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TRUE MIRACLES – Studies in the Gospel of John for the True Man
3. The Bethseda Pool Healing - John 5:1-15
Part 1 – Introduction
I recently spent a weekend at my mom’s with my wife and kids. One of the things that I’ve noticed lately is that I become a different
person when I’m at my mom’s. I’m back in the house I grew up in. I’m more lazy, sitting around watching TV, eating junk food. But
one of the things I’ve noticed more than all those is my personality. I don’t seem to have a problem saying exactly what I feel at the
moment I feel it. I also don’t seem to worry about how what I say makes someone else feel.
In the movie “When Harry Met Sally” Harry is admonished by Sally after a particularly harsh outburst by Harry, “Harry, you have to
find a way not to express every feeling you have every moment you have them.” Maybe I’m the only one, but I made a career out of
blurting out the first things that come to my mind, especially when I’m at my mom’s house. Why this is isn’t really my point. My
point is that this is the first thing that I noticed about this account of this particular miracle of Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t hold anything back and he seemingly doesn’t take into consideration whose feelings he may hurt when he heals this
man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath day. There are an interesting couple of lessons in here for us in this miracle.
1. Jesus wasn’t a “nice guy.”
2. Jesus does what he does in a very deliberate way.
3. The guy on the receiving end of this miracle is trusted by God to tell his story.
4. The other side of the miracle is just as important – the Pharisees and how they reacted and what they
didn’t do is a powerful lesson.
Part 2 – Jesus - Not a "nice guy"
Verse 9
Jesus was not a “nice guy.” Well, ok, yes he is a nice guy. But not in the way that most people today think of the term. Today, “nice
guy” seems to define a guy who doesn’t rock the boat, say anything that would upset anyone else, never raises his voice, and does
what he is told just so he won’t cause any trouble.. Jesus was none of these things. Here he intentionally ticks off the Pharisees to
make His point clear. God’s ways and His love are the only way.
The 3rd Commandment needs to be followed but as God intended it to be – not the way the Pharisees interpreted it to be. God
intended it not as convenience – to give a guy a break once a week. He intended it as a day for a man to come into the presence of
his creator. Workaholics need to take this to heart.
This miracle of Jesus points that we are also to give signs as to who Jesus is. In other words, our witness needs to be radical in this
culture so as to get its attention, but also to be genuine.
Verse 10
The world will often ignore the sign itself and focus, because of their own agenda, any transgression against it. We must be like this
man who was healed at the pool, pointing back to the sign instead of himself.
Verse 13
“The very presence of the crowd made Jesus postpone the completion of his work upon the man; he would finish the task at a more
opportune time” (Lenski, The Interpretation of John, page 368). We shouldn’t expect instant results when it comes to sharing our
faith. The “crowds” will often get in the way.
Notice that Jesus sends this relative newcomer in the faith to face the Pharisees. Sort of sending a boy to do a man’s job, but this,
too, is a sign. We cannot wait until we think we’re ready to share the Gospel. Once we have the Gospel, we need to get out there
and share it. This guy didn’t have theological training but he had something much better! He had a sign to work with. All he had to
do was tell others what Jesus had done for him. If we wait until we think we’re ready, most of us would never share the Good News.
It’s like a couple that says they are waiting till they’re ready financially (and in other ways) to have children. If we all waited till we
thought we were ready, I don’t think any of us would have kids!
Verse 14
This probably happens the next day. It is a great thing to find that this guy is in the “house of God” after this miracle. Miracles
should bring us to the house of God. I can’t tell you how many people I see in church who need a miracle but upon receiving one
they disappear until the need arises again. That isn’t what God wants for us.
