Jesus heals today - John 5:8

Jesus Heals Today!

December 4, 2012

John 5:8

Introduction

• Today we are going to talk about the subject of healing, specifically about a miracle Jesus performed 2000 years ago
• Around 9 years ago, Dianne and I vistited Harvest Rock church in Pasadena
• During the worship there was a general expectancy for healing, the presence of the Holy Spirit was totally evident
• I was standing at the front, worshiping, and noticed someone praying with a person who was on his knees
• I joined in and others did too
• This man was leaning on his crutches
• For two years he had been paralyzed and unable to walk without the aid of his crutches
• He had come, expecting healing.
• We prayed and prayed for this man. He would try to pull himself up on his crutches, time and time again.
• He received strength in his legs, gradually, and first he was able to stand, then take one step, then another. Finally he could walk normally! He threw his crutches down, walked on the podium and worshiped God
• The rest of the conference we saw him walking around, carrying his crutches, telling everyone about what had happened
• Today I want to help you understand some principles that are evident in the miracle Jesus performed at the Pool of Bethesda
• John 5:1-9

Background

• This was just before the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Jesus went up to Jerusalem to keep the Feast, in obedience to Deut 16:16
• This is a reminder to us that we should not forsake the assembling of ourselves together – Heb 10:25
• We need these times together in the presence of God to receive encouragement, otherwise we can become isolated and depressed.
• In Jesus day there was a pool at the north side of the temple area
• This pool has been uncovered by archaeologists
• In times past it seems to have been a place where sheep were cleaned before being slaughtered, but in Jesus day it became a place where the infirm would hang out
• John mentions the blind, the lame and the paralyzed
• They would wait here for something special to happen
• Remember that for 600 years there had been no prophets in Israel, no sign of God’s involvement with his people
• But now, at the appearing of the Messiah, God does something special. Periodically, and angel would come and stir ip the waters of this pool
• The first one into the water would be healed
• The disabled who were waiting around the pool were eager to be the first one in

The paralytic

• There was one person there who was paralyzed
• The Greek word here refers to weakness, so he was probably either lame or paralyzed
• He had been an invalid for 38 years
• Time after time he had seen the waters be stirred up by the angel, time after time he had seen people be healed
• But he felt it was not for him because he couldn’t seem to get to the water fast enough
• How many of us have seen healings, maybe many times?
• We have seen God do extraordinary things
• Yet when we are ill ourselves, we feel, it’s not for me
• We can have faith that others will be made well, but we’re not that sure about ourselves
• In some ways we may be like this man
• Maybe it is not physical healing that we need
• Maybe it is some relational issue
• Maybe we have been married for 38 years and we have given up that things could ever be better
• I tell you this morning that God wants to bring healing into your life like a flood of refreshing water
• God wants to pour out His grace and mercy in your life
• Bethesda means House of Mercy
• Come to the waters and be washed and be set free from the shackles that have held you back

The healing

• This particular morning Jesus goes out of his way to visit this man, personally. He did what the Father was saying to Him
• Jesus normally entered the temple area from the east, from the Mount of Olives
• He normally would not go to the area of the Pool of Bethesda, because it was very close to the Roman garrison called Antonia
• This morning he took a side trip to visit this man
• What does this mean?
• This man was special to God
• Despite the years of suffering, disappointment and discouragement, there was a time that this man was going to be healed
• God stepped into his life, told him, “Take up your mat and walk” and performed a miracle
• You may have gone through difficult stuff in your life and you may have despaired that could ever change
• With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible
• All we need to do is to come boldly to the throne of grace to find help in time of need

Conclusion

• So don’t despair
• Believe that God can change your circumstances, he can heal your body, he can make all things new
• Today is the first day of your future
• Are you going to allow your future to stay the same as your past?
• Or are you going to ask God for a miracle this day?