rom. 11:33)
- Understanding of God’s mystery (Col. 2:2)
- Christ in you (Col. 1:27)
- Unsearchable riches of Christ (Eph. 3:8)
WE ARE RICH!
Any who have a peaceful relationship with God, having followed His instructions
“repent and believe the good news” are rich toward God.
They have eternal life, and are heirs with Christ!
But without a change of attitude, the self-sufficient will perish!
No acknowledgement of sin, so no repentance, so no salvation
The edge of Town
Second – Others sick, infirm, or disabled, invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed,
They do not have the ability, the where-with-all to take part in the celebrations.
Would they be welcome?
But they are not at the pool either
Why are they not at the pool?
Trust? Odds? Ability? “Better than them” attitude? “Better off here”?
Perception – Yes, I have a problem BUT
Outlook – Earthly, not looking to a spiritual solution
Plan of action – Handle the problem between themselves and other people
These look for a solution in the wrong places
1 Timothy 6:17 (Riches), 2 Corinthians 1:9 (Ourselves),
Psalm 118:8;Psalm 146:3;Jeremiah 17:5;Hosea 10:13;1 Corinthians 2:5;Psalm 146:3 (Men)
Luke 18:9-14 (Page 972 – ESV)
“He also told this parable to some who trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and treated others with contempt: “Two men went up into the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, prayed thus: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other men, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give tithes of all that I get.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.” (Luke 18:9–14, ESV)
Mark 5:25-29 (Page 932 – ESV)
“And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.” (Mark 5:25–29, ESV)
Here we see the futility of trusting in ourselves, or others.
The religious man was not justified
The sick woman could not help herself, nor could any other people.
When she changed from trusting in men to trusting in the Lord Jesus, she was cured.
Without a change of attitude, the one trusting in themself or others will perish!
But there is also the danger of allowing others to intimidate us. To interfere with our search for salvation
Proverbs 29:25 (Fear man?)
The fear of others can be a deadly snare!
(Matthew 23:13, ESV Page 919)
“But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces.
For you neither enter yourselves nor allow those who would enter to go in.” (Matthew 23:13, ESV)
At the pool’s edge (serious)
Third – Serious seekers of healing
Sight, sound, smell, taste, of suffering all around.
But a slim hope of deliverance
Perception – Yes, I have a problem and I am desperate for a solution
Plan of action – Abiding at a place of healing, waiting
John 5:1–9 (Page 986 – ESV)1
“After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?” The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.”
(Bethesda – meaning “house of mercy” or “house of pity.”)
Jesus is not found in Downtown Jerusalem. Nor is He on the edge of town
He is here, where the hurting folk are looking for help from the God who sends the angel.
You! Does one of these mindsets describe you?
We are not here to tell you of healing for a physical problem!
We want you to know how to completely solve you problem of sin.
“But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the promise
by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.” (Galatians 3:22, ESV)
Man’s Ruin/Problem (All people’s problem with Ruin through SIN)
Who DID sin? – ALL!
1 Kings 8:46 (ESV)
46“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not
sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are
carried away captive to the land of the enemy, far off or near,
2 Chronicles 6:36 (ESV)
36“If they sin against you—for there is no one who does not
sin—and you are angry with them and give them to an enemy, so that they are
carried away captive to a land far or near,
Ecclesiastes 7:20 (ESV)
20Surely there is not a righteous man on earth who does good and
never sins.
Romans 3:23 (ESV)
23for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
Romans 5:12 (ESV)
12Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and
death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—
Galatians 3:22 (ESV)
22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the
promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Romans 3:9 (ESV)
9What then? Are we Jews any better off? No, not at all. For we
have already charged that all, both Jews and Greeks, are under sin,
The Result of sin? – Death
Ezekiel 18:4 (ESV)
4Behold, all souls are mine; the soul of the father as well as
the soul of the son is mine: the soul who sins shall die.
Ezekiel 18:20 (ESV)
20The soul who sins shall die. The son shall not suffer for the
iniquity of the father, nor the father suffer for the iniquity of the son.