Something Jesus says here is interesting. Jesus says to “sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” In Luke 13 the
disciples asked about a blind man “who sinned, this man or this man’s parents.” Jesus says that his blindness is not a result of a
specific sin. However, here in John 5, this guy’s problem apparently is a consequence of a specific sin. The point Jesus is making is
that Jesus now forgives this man’s sins – all of them – and removes the consequence of a specific sin. He is actually calling him to
faith now. As we are called into the forgiveness of Christ and overcome some weakness that has previously overcome us, let this
verse serve as a constant warning. We need to remain in Christ through Word and Sacrament so that we will not put ourselves in a
place that brings bad consequences. Here Jesus tells us that faith gives us power. There is more to this miracle than just healing.
With it comes the power to overcome. So it is with us!
Verse 15
Note that this guy goes back to the Jews after his second encounter with Christ. Here's the lesson: don’t give up sharing your faith.
If you witness with weak faith, your faith will get stronger.
Point to the sign, don’t argue from the point of the false transgression. Stick to your story of what Jesus has done for you. Don’t
get into an argument.
Verse 17
The Jews show that they do not believe in the God of the Bible nor understand the Scripture or the Sabbath. They actually accuse
God of breaking their Sabbath rules! God doesn’t not work on the Sabbath – thankfully! The day God takes a day off we’re all in
trouble!
Verse 18
Note that the Jews took Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God seriously. Why else would they have wanted to kill him? As the Son of
God, Jesus was a serious threat to them and they knew it.
Part 3 – Tell Your Story
Here’s what you can take with you today.
1. Jesus wasn’t a “nice guy.”
Jesus wasn’t your stereotypical, 21st century modern man, now was he? What I mean here is that he doesn’t perform this miracle in
such a way as to make sure no one is upset with what he does. I get the feeling that Jesus wouldn’t be a very good political
candidate. He doesn’t seem to care what people will think about what he does.
In a way, he doesn’t. He said he was the truth, right? In the words of the Marine Colonel in “A Few Good Men” a lot of people “can’t
handle the truth!” The Pharisees certainly couldn’t. But the disabled guy at the Pool of Bethesda certainly could.
2. Jesus does what he does in a very deliberate way.
But in another way, Jesus does care about what people think of what he does. He chose to heal this guy in a very public place. He
chose to heal this guy at a place where other people would be sure to not only notice but tell others (it was a place they all were at
for a miracle). He chose to heal this guy on the Sabbath. That would certainly get noticed. He chose to heal this guy on the Sabbath
in front of the “keepers of the Sabbath rules.” That would also certainly provoke others.
Jesus did care about what people thought of what he did. In fact, He was counting on it.
3. The guy on the receiving end of this miracle is trusted by God to tell his story.
I recently read a book called “Lost in America.” One of the profound points of this book is that how evangelism was done in the
1950’s and 60’s no longer works in America today.
Now, what does evangelism have to do with all this? Just this. When Jesus heal this guy at the pool, the guy immediately became an
evangelist – a teller of good news. But watch how he does it! He simply tells someone else what Jesus has done for him. He doesn’t
start with the traditional evangelism questions “If you were to die today, where would you go”. He simply tells someone else what
Jesus did for him. He points to the sign and doesn’t dwell on what the critics say.
If what we believe about Jesus is important to us, then it is too important to keep to ourselves. If Jesus has done some miracle in
your life, then tell others about what Jesus did in your life. Its like one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.
4. The other side of the miracle is just as important – the Pharisees and how they reacted and what they didn't do is a
powerful lesson.
Last fall I was privileged to preach on the radio program “The Lutheran Hour.” In my sermon I talked about “The Other side of the
Miracle.” Each miracle has two sides to it with Jesus at the center. We’ve focused on the one side of this miracle – the guy healed at
the Pool of Bethesda. But the other side of this miracle, the Pharisees’ side, is also important. Their reaction tells me two things.
They understood who Jesus was but they rejected Jesus anyway.
As Jesus works miracles in your lives – be they big or be they small – recognize the one who does the miracle and then don’t be too
afraid to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life.
