January 28, 2018
Morning Service

In chapter 4 we read the story of the Jesus and the Samaritan woman at the well and we learned many things.  One of the biggest revelations we received was that “God is a Spirit and they that worship Him must worship Him in spirit and in truth.”  This scripture shows that we must be able to understand the difference that exists between the spiritual realm and the physical one.  God created us to be spiritual beings; and that is how He desires us to worship Him.  He is seeking those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth.  At the end of the chapter we saw Jesus heal a nobleman’s son by just telling him, “Go your way, your son lives.”  It showed that Jesus’ words are to be trusted and we, like the nobleman, must accept them by faith and act upon them.  I like this definition of faith from James McDonald: “Believing God’s word and acting upon it because you know His promise is true.”  As we begin chapter 5, John begins to describe Jesus as Messiah and Lord of the Sabbath and begins to explain how He fulfills the imagery of the Jewish feasts such as Passover.

John 5:1-9 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  (2)  Now there is a pool at the Sheep Gate at Jerusalem, which is called in Hebrew Bethesda, having five porches.  (3)  In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, of blind, lame, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.  (4)  For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and troubled the water. Then whoever first stepped in after the troubling of the water was made whole of whatever disease he had.  (5)  And a certain man was there, who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.  (6)  When Jesus saw him lying, and knowing that he had spent much time, He said to him, “Do you desire to be made whole?”  (7)  The infirm man answered Him, “Sir, when the water is troubled, I have no one to put me into the pool. But while I am coming, another steps down before me.”  (8)  Jesus says to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”  (9)  And immediately the man was made whole and took up his bed and walked. And it was a Sabbath on that day.

·        Again we find Jesus attending one of the feasts in Jerusalem and this time He goes to the pool of Bethesda.  Notice there was a multitude of those with various infirmities all hoping to be the first one in the pool to be healed when the water was stirred.  It was a place of despair, but yet a place of hope.  The man Jesus chooses to speak to had been troubled by his infirmity for 38 years.

·        Jesus seems to ask a Captain Obvious question to him; “Do you desire to be made whole.”  I believe Jesus could ask us each of us here this morning the same question.  We all have infirmities that afflict us whether they are physical, emotional or spiritual.  Do we desire to be delivered from them or do we, like the lame man, have too many excuses as why that will never happen?

·        Ask yourself what infirmity are you suffering from today?  Is it a physical ailment, an addiction, loneliness, depression, a hardened heart, a burden for a lost loved one, unconfessed sin or any one of the many more things we could add to the list?  Do you want to be delivered?  Listen, trust, and obey the words of our Lord.  He has the solution to your problem.  On the spiritual realm, I believe He heals you every time when you sincerely ask for it.  Seek Him and He will be found.

·        The physical and emotional realms are sometimes a little more complicated.  He has the power to heal, as we see from the story; but also realize the pool was surrounded by a multitude of sick people but He chose to heal only one.  There are times, like the Lord told the Apostle Paul when he ask God to rid him of a thorn in the flesh, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (I Cor. 12:9)  That physical or emotional infirmity may be placed there for a purpose in our lives.  They sometimes are the exact things that make our spiritual healing possible.  Some examples would be that as we lose a loved one or are diagnosed with cancer those infirmities push us into seeking God and relying upon Him thus fulfilling a needed spiritual healing. 

·        As we have learned in John’s gospel so far, there is a physical and spiritual realm.  The two are affected by each other and interact all the time.  It is the spiritual realm that we have to learn to become in tune with.  It is through the spiritual realm that we attain eternal life.  We need to learn to accept God’s will for our physical lives, and to embrace His promises for our spiritual side.  A perfect example is Jesus in the Garden asking to be physically spared from the cross, but yielding first of all spiritually to God’s Will to be done in His life.

·        Life happens and if you need healing or a miracle from God by all means ask and believe He can do it, we have seen it and heard testimonies of it right here in our Fellowship.  You have not because you ask not.  But on the spiritual side yield yourself to His Will for your life even if that means He says “No” to your requests.  It may be that answer that truly brings the spiritual result God wills for your life.  “Do you wish to be made whole; listen, trust and obey the words of the Lord?”  Healing doesn’t always come in the manner you think it will.

 

John 5:10-15 Therefore the Jews said to him who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to take up the bed.”  (11)  He answered them, “He who made me whole said to me, Take up your bed and walk.”  (12)  Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, Take up your bed and walk?”  (13)  And he did not know Him who had cured him, for Jesus had moved away, a crowd being in the place.  (14)  Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you are made whole. Sin no more lest a worse thing come to you.”  (15)  The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

·        Here we are clearly exposed to the Jews biggest problem; legalism.  Carrying items like his bed violated Jewish traditions that were added to Mosaic Law.  It did not violate the Law, but one of the 39 types of works that were added to the Law by the Jewish leaders.  Another one was tying or untying a knot.  Rather that rejoice that this man had been miraculously healed, they chose to criticize him for violating tradition.  It was indeed a very narrow vision that the Jewish leaders looked at the world with.  The scriptures told of the Messiah doing these miracles, but they chose rather to focus on tradition instead.  They valued the physical realm higher than the spiritual one.  They were truly blinded to the truth.

·        Jesus then finds the man and completes his healing as He encourages him to “Sin no more.”  This is the true spiritual healing Jesus offers each of us.  He can heal us physically, but we all will face some physical ailment at some time in our life.  We will all physically die if the Lord tarries, but we can be made spiritually whole forever.  Jesus offers us eternal life when we turn from our sins and accept His offer to forgive us for them becoming not only our Savior, but our Lord as well. The scriptures are unclear whether this man became a follower of Jesus or not.  It was however his infirmity that allowed Him to meet Jesus and have a chance for both physical and spiritual healing.  “God’s strength is made perfect in weakness.”

 

What did we learn about Jesus?

·        He has the power to heal you physically immediately.

·        He doesn’t choose to heal everyone’s physical ailment every time.

·        He can heal you spiritually anytime you come to Him and ask in faith and sincerity.

What can we apply to our lives?

·        When He speaks listen, trust and obey.

·        Realize physical healing doesn’t always come, but ask if it is needed.

·        Hold on to the fact that our spiritual healing is complete.

·        In times of suffering, know that “All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.

·        Look for God to work in your life especially in times of infirmity.

 

Heavenly Father, thank You that You have the power to heal us physically and spiritually.  Please allow us to trust You to fulfill Your perfect will in us.