John 5:1-15

Sermon Notes: John 5:1-15.

It’s amazing the different that Jesus makes as He walks right into our lives and our situations, and comes alongside us and begins to really work in us and speak to us!

The pool of Bethesda was a well-known place of healing, periodically an angel from heaven would miraculously stir the pool’s waters and when this happened, the first person to get into the pool would instantly be healed. People came from near and far for the chance to be healed. One of the men around the pool had been waiting for 38years, but by now he had no money left to hirer anyone to help him into the pool. Yet he still lay there, in hope that his day of healing would come.

Jesus was deeply moved when He arrived on the scene. Everywhere He turned, He could feel the despair, gripping people around the pool. When He saw the man who had been waiting for 38 years, He could sense the stirring of his Father’s presence, and asked the man, verse 6, ‘When Jesus saw him lying he asked, do you want to get well?’

Strange question? Of course this man wants to get well!

There’s a strange security in all our lives in keeping things the way that they’ve always been, even though they may be difficult, even though they’re not the way you think they could be or should be. Dramatic changes are ahead for this man! He’s going to walk home, he’s going to be able to look for a job! There’s such transformation going to come from this one touch of Jesus on his life. Jesus touching your life and really changing your life can be very unsettling, almost frightening.

Do you fear the changes that Jesus might make in your life, the changes that might happen if Jesus was to really touch your life in some area?

2: Are you willing to obey Jesus and do whatever He tells you to do, even though it may seem impossible from where you’re sitting now, v8-9.

For 38 years this stretcher has been carrying this man, and now he is going to get up and start carrying his mat! This is a complete turn around in this man’s circumstances, in his behaviour, attitude, and lifestyle. Instead of being the one who is being carried now, he is to start and to carry. When someone becomes a Christian a miracle takes place in the heart, mind and soul, a complete turn around in a person’s life. God’s life transforming power kicks in when we obey God’s Word and do what He tells us to do.

Sinful habits and attitudes can hold many Christians believers from stepping out and stepping up in faith, and really follow Jesus. If anyone comes after me they must do what? ‘Deny themselves, pick up their cross and follow’. Get up – pick up the cross and follow Jesus!

3: There are very real challenges and very real consequences if we are truly going to follow Jesus today.

This man hardly even knew Jesus, yet when Jesus walked into his life that day, He faces Him with some real life-changing consequences and challenges.

V8-9, ‘Do you want to be healed?’ ‘Get up! Pick up your mat and walk. At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked’.

Do you want to be healed? If you do, stand up and follow Him. What steps of faith are you willing to take right now to follow Jesus?