Tabor Baptist Church

Introduction

• Can you remember 1978?
• This is 38 years ago
• We are reading about a man who was suffering for 38 years
• The suffering man
• In the temple courts
• In Bethesda
• Perhaps he stayed there day and night and never went home
• He suffered for 38 years
• Jesus' compassion
• Why this man?
• Jesus knew all about him
• Perhaps he had lost all hope of being cured
• Jesus healed him
• Archaeologists have recently uncovered Bethesda, the 5 pools and a painting of an angel stirring up the water
• We are reading history
• We are not to think of Lourdes
• v4 - in an insertion
• In one sense it does not matter whether angel came and stirred the water
• The picture is of people desperate to be cured
• Only one person had the power to instantaneously curing a man who couldn't walk for 38 years - Jesus Christ
• Bethesda means house of mercy
• Do we feel our real need of Christ?
• We will not come to Christ unless we feel our real need for Him
• We have all faced tragedy and illness
• We live in a sad world and we all must die
• The pool is a picture of sadness (like our world)
• The story is one of good news, of one who came to restore us and the world
• Jesus came to heal us from our sin
• Jesus came to deal with our sin problem and to forgive us

A World of Contradiction

• Jesus was going to a feast
• They had 3 main feasts each year
• At a time of such rejoicing there were people who felt left out, gathered in all their misery
• In life we know great joys and sorrows
• It is hard to cope with tremendous joy and tremendous sorrow
• Example from door to door ministry - sin
• Today is a day to rejoice and give thanks
• What about tomorrow and the day after?
• Will you confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour?
• One day Jesus will come to judge the living and the dead

The Real Hope

• What is the real hope in this situation?
• v6 - Jesus did not ignore these people
• Jesus knew everything about this man
• This man was not seeking God but help from other men
• He found no help in man
• Jesus comes unsolicited
• Jesus asks "Do you want to be made well?"
• Some people don't want to change even in their suffering
• He does not say yes, but 'it is an impossibility'
• Could it be that the Lord Jesus came to this man because he was a hopeless cause and had no faith?
• Are you asking questions?
• Are you resigned to the fact that you will never have an answer?
• Have you though about deep questions?
• Jesus comes to people and He is the solution
• John 9:1 - a man blind from birth
• Jesus seeks sinners out
• The parable of the Good Shepherd
• Jesus came to the man at Bethesda
• Jesus comes to us this morning
• Jesus comes to us now - no need to wait

The Power to Transform

• v8-9: Rise, take up your bed and walk
• How can a man of with an infirmity of 38 years be commanded to walk?
• The power of Jesus at work in him
• "Immediately" he was made well (v9)
• Do you believe in the power of Jesus?
• It is costly - we must trust entirely in Jesus
• It is very simple - believe and be baptised
• "Look and live"
• Will you believe in Christ this morning?
• The Jews were concerned with religion
• Christianity is not about rules and regulations
• Christianity is about a relationship with Christ
• Christianity is about a relationship with God through Christ
• Jesus seeks out the man again
• Physical healing is one thing
• The most important thing is the salvation of your soul
• "Sin no more" (v14)
• v15 - can be taken innocently or in a treacherous manner
• The only barrier is sin
• Christ came to take away our sins

Closing Remarks