© 2004 True Men Ministries
3. The Bethseda Pool Healing - John 5:1-15
Part 1 – Introduction
I recently spent a weekend at my mom’s with my wife and kids. One of the things that I’ve noticed lately is that I become a different
person when I’m at my mom’s. I’m back in the house I grew up in. I’m more lazy, sitting around watching TV, eating junk food. But
one of the things I’ve noticed more than all those is my personality. I don’t seem to have a problem saying exactly what I feel at the
moment I feel it. I also don’t seem to worry about how what I say makes someone else feel.
In the movie “When Harry Met Sally” Harry is admonished by Sally after a particularly harsh outburst by Harry, “Harry, you have to
find a way not to express every feeling you have every moment you have them.” Maybe I’m the only one, but I made a career out of
blurting out the first things that come to my mind, especially when I’m at my mom’s house. Why this is isn’t really my point. My
point is that this is the first thing that I noticed about this account of this particular miracle of Jesus.
Jesus doesn’t hold anything back and he seemingly doesn’t take into consideration whose feelings he may hurt when he heals this
man at the Pool of Bethesda on the Sabbath day. There are an interesting couple of lessons in here for us in this miracle.
1. Jesus wasn’t a “nice guy.”
2. Jesus does what he does in a very deliberate way.
3. The guy on the receiving end of this miracle is trusted by God to tell his story.
4. The other side of the miracle is just as important – the Pharisees and how they reacted and what they
didn’t do is a powerful lesson.
Part 2 – Jesus - Not a "nice guy"
Verse 9
Jesus was not a “nice guy.” Well, ok, yes he is a nice guy. But not in the way that most people today think of the term. Today, “nice
guy” seems to define a guy who doesn’t rock the boat, say anything that would upset anyone else, never raises his voice, and does
what he is told just so he won’t cause any trouble.. Jesus was none of these things. Here he intentionally ticks off the Pharisees to
make His point clear. God’s ways and His love are the only way.
The 3rd Commandment needs to be followed but as God intended it to be – not the way the Pharisees interpreted it to be. God
intended it not as convenience – to give a guy a break once a week. He intended it as a day for a man to come into the presence of
his creator. Workaholics need to take this to heart.
This miracle of Jesus points that we are also to give signs as to who Jesus is. In other words, our witness needs to be radical in this
culture so as to get its attention, but also to be genuine.
Verse 10
The world will often ignore the sign itself and focus, because of their own agenda, any transgression against it. We must be like this
man who was healed at the pool, pointing back to the sign instead of himself.
Verse 13
“The very presence of the crowd made Jesus postpone the completion of his work upon the man; he would finish the task at a more
opportune time” (Lenski, The Interpretation of John, page 368). We shouldn’t expect instant results when it comes to sharing our
faith. The “crowds” will often get in the way.
Notice that Jesus sends this relative newcomer in the faith to face the Pharisees. Sort of sending a boy to do a man’s job, but this,
too, is a sign. We cannot wait until we think we’re ready to share the Gospel. Once we have the Gospel, we need to get out there
and share it. This guy didn’t have theological training but he had something much better! He had a sign to work with. All he had to
do was tell others what Jesus had done for him. If we wait until we think we’re ready, most of us would never share the Good News.
It’s like a couple that says they are waiting till they’re ready financially (and in other ways) to have children. If we all waited till we
thought we were ready, I don’t think any of us would have kids!
Verse 14
This probably happens the next day. It is a great thing to find that this guy is in the “house of God” after this miracle. Miracles
should bring us to the house of God. I can’t tell you how many people I see in church who need a miracle but upon receiving one
they disappear until the need arises again. That isn’t what God wants for us.
