SIGNS # 3 – HEALED OF THE MAN BY THE POOL
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There are some phrases people use that some may think are in the Bible
· When God closes a door, he opens a window
Variation from a line in Sound of Music
· Moderation in all things
Aristotle
· God works in mysterious way, his wonders to perform
Hymn – not scripture
· A fool and his money are soon parted
From a poem by Thomas Tusser
· I am blessed and highly favored
I’ve heard people say this – not in scripture – only Mary the mother of Jesus was said to be highly favored
· Cleanliness is next to godliness
Nope – not in scripture
· God won’t give you more than you can handle
Nope – everything is more than we can handle – that’s why we need God
One of the most popular
· God helps those who help themselves
Nope – not in scripture and today I am going to show u something completely opposite of this!
Ready – God helps those who can’t help themselves
John 5
We pick up the life of Jesus as He returns to Jerusalem for one of the Holidays
While there he is led to the Pool of Bethesda
While there he is led to the Pool of Bethesda
· It is where sick people went to get well
· They believed that the waters were stirred and the first one in would get healed
o Probably more superstition than fact
While there he by-passed all the sick and went to one man in particular
While there he by-passed all the sick and went to one man in particular
· The blind – lame – paralyzed
o It was a very depressing place of helpless people
· Why that guy?
o We don’t know
o But Jesus knows
o And that’s all I need to know
The Guy had been lame for 38 years!
The Guy had been lame for 38 years!
· That is an awful circumstance in our day.
· Now imagine how bad it was back then
Jesus asks the man an interesting question
Jesus asks the man an interesting question
· Would you like to get well?
· Would you like to get well?
o Jesus wanted a response from the man
§ Jesus does not force Himself on anyone
o “Only when we admit our need will we receive the amazing power of his grace and the miracle of salvation and eternal life.” LABC
What would your answer be?
I know what mine would be! YES!!!!
But that is not what the man said,
Look - John 5:7 (NLT) “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
Look - John 5:7 (NLT) “I can’t, sir,” the sick man said, “for I have no one to put me into the pool when the water bubbles up. Someone else always gets there ahead of me.”
· Look at his first words
· Look at his first words
o I can’t!
o I can’t!
· That is exactly the point
o God doesn’t help those who help themselves – think they can do it all on their own
§ I don’t need God
o He helps those who can’t help themselves!!!
§ I am helpless
§ I am paralyzed by fear – doubt –
§ I am blind
· It is this first realization that leads us toward relationship
o I can’t
§ He can
§ He has
§ He will
Then Jesus says to the man – (who thought it was up to him.)
Then Jesus says to the man – (who thought it was up to him.)
· John 5:8 (NLT) Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
· John 5:8 (NLT) Jesus told him, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk!”
John 5:9 (NLT)
John 5:9 (NLT)
9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!...
9 Instantly, the man was healed! He rolled up his sleeping mat and began walking!...
Jesus was showing the man – it is not about you and what you can do
· It is about Me and what I can do!
· And Jesus can make man who was lame for 38 yrs walk!!!!
God helps those who can’t help themselves
A little deeper
· The other people represented all of us
· The other people represented all of us
o NLT Rom 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
o NLT Rom 5:6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners.
· Blind – John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
· Blind – John 3:3 In reply Jesus declared, "I tell you the truth, no one can see the kingdom of God unless he is born again."
· Lame - John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
· Lame - John 6:44 "No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him, and I will raise him up at the last day.
· Paralyzed - Rom 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
· Paralyzed - Rom 7:18 I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God
The man represents each of us
The man represents each of us
· We can’t save ourselves
· We can’t save ourselves
· We can’t heal ourselves
· We can’t heal ourselves
o But Jesus Can
o But Jesus Can
· Maybe he is waiting for you to ask
· Maybe he is waiting for you to ask
· Maybe you have asked and it is not his time
· Maybe you have asked and it is not his time
o Ask again
o Ask again
o Keep on Asking – Keep on Knocking – Keep on Seeking
o Keep on Asking – Keep on Knocking – Keep on Seeking
You might be Helpless but you are never Hopeless
In just a few we are going to be receiving communion
· Symbols of Jesus body and blood
· A reminder of who Jesus is
· And What Jesus has done
Maybe today is your “I can’t day”
· Call out to Jesus
o I can’t Lord
o But I believe you can
o I need you to!!!
Today could be the day.
I know I don’t want to miss it!!!