“Poolside Miracle”

Preached by Rev. Ed Brouwer at The Gathering Place
Pulpit Series Volume 17 Issue 18 05/12/2007

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches John 5:2 The pool of Bethesda was apparently fed by an underground stream and at certain seasons the water stirred. This troubling of the water was attributed to an unseen angel who released healing power into the pool and the first person to enter was healed.

Multitudes of crippled, paralyzed and handicapped people gathered to wait for the water to move, hoping they would be the lucky ones. Some scholars suggest the five porches were constructed to shelter the multitudes who camped around the pool. The Word says that by this pool lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. John 5:3

John write, For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had John 5:4

I believe John recorded this Jewish tradition just as the Jews believed it - to expose its weakness and limitation as compared to the all-inclusive, absolute healing power of Jesus Christ.

I don't serve a God who would cause such a horrible scene of selfishness. Strong, rude, self-centered people pushing and shoving their way to a place nearest the pool… that sounds like a God thing to me. Less crippled bullies muscling their way over other poor cripples to get into the pool first. Certainly sounds like it would honor the Father?

Quick - it's moving! What a mad rush it had to be, with the hopes of the weakest and neediest dashed because some more nimble soul got there first.

One poor cripple heard that cry for 38 years. He didn’t have a chance, he’d drag his crippled body a few feet, and by that time it was all over, someone else had stepped into the pool.

People were healed no question, but each healing would only create more anguish and hopelessness for those who had waited so long in vain.

Please understand every poor soul laying by that pool already had something better than a chance troubling the water. They had the precious promises of a loving God who had made provision to heal them all. If you will diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God and do that which is right in His sight and give ear to His commandments and keep all His statutes, I will put none of these diseases on you, which I have brought on the Egyptians: for I am the Lord that heals you Exodus 15:26

Bless the Lord, O my soul and forget not all his benefits: who forgives all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases Psalm 103:2,3

This hurting multitude was spiritually blind to God's Word. They weren’t laying there handicapped and crippled because they were all horrible sinners - no doubt sin had brought sickness and disease on many of them - but not all.

God could’ve received great glory had they sought out His Word and acted with as much confidence in what He promised as they did toward being first into the pool.

Christ was approached by his disciples about a man who was blind from birth - they asked, Who did sin, this man, or his parents, that he was born blind? Jesus answered, Neither has this man sinned, nor his parents: but that the works of God should be made manifest in Him John 9:2-3

According to the Word - they were waiting for the wrong thing!
Truly my soul waits on God; He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; my expectation is from Him. Psalm 62:1,2,5,6

Jesus was drawn to a certain impotent man laying by the pool. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity 38 years. When Jesus saw him, knowing that he had been there a long time, he asks him, Will you be made whole? John 5:5,6

Impotency comes in many forms. It can be physical, spiritual, mental - or all of these at once. Mentally and spiritually you may be that man laying by the pool! You are in a situation that seems hopeless - and you see no way out. No one really understands the depth of your suffering - no one seems to care enough to stop and help; no one really touches the hurt in you.

Take a good look at that impotent man, and think of the years of struggle, the hurts loaded on him by uncaring, insensitive people. How often he must have lifted a withered hand to those rushing by to get their own needs met, crying, Some-one, help me! Please! I can't do this on my own!

Jesus asks, "Do you really want to be healed?"

There is a danger in prolonged agony and pain - and that is to finally give up, embrace the sorrow, and just make do with things as they are. The Puritans called it, "hugging the pain"

The Lord's question implied the man was not ready to face the responsibility that comes with being made whole. Listen to the man's immediate response. Rather than a joyful, expectant, "Yes, I will be healed" - he says, Sir, I have no man John 5:7

It is sad, but true, that many hurting people could not survive without their sorrow and pain. I am speaking about people who have built their very lives around pain, affliction and suffering.
They’ve complained and talked about their situation so often and for so long that if they were healed, they’d have nothing to talk about.

They’ve been sad and murmuring for so long, it has become an addiction. If they were healed it’d mean learning a whole new way of life. They'd have to learn the language of hope.

Suffering has the potential of turning people into grumbling, self-centered cripples wallowing in self-pity. How miserable to live with someone like that, because they measure your love by your willingness to cater to their emotional pain.

Jesus said to him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk John 5:8

He might have heard about Jesus; but this man didn’t know Him; he wasn’t at all intimate with Jesus. He had been too trapped by his infirmity. But Jesus knew all about him!

Jesus had come to him in his misery and sorrow - and mercy was about to spring forth! Jesus didn’t cross examine him; He didn’t rebuke him for bitterness or self-pity.

Jesus was touched by this poor man’s infirmity. At this time Jesus made no demands. All Jesus asked of him was to believe His Word and act on it. Rise! Take up your bed! Walk - away from this scene!

Later, after his healing, Jesus would find him in the temple. He would hear the Lord's command to go and sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you v.14 He’d get to know and trust Jesus. But now, laying by the pool helpless and in despair, he faced the biggest decision of all his painful years.

A Word of resurrection hope had come to him! He was being challenged: Rise by faith, be made whole, join the living or lay there in self pity and die all alone!

The man had to believe this was God at work, that his cries had been heard and his time for deliverance had come.

Jesus said, Verily, I say to you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father do: for whatever he does, the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son, and shows him all things that he does; and he will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel John 5:19, 20

In essence, Jesus was saying to the Pharisees, "My Father wanted him healed, so I healed him. I do only what my Father wills."

It was God's will, God's love - God's desire, to make this man completely whole. It is so difficult when you are down and weak to believe God still loves you!

When years have been wasted, when sin has crippled your body and soul, when you feel worthless and displeasing to God and you wonder why He’d even still care - it is then that it takes child-like faith to accept that love and step out in faith saying, Lord, on your word alone I will arise - get up out of this crippling weakness - and walk with you!

They cry to the Lord in their trouble, and he saves them out of their distresses. He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. Oh that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! Psalm 107:17-21

The word of hope, forgiveness, mercy, love and restoration has come to you through this message. Cry aloud! Heed his Word, repent, then rise - walk with the Lord and be made whole!