Miracles #10 -- Healing a Lame Man (John 5:1-14)

13 November 2016
Pastor Art Brammer, Tay Street Baptist Church
http://www.taystreetbaptist.org.nz
Suffering is a part of our world because of sin.
I. God gave many people hope (v. 1-4).
A. God has many means of healing people.
B. God stirred their hope by occasionally stirring the waters and
providing healing through those waters.
1. The name Bethesda means house of mercy.
2. Living with hope is a wonderful thing!
II. Jesus gave one man great help (v. 5-9).
A. This man had less hope than others.
B. This man was vigilant for the means of Gods mercy.
C. Jesus cured him with a simple command, Rise, take up your bed
and walk.
Jesus knew this man (Jn 2:24-25):
1. He knew the condition of his body (Ps 139).
2. He knew the condition of his heart; he had faith.
D. Jesus was selective in his miracles.
1. Though He didnt heal others that day, the means were still
available for them to be healed.
2. God never planned for Jesus to heal everyone. God has His
reasons for sickness in our lives.
It is possible to have a vibrant spiritual life even with severe physical
disabilities.
III. The man was challenged (v. 10-14).
A. The Jews challenged him about their Sabbath laws.
This man had an answer: Im doing what I was told to do.
B. Jesus challenged him about his sin.
1. Sin appears to be the cause of his infirmity (Rom 6:23).
2. Jesus made him well (both physically and spiritually).
God does punish the sinner, but His measures are aimed at making us
miserable so that we will repent.