Something Jesus says here is interesting. Jesus says to “sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” In Luke 13 the
disciples asked about a blind man “who sinned, this man or this man’s parents.” Jesus says that his blindness is not a result of a
specific sin. However, here in John 5, this guy’s problem apparently is a consequence of a specific sin. The point Jesus is making is
that Jesus now forgives this man’s sins – all of them – and removes the consequence of a specific sin. He is actually calling him to
faith now. As we are called into the forgiveness of Christ and overcome some weakness that has previously overcome us, let this
verse serve as a constant warning. We need to remain in Christ through Word and Sacrament so that we will not put ourselves in a
place that brings bad consequences. Here Jesus tells us that faith gives us power. There is more to this miracle than just healing.
With it comes the power to overcome. So it is with us!
Verse 15
Note that this guy goes back to the Jews after his second encounter with Christ. Here's the lesson: don’t give up sharing your faith.
If you witness with weak faith, your faith will get stronger.
Point to the sign, don’t argue from the point of the false transgression. Stick to your story of what Jesus has done for you. Don’t
get into an argument.
Verse 17
The Jews show that they do not believe in the God of the Bible nor understand the Scripture or the Sabbath. They actually accuse
God of breaking their Sabbath rules! God doesn’t not work on the Sabbath – thankfully! The day God takes a day off we’re all in
trouble!
Verse 18
Note that the Jews took Jesus’ claim to be the Son of God seriously. Why else would they have wanted to kill him? As the Son of
God, Jesus was a serious threat to them and they knew it.
Part 3 – Tell Your Story
Here’s what you can take with you today.
1. Jesus wasn’t a “nice guy.”
Jesus wasn’t your stereotypical, 21st century modern man, now was he? What I mean here is that he doesn’t perform this miracle in
such a way as to make sure no one is upset with what he does. I get the feeling that Jesus wouldn’t be a very good political
candidate. He doesn’t seem to care what people will think about what he does.
In a way, he doesn’t. He said he was the truth, right? In the words of the Marine Colonel in “A Few Good Men” a lot of people “can’t
handle the truth!” The Pharisees certainly couldn’t. But the disabled guy at the Pool of Bethesda certainly could.
2. Jesus does what he does in a very deliberate way.
But in another way, Jesus does care about what people think of what he does. He chose to heal this guy in a very public place. He
chose to heal this guy at a place where other people would be sure to not only notice but tell others (it was a place they all were at
for a miracle). He chose to heal this guy on the Sabbath. That would certainly get noticed. He chose to heal this guy on the Sabbath
in front of the “keepers of the Sabbath rules.” That would also certainly provoke others.
Jesus did care about what people thought of what he did. In fact, He was counting on it.
3. The guy on the receiving end of this miracle is trusted by God to tell his story.
I recently read a book called “Lost in America.” One of the profound points of this book is that how evangelism was done in the
1950’s and 60’s no longer works in America today.
Now, what does evangelism have to do with all this? Just this. When Jesus heal this guy at the pool, the guy immediately became an
evangelist – a teller of good news. But watch how he does it! He simply tells someone else what Jesus has done for him. He doesn’t
start with the traditional evangelism questions “If you were to die today, where would you go”. He simply tells someone else what
Jesus did for him. He points to the sign and doesn’t dwell on what the critics say.
If what we believe about Jesus is important to us, then it is too important to keep to ourselves. If Jesus has done some miracle in
your life, then tell others about what Jesus did in your life. Its like one beggar telling another beggar where to find food.
4. The other side of the miracle is just as important – the Pharisees and how they reacted and what they didn't do is a
powerful lesson.
Last fall I was privileged to preach on the radio program “The Lutheran Hour.” In my sermon I talked about “The Other side of the
Miracle.” Each miracle has two sides to it with Jesus at the center. We’ve focused on the one side of this miracle – the guy healed at
the Pool of Bethesda. But the other side of this miracle, the Pharisees’ side, is also important. Their reaction tells me two things.
They understood who Jesus was but they rejected Jesus anyway.
As Jesus works miracles in your lives – be they big or be they small – recognize the one who does the miracle and then don’t be too
afraid to tell others about what Jesus has done in your life.
© 2004 True Men Ministries