WILT THOU BE MADE WHOLE?

John 5:1-9

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.   When you Google the question:  “How many miracles did Jesus perform?”  the answer varies from 34 to 35 to 36 to 42. 

 

B.   The real answer should be hundreds upon hundreds (Matt. 12:15).

 

But when Jesus knew it, he withdrew himself from thence:  and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all.

 

C.   Numerous miracles, however, are recorded individually in the Gospel accounts.  We will examine one in this lesson, “The Impotent Man at the Pool of Bethesda,” John 5:1-9.

 

D.   Briefly, let’s remind ourselves of some of the characteristics of a miracle.

1.    Suspend natural law:  dead raised, water to wine, sun and moon stood still

2.    Immediate (Malchus’ ear, Luke 22:50-51)

3.    Defies logical explanation (Mark 6:2)

4.    Cannot be duplicated by man’s ability (Exo. 8:18-19).

5.    Undeniable (Acts 4:16)

 

E.   Let’s now examine the miracle found in John 5:1-9.  We have entitled this lesson:  “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?”

 

I.             THE CELEBRATION (John 5:1a)

 

After this there was a feast of the Jews…

 

A.   The Jews had three primary feasts they celebrated:  Passover, Pentecost, and the Day of Atonement.

 

B.   John does not tell us precisely which feast this is.

 

C.   Most commentators believe this feast was The Passover.”

1.    Passover was celebrated in the 1^st month, the 14^th day of the month of the Jewish calendar.

2.    The Passover Lamb was slain and eaten to commemorate the night the firstborn of Egypt were slain that led to the release of Israel from Egyptian bondage.

 

D.   The point being made to us is that a multitude of people would have been present on this particular occasion because every Jewish male was required to celebrate this feast.

 

II.           THE CITY (John 5:1b)

 

…and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 

A.   The three primary Jewish feasts were supposed to be held in Jerusalem (Deut. 12:5; Isa. 33:20).

 

 

B.   We see Jesus going up to Jerusalem.  We can learn a lesson from our Lord.  He was obedient and fulfilled His obligations to the Law of Moses.  Each one of us should fulfill our obligations to the Law of Christ.

 

III.         THE CONFINE (John 5:2)

 

Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue, Bethesda, having five porches.

 

A.   John pinpoints the precise area in Jerusalem where the miracle occurred.

 

B.   Notice the text refers to “the sheep market.”

1.    The word “market” is in italics, meaning it was supplied by the translators.

2.    Instead of market, it should be the sheep gate.

a.    Throughout the city’s history, there were usually seven to ten gates in the city walls.

b.    The Sheep Gate was located on the NE corner of the city.

 

 

C.   Near the Sheep Gate was a manmade pool called the pool of Bethesda.

1.    The Hebrew name of this pool means “the house of mercy.”

2.    The pool had shallow part, caverns, and its depth reached up to 40 feet.

 

D.   The pool was surrounded by five porches. 

1.    These were covered areas where people would come together to sit and would be protected from the sun.

2.    The pool of some of the porches can be seen in the remains of Jerusalem.

 

 

 

IV.         THE CROWD (John 5:3)

 

In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.

 

A.   The individuals who gathered at the pool of Bethesda were not there for recreational purposes.

 

B.   These individuals were infirmed. 

1.    Some were blind.

2.    Some were halt, that is, they were crippled.

3.    Some were withered, that is, those having members of their bodies which no longer functioned properly such as hands, arms, or feet.

 

C.   In addition to those who were ailing, others came who assisted them such as friends and family.

 

D.   The verse tells us why they were there.  They were “waiting for the moving of the water.”  This is explained in greater detail in the next section.

 

V.           THE CURE (John 5:4)

 

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.

 

A.   We are not told how long this occurrence happened at the pool of Bethesda. 

1.    It probably began sometime during the life of Christ.

2.    It would be similar to demon possession that was common in the first century. 

3.    The miraculous age was in full swing during the life of Christ and throughout the first century.

 

B.   The miracle here involved an angel who stirred the waters.

1.    The moving of the water was the sign that miraculous healing could be obtain.

2.    The first person into the water was cured of his/her affliction.

3.    Note a few things:

a.    The healing was undeniable.

b.    The healing was instantaneous.

c.    The healing could not be done by a human being.

d.    The healing defied natural law.

e.    The healing defied a logical explanation.

