Pastor Lori Minor
Context: John tells us about a man who is located by a pool for 38 years - stuck "there" for so long. He is surrounded by sick people who are not able to help themselves - they are emotionally, physically, and spiritually sick and weak. The people around the pool have no sight or vision. There are also paralyzed people around this pool. This man is in an environment with broken people - sick, disabled, weak, and paralyzed people. This man himself is also sick. He has an ailment that deprives him of accomplishments - it focuses on the handicaps that come from the sickness. This man was not born this way, but he became this way. His condition has resulted in his position. If he didn't sin, then he wouldn't be in the ailment that he's in. It's an "if, then" scenario.
BUT GOD! In verse 6, Jesus comes in and sees him. "Then one day, Jesus..." What do you need from Jesus today? Are you in the place where He might be passing by or are you staying away from church?
Jesus saw Him lying there and knew he was "there" for a long time.
1. Be confident that God sees you and He knows what you're going through. Jesus sees your position and knows what you're going through.
Jesus asked "do you want to be made well"? - Jesus asked him what he wished for like saying: "if it was possible, would he want it?" Do you want it? Would you want to change your condition or place?
Context: For 38 years, this man was depending on the traditional way to get healing (vs 4). At a certain time, when the water was stirred, he could be healed if he was the first one in , then he would be healed. He was waiting for a system that wasn't for him to change his circumstance.
2. You won't get it the traditional way, you will only get it God's way.
Traditionally only one person could be healed, but Isaiah 53:5 - "He was wounded and bruised for our". Traditionally, we are to hide our weaknesses and flaunt our strengths but 2 Corinthians 12:9 says to boast in our weakness. Traditionally, the American dream with money, relationship, and status lead to life, but in John 14:6 Jesus says "I am the way, the truth, and the life". You can't have a good life without Jesus.
When the traditional way lets you down and keeps you in lack, Jesus says you can rely on Him and He promises to never leave you.
Jesus said "It's time to get up from there."
With Jesus' way, you get the Creator, power, the Holy Spirit, authority, grace, mercy, joy, patience, peace, and EVERYTHING you need. You will not get it the traditional way - only God's way.
3. We've got to leave there to get where God desires us to be. You can't stay "there" and get to where He wants you to be. You've got to LEAVE "there".
Verse 8: Jesus knows that he's been there a long time and things are frustrating and things are not conducive to where he wants to be. He also knows that it's the man's sin that has caused him to be there and still he doesn't hold it against him. He forgives him and heals him and delivers him. Jesus tells him that if he is serious about receiving this healing, that he needs to follow some instructions. Do you know what the scriptures are encouraging you to do?
If you want to change your circumstance, you can't stay where you are. It's time to get up from that position. He can't use you there, He needs you to change your position, take up your bed and WALK.
Application: We all have a "there" from which we need to get up and walk away from. It's typically a believe, a mindset, that can paralyze us from being who God wants us to be and what God wants us to do.
Is there a relationship or a place from which you need to leave? Maybe there is something you are doing that you need to stop.
What hope is there when you are in the "there" of your life? We cannot afford to stay in "there", but we need to get up from "there" because God has a plan for you and work for you to do.