SCRIPTURE: JOHN 5
THE HEALING AT THE POOL (vs.1-15)
In Jerusalem, there is a pool surrounded by five covered colonnades near the Sheep Gate called Bethesda in Aramaic. A great number of disabled people – the blind, the lame, the paralyzed – used to lie there. There was an invalid for 38 years who was lying there. When Jesus saw him, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?” (*v. 6). 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.” then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk” (v. 8). When he picked up his mat and walked, he was immediately cured. Since the day was a Sabbath day, the Jews asked the man who healed him. He has no idea who Jesus was because Jesus had slipped away into the crowd. Later, Jesus found the man at the temple and said to him, “See, you are well now. Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (v. 14). The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
LIFE THROUGH THE SON (vs. 16-30)
Because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath , the Jews persecuted him. Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I , too, am working.” (v. 17) Upon hearing this, the Jews tried all the harder to kill him because he was breaking the Sabbath and calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. So Jesus gave them the following answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned’; he has crossed over from death to life. I tell you the truth, a time is coming, and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life to himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man. Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice and come out – those who have done goods will rise to live, and those who have done evil will rise to be condemned. By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
TESTIMONIES ABOUT JESUS (vs. 31-47)
“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not valid. There is another who testifies in my favor, and I know that his testimony about me is valid. You have sent it to John and he has testified to the truth. Not that I accept human testimony; l but I mention it that you may be saved. John was a lamp that burned and gave light, and you chose for a time to enjoy his light. I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form,. nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent. You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept praise from men, but I know you. I know that you do not have the love of God in your hearts. I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; but if someone else comes in his own name, you will accept him. How can you believe if you accept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain the praise that comes from the only God? But do not think I will accuse you before the Father. Your accuser is Moses, on whom your hopes are set. If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me. But since you do not believe what he wrote, how are you going to believe what I say?”
THOUGHTS:
The man had been paralyzed for more than 38 years. No one helped him and he was hopeless. Yet when Jesus came, he was healed and able to walk again. No matter what infirmities you have, God can minister to your deepest needs. Do not let a problem or hardship cause you to lose hope. God may use you to minister to hurting people through what you have experienced.
The interpretation of the Pharisees on “Remember to keep the Sabbath day holy” was no works whether good or bad are allowed on the Sabbath day. When God rested on the Sabbath day, it does not mean that every kind of work is not allowed to be done on the Sabbath day. Jesus purposely healed people on the Sabbath day to teach us that when the opportunity to do good presents itself, it should not be ignored, even on the Sabbath.
Jesus healed the paralyzed man physically by restoring his ability to walk again. He also healed him spiritually by forgiving all his sins. God’s forgiveness is the great gift you can receive. So do not neglect his gracious offer.
JESUS IDENTIFIES HIMSELF WITH HIS FATHER:
- Whatever the Father does, the Son also does. (v. 19)
- Just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life,, the Son also gives life to whom he is pleased to give. (v. 21)
- He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. (v. 23)
- Whoever hears my word and believes in the Father who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned. (v. 24)
- As the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the son to have life in himself with authority to judge. (v. 26)
- I seek not to please myself but him who sent me. (v. 30)