Scripture:
John 5:1-15 NKJV
[1] After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. [2] Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. [3] In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. [4] For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. [5] Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. [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?” [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.” [8] Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” [9] And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath. [10] The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” [11] He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ” [12] Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” [13] But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. [14] 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.” [15] The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
Observation:
I woke up several times last night with this scripture running through my mind. I’m not exactly sure what is going to come out of this SOAP but I know it’s for someone who will take the time to read it. As I started reading this morning there was something that came to me. As we look at what’s being said in these scriptures we don’t hear anyone crying out to Jesus as HE passed through the area. In other places in the Bible we hear of blind men calling on HIS name, lepers calling to HIMand many others reaching out to touch even the hem of HIS garment. But here in a group of individuals all needing to be healed. Not one of them cried out to HIM. I find that somewhat interesting. However, as I continued to allow the Holy Spirit to speak I could see the reasoning behind it. So let’s dive in. The place in which these people gathered was believed and in fact proven to have healing power, although it was limited to the first person to get in the pool after the stirring took place, which made it rather difficult for some due to their ailment. If they were lame, or could not see, they would have to be either waiting anxiously or listening real close for the stirring to take place making that moment a free for all. I could only imagine this man’s continued disappointment. Every time he saw the water start to shift and begin to move someone else would beat him to the pool. For 38 years over and over every attempt led to another failure. That didn’t change his desire. He wanted to be healed as we hear when the question was asked by a man HE didn’t even know. Who out of all the people that were there took notice of him. There were sick people in need of healing all around the pool, but as Jesus walked by this one man caught HIS attention. Maybe it was the 38 years of desperation that had been written on his face, or maybe HE could see the deep desire for something different. Either way HE chose to allow this man to clarify the desire of his heart, by asking the question that brought us all here this morning. “Do “YOU” want to be made well?” The question had a deeper purpose than just finding out if the man really wanted to be healed, that was clear after 38 years of laying by the pool, disappointment after disappointment yet not giving up. The man’s desire was for healing, and his answer revealed that. In a sense what he said was…. In all the time that has passed I have not given up. I have made so many attempts but not one of them has gotten me to the pool before someone else. The question was asked to provoke faith, “Do you want to be made well?” Had he known the man that was asking the question, I believe that situation would have gone much differently. But this very encounter would do what he had tried to do all his life with no avail. Every attempt, another failure. But one faith filled encounter with the SON of GOD and all that changed. After his explanation as to why he has not been able to obtain what he wanted so desperately, Jesus speaks the seven words that would change his life, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” The scripture says, “immediately the man was made well.” The religious leaders who saw him carrying his bed had only one concern and it had nothing to do with the person who had just experienced a life changing moment. It was the fact that he was “working” on the Sabbath that caught their attention. You see they believed that if everyone was following the law perfectly that the messiah would come. Little did they know HE had just walked through a crowd of people and healed a lame man right in front of them, therefore fulfilling the scripture that they claimed to know and uphold so well. The man who was healed was still unaware of who it was that had told him to, “Rise, take up your bed and walk” even after the encounter that fact that he was in the presence of the messiah eluded him. It wasn’t until after another encounter in the temple that it was made clear to the healed man who had made him well, “See you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” Most pastors won’t bring it all the way to this point. But I believe it’s an important statement and should not be glanced over.
Application:
How many times have you tried to stop a particular behavior only to find yourself failing again. Every attempt leads to another failure. For years I repeated the attempts to overcome addiction on my own. Going to my first treatment center at 15 years old. But I just wasn’t ready, or you might say I didn’t want to be healed. The dependence on something other than what I truly needed was overwhelming. The day the encounter took place I was kind of unaware of what truly happened. But honestly that day was almost 20 years after the very first attempt, which honestly led to multiple attempts to break the chains. All with no avail. It wasn’t until around 2018 when I finally knew who I had encountered in that church. It was Christ Jesus. HE had set me free from the bonds of addiction, the thing is…. I’m not sure where you’re at or why you find yourself reading this. I don’t know how many attempts you have made or how long you have been waiting. But today there is only one question you have to answer… Do you want to be made well? It could be an addiction issue you’re dealing with, it could be the fact that you feel alone, it could be so many things that you have made several attempts to step away from only to find yourself right back in the middle of it. It could be a broken relationship, or an emptiness that no one is able to fill. Whatever you are struggling with. Today could be the last day you have to put up with it. The question is are you done? Because you don’t have to live that way anymore. Give it to the SAVIOR, give it to Jesus HE is the one that can place your bed in your hand and tell you to walk. I want us all to make this declaration today…. I want us all to say, “today I want to be healed.” That statement is a statement that provokes faith, and faith is what’s needed for the king of kings to do what only HE can do. Do you want to be made well? Then say it. Make the statement. It’s honestly not that hard…. Today I want to be healed. I’m tired of the past failures determining my future. The LORD is calling your name. Don’t get stuck on what has kept you bound, rise, pick up your bed and walk with HIM you hear HIM calling you to more. Calling you to a life that you had no idea was possible accept what HE has offered by faith. Today could be the last day you struggle with whatever it is that has kept you from what HE has for you. The addiction, the loneliness, the inability to overcome, it’s all found in Jesus if your answer is yes, and you want to be healed, then make the statement and see what HE tells you.
Prayer:
Father, this is all you, I’m not sure why you have had me speak about this but here we are. I know what you have delivered me from and I’m praying that it continues not only for me but all those who have taken the time to read this. I know it’s coming out later than usual but I also know that you have a plan for it. I pray that you would place it in front of those who need to read it, I pray that you use it in the way that only you can. Set us free. Today we want to be healed if you are willing then we are ready. Now it’s up to you to do what only you can do. We have released our lives to you, they no longer belong to us. You have bought them with a price that is beyond our understanding, and we want to honor that in the only way we know how. By living a life that will bring you glory. We pray that you will allow us to do so. It’s in the mighty name of Jesus we pray amen.