Sitting By The Pool
John 5:1-9 (KJV)
1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches.
3 In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.
4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.
5 And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
Intro: Jesus came to Jerusalem, but he did not go to the up to fellowship.
He went to the sheep market where the lowly and hurting gathered.
They all had not the same problem,
but they all had the same need.
All needed a physician;
all needed a healer.
It is a show of the sinner’s position.
All men need Jesus!
One man sat by the pool for 38 years and looked with dreamy eyes upon water that he believed would help him,
if (i) could but reach it.
- he was not qualified
- he could do nothing the help him self
- some one always got in the way
Notice four things:
I) His Desire (To Be Helped):
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me
a) he of course came to be helped!
People claim church did not help them,
Did you come to get saved?
Did you come to be delivered?
Did you come to get answers?
II) His Deficiency (Inability To Save Himself):
a) Nothing of myself I bring, simply to thy cross I cling!
b) You will have to come as the prodigal son in Luke 15-
without any notions of being worthy of son-ship.
c) Will you arise and go to Jesus?
III) His Distraction (Looking To The Wrong Source For Assistance):
7 The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me
a) no man will help me in.
i) No man can!
b) Salvation is of the Lord!
i) Churches, preachers, and religion cannot make saints of sinners.
ii) That is a supernatural work of God produced by the Spirit through the blood of Jesus Christ!
iii) Now is the time to call on Jesus! Jesus can help you, Jesus alone! It is his blood.
8 Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.
(1) “Rise…” It would have been easy to rise after he was healed, but Jesus sought faith
(2) Take Up Thy Bed”- you are saved for good. Now don’t ever return to where you have been. He carried the bed away to dump it.
(3) “And Walk”- show others what God has done for you. Exercise your blessings by demonstrating them to others.
IV) His Deliverance
9 And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.
(Two important Things):
a) Made Whole All Over;
God did it right.
He was altogether new.
b) His Healing Was Immediate.
i) Salvation is not a process, or it would never be completed.
ii) It is a miracle.
(1) You will not straighten yourself up in a lifetime,
(2) but God can do it in an instant.