Sick Man at Bethseda Pool

John 5:5 NKJV
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.

The man whom Jesus healed at the Pool of Bethseda had a very interesting attitude. The man’s attitude was one which can be typically found in how we relate to life and to God.

  • (John 5:6 – When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”)
  • This man had an infirmity for over 38 years and when Jesus first sees him, He asks the sick man if he wants to be healed. Sometimes in life we can be comfortable with the status quo.
  • LESSON 1: When God asks us a question – it’s not because He does not already know the answer – however when God asks us a question it is because He wants us to look deep into ourselves and our deep needs and motives.
  • (John 5:7 – The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me)
  • Instead of replying to Jesus with a simple “YES!!! I want to be healed”, the sick man begins to complain about how he has been failing to get healed because of the rest of the crowd who were also seeking to be healed at the pool. The sick man had a victim mentality. He blamed other people for his failure to be healed.
  • LESSON 2: Sometimes if we are not careful, we too can be quick to have a victim mentality. Do you blame others for your failures to achieve a desired goal?
  • (John 5:8-9 – Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked)
  • Jesus responds not by joining the sick man in a pity-party, but instead Jesus heals the sick man and commands him to stand up, take up his bed and walk. Jesus focused on meeting the needs of the sick man, rather than to spend time agreeing with the man about how unfair life is to him.
  • LESSON 3: Even in your own life, Jesus is able to meet your exact needs. You might not be able to achieve your goals with your own effort just like how the sick man had tried to get into the pool by his own effort and failed – however, when Jesus comes on the scene, He is able to meet your exact need.
  • (John 5:12-13 – Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place). 
  • It’s interesting that after the man was healed, that he did not even know the name of the wonderful Man (Jesus) who healed him. The man did not even bother to be interested in learning who Jesus was just after he had been healed. For a man who had been sick for 38 years, it would have been good to at least know the name of the One who removed his infirmity after being in bondage for such a long time.
  • LESSON 4: Is it possible in our own life that God is doing so many great things in our life, but yet we fail to acknowledge that God participates and is the author of every good thing that happens in our lives? Do we recognize God’s presence and God’s specific move in our life?
  • (John 5:14-15 – Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”). 
  • When Jesus saw the man for the second time, it is interesting that Jesus told the man that he not sin again lest a worse thing happens to him. This may imply that the cause of the man’s sickness for the last 38 years was due to some sinful behaviors that he may have committed. He was not born with the infirmity, but his sinful behavior may have caused the infirmity.
  • LESSON 5: In your own life, ensure that you do not engage in any sinful activity that may cause sickness in your life. It could be an addiction to drugs, cigarettes, alcohol and the like. Or it could be promiscuous sexual behavior which may cause sexually transmitted diseases. Even though Jesus had healed the man and met the man’s physical need, Jesus wanted to work on the man’s attitude because the man clearly did not have the right attitude as his attitude may also have been the source of his sickness.
  • (John 5:15 – The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well).
  • After the second meeting, the man finally knew that it was Jesus who had healed him.
  • LESSON 6: It is important that we always recognize Jesus when He appears or speaks to us.

TODAY. Have the right attitude towards life and towards Jesus.

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