The righteousness of the righteous shall be upon himself, and the
wickedness of the wicked shall be upon himself.
Romans 6:23 (ESV)
23For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is
eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
James 1:15 (ESV)
15Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin
when it is fully grown brings forth death.
Who DID NOT! – Who are we talking about? God with us in the flesh!
Isaiah 7:14 (ESV)
14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the
virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.
Matthew 1:23 (ESV)
23“Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they
shall call his name Immanuel” (which means, God with us).
Colossians 2:9 (ESV)
9For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily,
1 Timothy 3:16 (ESV)
16Great indeed, we confess, is the mystery of godliness: He was
manifested in the flesh, vindicated by the Spirit, seen by angels,
proclaimed among the nations, believed on in the world, taken up in glory.
There is no sin in this person, who is, as stated above, also God
2 Corinthians 5:18–21 (ESV)
18All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to
himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;
19that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself,
not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the
message of reconciliation.
20Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal
through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 2:21–22 (ESV)
21For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered
for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
22He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth.
1 John 3:5 (ESV)
5You know that he appeared in order to take away sins, and in him
there is no sin.
God’s Remedy/Provision (A loving God’s provision; a remedy through
Sacrifice)
Hebrews 10:12 (ESV)
12But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice
for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,
John 10:11 (ESV)
11I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life
for the sheep.
2 Corinthians 5:21 (ESV)
21For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in
him we might become the righteousness of God.
1 Peter 2:24 (ESV)
24He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might
die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.
Isaiah 53:5 (ESV)
5But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for
our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and
with his wounds we are healed.
Titus 2:14 (ESV)
14who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and
to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for
good works.
1 Timothy 2:6 (ESV)
6who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony
given at the proper time.
Man’s Responsibility/Part (Each person’s part through taking
responsibility for their sin, and accepting God’s way of escape)
Repent:
Matthew 3:1–2 (ESV)
1In those days John the Baptist came preaching in the wilderness
of Judea,
2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Mark 1:14–15 (ESV)
14Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee,
proclaiming the gospel of God,
15and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is
at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Matthew 4:17 (ESV)
17From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, “Repent, for the
kingdom of heaven is at hand.”
Acts 2:38 (ESV)
38And Peter said to them, “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.
Acts 17:30 (ESV) Paul states
30The times of ignorance God overlooked, but now he commands all
people everywhere to repent,
Acts 26:20 (ESV)
20but declared first to those in Damascus, then in Jerusalem and
throughout all the region of Judea, and also to the Gentiles, that they
should repent and turn to God, performing deeds in keeping with their
repentance.
Believe:
Acts 16:31 (ESV)
31And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be
saved, you and your household.”
1 John 3:23 (ESV)
23And this is his commandment, that we believe in the name of
his Son Jesus Christ and love one another, just as he has commanded us.
Hebrews 10:39 (ESV)
39But we are not of those who shrink back and are destroyed, but
of those who have faith and preserve their souls.
1 Timothy 1:16 (ESV)
16But I received mercy for this reason, that in me, as the
foremost, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to
those who were to believe in him for eternal life.
Galatians 3:22 (ESV)
22But the Scripture imprisoned everything under sin, so that the
promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
1 Corinthians 1:21 (ESV)
21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God
through wisdom, it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save
those who believe.
Romans 10:9 (ESV)
9because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and
believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.
Acts 19:4 (ESV)
4And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance,
telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that
is, Jesus.”
Acts 15:11 (ESV)
11But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the
Lord Jesus, just as they will.”
Acts 13:39 (ESV)
39and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from
which you could not be freed by the law of Moses.
John 20:31 (ESV)
31but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is
the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his
name.
John 8:24 (ESV)
24I told you that you would die in your sins, for unless you
believe that I am he you will die in your sins.”
John 7:39 (ESV)
39Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in
him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because
Jesus was not yet glorified.
John 6:29 (ESV)
29Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe
in him whom he has sent.”
John 1:12 (ESV)
12But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he
gave the right to become children of God,