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INTRODUCTION
Most of us are familiar with Joni Erickson Tada. She has been in a wheelchair, paralyzed from
the neck down since 1967 - imagine 40 years.
Likewise, the man in our Biblical story today had been paralyzed for 38 years. A depilating
sickness that made him basically helpless, dependant upon others mercy. In Jesus’ time
there was no organizations like Joni and Friends, or insurance, or government assistance, the
sick were just the mercy of caring individuals. In our account, finally Jesus comes to the
rescue of this man.
1. Hopelessness of the Man. 5:1-5
- Imagine the scene, a pool of water inside a major city gate of Jerusalem. An apparent
Nursing Home existed around the pool, full of invalids.
- People who were sick, blind, lame, and withered. A depressing sight as you entered the
Holy City. Hundreds of people passed by every day and saw the sad scene.
- The place named “Bethesda” = house of olives, house of lovingkindness.
- As Jesus was coming to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews, either the Feast of Trumpets
in September, or Purim in March, or Passover in April - I think Passover, He walks by
this pool.
- This is the 3rd miracle John records, probably about 5 months after the second one in
Cana. He was down in Jerusalem now. The Big City.
- Imagine the sight, smells, sounds, the depressing spirit among the sick there -
complete and utter hopelessness.
- v. 4 Now there was a glimmer of hope - every once in a while at certain
times, the water would stir and who ever could get into the water first was healed.
We don’t know how often, or if people saw an angel of God (how would they know),
or how many had been healed. A very strange setting.
- Then there is this man that Jesus’ notices. Jesus being God who knows all
things, knew this man had been sick for 38 years, some form of paralysis.
Hopelessness. Way too long with no help and hope.
ILLUS: Our hearts break when we see sad situations.
2. Healing by Jesus. 5:6-9
- Jesus introduces Himself with a pointed question?
- Answer “Of Course” - would be my answer - I think, I hope.
- Instead His answer was not a simple yes and no, it was shifting blame. He was resigned
to the horror of his sickness, and blamed others for not caring for 38 years. They
wouldn’t get him the water fast enough and he knew he couldn’t make it
fast enough.
- Not only did this man have a paralysis of the body, but also a paralysis of the will.
He was fully an invalid - body, soul and spirit.
- But Jesus was different from others, He did care for this man, and did want to help
and provide hope. So Jesus simply commands v. 8
- Proof that Jesus healed his body, soul and spirit, this man instantly became well and
got up, took his sleeping bag, and walked.
- “pallet” = blanket, thin roll up mat of the poor, not even cheap mattress.
- Merrill Tenny: “The masterful presence of Jesus created faith in him, and he
arose and walked.”
- Jesus sought obedience. The man could have said: “Cure me and I will walk.”
Jesus said: “Walk and you will be cured.” He took the step of faith and
obeyed.
- The purpose of miracles were to glorify God, testify of the power of the gospel of
Christ, and validate Christ’s message.
- This is also seen in verse 14. Later Jesus warned him not to sin anymore, indicating
his sickness was a result of sin. If he revered back, he stood in peril of something
worse happening to him.
- Not all sickness is because of personal sin - some is 1 Cor. 11; but some
just the frailty of our bodies (none of us get off this planet alive, we have to die),
to me the greatest reason for sickness is to display God’s glory in powerful
ways - John 9:3; 11:40
- We have a long prayer list at our church, many health requests - we are fallen
creatures and frail, but always want God to get the glory in healing, even faith to be
strengthened and faith given - people coming to Christ.
3. Hypocrisy of the Jewish Leaders. 5:10-16
- The aftermath of miracle is diametrically opposite to the greatness of it.
- To the Jewish leaders - to do any work on the Sabbath was sinful, even if a person is
healed.
- The Jews started to pick on the man, not rejoice with him. Criticized him for walking
with his sleeping bag on the Sabbath - that was illegal, it was a piece of furniture -
even though you could argue it wasn’t.
- But the man responded that he was healed that very day, told to take his pallet and
walk. Yet he didn’t know who healed him.
- When Jesus later found him and told him not to sin, he returned to the Jews to tell
them who it was.
- The Jewish leaders were more concerned about an interpretation of the Law of God than
the compassion of God.
- Hypocrisy at it worse. They are condemning a healed man for walking and carrying his
pallet, condemning Jesus for working on the Sabbath - breaking their interpretation of
the 4 Commandment, but they are plotting murder breaking the 6 Commandment.
- So what can we do on the Sabbath - acts of necessity, acts of mercy, acts of kindness
- all a form of worshiping God, keeping 2 Great Commands.
CONCLUSION
The man’s condition speaks of us in sin - hopeless, and we have no one to help us - and
only Jesus can help.
The man being resigned to his sickness speaks of people who after years of sinning are
resigned to their fate - apathy or believe they are too bad to be forgiven.
But the simple message from this miracle is: - there is always hope for the hopeless in Jesus
Christ. Jesus is the only hope then and now.
2 weeks ago on Sunday September 23, I was listening to WDLM radio, heard Ravi Zacharius as I
drove through Illinois. I even had to wait at rest stop to finish listening to the radio
program. I missed a conference he is speaking at last week in Chicago. Because I choose the
prayer summit. The radio was the next best thing - it was divine providence that I heard him
speak. He talked of 7 reasons why the Gospel of Jesus Christ is reliable, complete truth,
superior to any other religion, philosophy, or ideal. The miracles of Jesus illustrate these
truths.
- Jesus is superior because of His explanation of my condition. We are dying
sinners. Honestly tells us our deepest problem - sin.
- Jesus is superior because of the provision for my malady. He could do something
about our condition of sinfulness. He went to the cross to take away the sin of
the world, your sins and my sins. The blood of Christ cleanses us from all sin.
- Jesus is superior because of His explanation of reality. Jesus explains what is
real better than any philosopher, or doctor or scientist who has tried.
- Jesus is superior because of His transcendence over history. Amazing prophecies
far ahead of time perfectly fulfilled. Jesus could predict the future, we
can’t predict stock market or even tomorrows weather.
- Jesus is superior because He provides the equipment for suffering. How does human
handle the pains of humanity? “My grace is sufficient in weakness.” A
future glory to look forward to.
- Jesus is superior because of His triumph over death. Resurrection most powerful
event of history. Christ overcame the greatest enemy of man, and gives life
abundant and eternal to all who believe.
- Jesus is superior because he embodies every ideal that every culture has ever
pursued. He is trans-cultural. He is above time and culture, yet able to reach
into time any time and any culture and provide their deepest needs and answer
their greatest questions.
There is our hope to. Do you believe and obey Jesus?
As I thought about hopeless situations, I thought of the Story of Eleanor Fountain. She died
at age 80, and I had her funeral on August 18, 1986, at the Walker Funeral Home in Freeport,
IL. Eleanor was an only child, and she had epilepsy and was institutionalized all her life,
first in a mental hospital then in the Stephenson County Home. I meet her preaching at the
County home. I did her funeral, and besides myself the only people there were Luella the
Home’s Activities Director and the funeral home director. That was it. She had no
family, no friends outside the home. She was all by herself. She lived a life that sure looked
hopeless. After I conducted the funeral, I traveled to Rockford for the burial, just me, the
funeral home director and the cemetery workers. She is in an unmarked grave, nobody will look
for her, and I couldn’t even tell you where it is today. Her legacy is this story,
because in her hopeless condition, she was a woman of faith. She played the piano with knurled
hands, and sat and listened to the preachers at the Nursing Home. She knew Jesus, the Savior,
the Sustainer, the healer, and that gave her hope, all the hope she really needed.
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