 

VI.         THE CASE (John 5:5-9a)

 

A.   The Infirmed (John 5:5)

 

And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.

 

1.    We are told that a “certain “man was there.”

a.    Men were very proud in that time period.

b.    Men were very important to the family and society that time period as well.

c.    To be infirmed and unproductive would be a horrible blight.

2.    We are told that he had “an infirmity.”

a.    The word does not define a specific condition.  It denotes feebleness, weakness, and frailty of the body.

b.    Some have thought he could have been paralyzed, but that is a conjecture.

c.    We will learn later that he was so frail he could not get to the water by himself when it was troubled by the angel.

3.    We are told he had this infirmity for thirty-eight years. 

a.    Did he have it from birth?

b.    Did he acquire it at during his teen years or early 20s? 

c.    We are not told, but thirty-eight years is at least half of a person’s life.

 

B.   The Inquiry (John 5:6)

 

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?

 

1.    This is the verse from which we get the title of our lesson.

2.    Jesus saw this man and had compassion on him when he learned how long the man had been infirmed.

3.    Thus, He asked the man a question:  “Wilt thou be made whole?”

a.    The question seems almost ridiculous.

b.    He was at the pool of Bethesda was he not?  That’s where people were made whole.

c.    Certainly after thirty-eight years this man longed to be cured.  His desire to be made whole would have been extremely profound.

 

C.   The Inability (John 5:7)

 

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.

 

1.    The man’s desire to be cleansed was not the problem.

2.    It was his inability to get to the pool first that prohibited him from being cured of his infirmity.

3.    I want you to reflect on the words:  “…but while I am coming…”

a.    I can see him up on his palms.

b.    He would drag himself along as quickly as he could trying to beat the others.

c.    But before he could get to the water, “another steppeth down before me.”

d.    Here was a man who was unable to heal himself.

 

D.   The Instruction (John 5:8)

 

Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.

 

1.    Jesus did not verbalize the word “faith” to this man, but the man was going to have to have faith to be healed.

2.    His faith would be expressed in obedience to Jesus’ threefold command:  “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.”

3.    Question:  Was Jesus teaching “works” healing?  Why couldn’t the man just believe and be healed? 

4.    This was a matter of faith coupled with obedience that would enable this man to access the power of God that would cure him.  As long as he just sat there, regardless of how much faith he possessed, he would not have been healed.

5.    LESSON:  Jesus did not need healing water or oil.  He did not require the man to give him any money.  There was no eye-catching display prior to the healing in front of the masses.

 

E.   The Invigoration (John 5:9a)

 

And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked…

 

1.    The very moment the man attempted to stand the man was made completely whole.  His bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, veins, and skin were as if he never had his affliction.

2.    He took up his bed, and walked.  NOTE:  The man did not argue with Jesus’ instructions.  He simply did just what Jesus asked him to do.

3.    Question:  Can you imagine the elation that man felt on that day? 

a.    An infirmed past was put behind him.

b.    A strong, healthy future was before him.

 

F.    The application:

1.    Spiritually men are infirmed today.  Some have been plagued with their “sin disability” for longer than thirty-eight years.

2.    These individuals cannot cure themselves.  Once man is in sin, he alone cannot cure his soul’s disease.

3.    Jesus has the cure.  He tells us exactly what one needs to be done to be healed:  hear (Luke 8:18), believe (John 8:32), repent of sins (Luke 13:3), confess His name before men (Matt. 10:32), and be baptized (Mark 16:16).

4.    All that remains involves that person who is in a sinful condition:

a.    Wilt thou be made whole?  The person has to have the desire to be healed.

b.    Then, he must do as the impotent man, trust and obey the conditions.

 

VII.       THE COMPLICATION (John 5:9b)

 

…and on the same day was the sabbath.

 

A.   We will not be delving into this in this lesson, a problem was about to arise because it was the Sabbath.

 

B.   This was supposed to be a day of rest.

 

C.   The Jews would soon encounter this man as he carried his bed, and say:  “It is the sabbath day:  it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed” (John 5:10).

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.   Miraculous events in the life of Christ are always interesting, amazing, and happy occasions.

 

B.   Jesus demonstrated His power a host of times in order to prove His claims to be the Messiah (John 10:37-38).

 

C.   Too, these miracles have a spiritual application for our lives today. 

1.    Is there someone here this morning who needs to be cured from their infirmity of sin? 

2.    All you must do is trust and obey!