WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:05.879 We're going to read together in John's Gospel. 00:00:05.879 --> 00:00:10.300 We're reading in John chapter 5, the first 18 verses of the chapter. 00:00:10.519 --> 00:00:14.339 It's page 890 of the Church Bible, if you want to follow there. 00:00:15.160 --> 00:00:19.339 The readings also in some of the intimation leaflets, 00:00:19.580 --> 00:00:22.760 there's orders of service and the readings there also. 00:00:23.160 --> 00:00:27.620 So John chapter 5, reading from verse 1 to verse 18. 00:00:27.620 --> 00:00:30.460 Let's hear and read together in God's Word. 00:00:31.560 --> 00:00:36.399 After this, there was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 00:00:37.420 --> 00:00:43.859 Now, there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool in Aramaic called Bethesda, 00:00:44.420 --> 00:00:47.100 which has five roofed colonnades. 00:00:47.820 --> 00:00:52.480 In these lay a multitude of invalids, blind, lame, and paralyzed. 00:00:52.479 --> 00:00:58.359 One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years. 00:00:59.319 --> 00:01:05.340 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, 00:01:05.780 --> 00:01:06.939 he said to him, 00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:09.479 Do you want to be healed? 00:01:10.939 --> 00:01:12.799 The sick man answered him, 00:01:12.799 --> 00:01:18.379 Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, 00:01:18.739 --> 00:01:22.039 and while I am going, another steps down before me. 00:01:23.420 --> 00:01:24.739 Jesus said to him, 00:01:25.299 --> 00:01:29.299 Get up, take up your bed, and walk. 00:01:30.299 --> 00:01:32.859 And at once the man was healed, 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:36.420 and he took up his bed and walked. 00:01:36.420 --> 00:01:39.480 Now, that day was the Sabbath. 00:01:40.260 --> 00:01:43.180 So, the Jews said to the man who had been healed, 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:44.400 It is the Sabbath, 00:01:44.820 --> 00:01:47.460 and it's not lawful for you to take up your bed. 00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:49.359 But he answered them, 00:01:49.700 --> 00:01:52.240 The man who healed me, that man said to me, 00:01:52.439 --> 00:01:53.799 Take up your bed and walk. 00:01:54.520 --> 00:01:55.439 They asked him, 00:01:55.879 --> 00:01:57.460 Who is the man who said to you, 00:01:57.659 --> 00:01:58.859 Take up your bed and walk? 00:02:00.140 --> 00:02:03.299 Now, the man who had been healed did not know who it was, 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:06.700 for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 00:02:07.599 --> 00:02:10.159 Afterward, Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, 00:02:10.500 --> 00:02:11.620 See, you are well. 00:02:11.919 --> 00:02:14.240 Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you. 00:02:15.520 --> 00:02:20.579 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 00:02:21.719 --> 00:02:24.519 And this is why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, 00:02:24.879 --> 00:02:28.259 because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 00:02:29.419 --> 00:02:30.879 But Jesus answered them, 00:02:30.879 --> 00:02:34.319 My father is working until now, 00:02:34.979 --> 00:02:36.780 and I am working. 00:02:38.120 --> 00:02:42.579 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, 00:02:43.180 --> 00:02:45.659 because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, 00:02:46.719 --> 00:02:50.240 but he was even calling God his own father, 00:02:51.280 --> 00:02:55.359 making himself equal with God. 00:02:55.360 --> 00:02:57.660 This is the word of God, 00:02:58.160 --> 00:03:01.040 and to his name be the praise and the glory. 00:03:01.800 --> 00:03:02.700 I don't know about you, 00:03:02.760 --> 00:03:03.540 but when I was in school, 00:03:03.620 --> 00:03:06.820 we were told there was no such thing as silly questions. 00:03:07.380 --> 00:03:09.560 Anything is fine to bring before the teacher. 00:03:09.620 --> 00:03:13.820 The teacher's happy to deal with any queries you might have. 00:03:13.880 --> 00:03:14.900 Maybe it was just my school, 00:03:15.020 --> 00:03:16.560 but it did feel like there were, in fact, 00:03:16.600 --> 00:03:18.580 a lot of silly questions. 00:03:18.900 --> 00:03:19.880 But we are in a series, 00:03:20.020 --> 00:03:20.740 a preaching series, 00:03:21.040 --> 00:03:23.860 called questions that Jesus asked. 00:03:23.860 --> 00:03:26.020 And as David has just read for us, 00:03:26.040 --> 00:03:26.920 we read about a man, 00:03:27.720 --> 00:03:30.100 Jesus comes and finds this man who's been lying 00:03:30.100 --> 00:03:32.240 by a healing pool for a long time. 00:03:32.780 --> 00:03:33.840 He's incredibly sick. 00:03:33.940 --> 00:03:34.760 He can't walk. 00:03:35.300 --> 00:03:36.520 He's in a pretty bad way. 00:03:37.240 --> 00:03:39.200 He's hoping for miraculous healing. 00:03:39.820 --> 00:03:41.500 And Jesus comes up to him and says, 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:43.500 Do you want to be well? 00:03:44.640 --> 00:03:46.260 And it seems to me, 00:03:46.360 --> 00:03:47.240 at least on first reading, 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:49.560 that Jesus is actually breaking 00:03:49.560 --> 00:03:51.200 the there are no silly questions. 00:03:51.540 --> 00:03:51.800 Rule. 00:03:51.800 --> 00:03:52.480 Of course, 00:03:52.580 --> 00:03:53.480 this man wants to be well. 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:55.380 He's been lying there for a long time, 00:03:55.460 --> 00:03:56.200 38 years, 00:03:56.360 --> 00:03:56.820 hoping, 00:03:57.080 --> 00:03:59.960 just hoping that somehow his paralysis, 00:03:59.960 --> 00:04:02.180 his paralysis is going to be cured 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:03.439 and he's going to be able to walk. 00:04:04.380 --> 00:04:05.260 We think, 00:04:06.260 --> 00:04:10.040 and this is what four years of seminary teaches you. 00:04:10.500 --> 00:04:12.300 Jesus doesn't ask silly questions. 00:04:13.000 --> 00:04:13.860 And in fact, 00:04:13.900 --> 00:04:15.780 Jesus sometimes asks questions, 00:04:15.780 --> 00:04:19.439 the kinds of questions that are so clear 00:04:19.439 --> 00:04:20.980 and so precise, 00:04:21.540 --> 00:04:23.160 they pierce right to the heart 00:04:23.160 --> 00:04:24.579 of the human condition. 00:04:24.579 --> 00:04:26.939 And I think this is one of those questions. 00:04:27.060 --> 00:04:28.500 It's a diagnostic question. 00:04:28.860 --> 00:04:30.759 It doesn't prompt a one word answer. 00:04:30.879 --> 00:04:32.300 The man doesn't say yes. 00:04:32.399 --> 00:04:33.600 The man doesn't say no. 00:04:34.319 --> 00:04:37.240 But he reveals so much about who this man really is, 00:04:37.920 --> 00:04:40.840 how he sees the world that he is inhabiting, 00:04:40.839 --> 00:04:44.639 where his hope is and where it isn't. 00:04:45.479 --> 00:04:46.379 I want to show you tonight, 00:04:46.839 --> 00:04:48.759 this isn't a silly question at all. 00:04:48.979 --> 00:04:53.199 It's a question that Jesus is still asking today, 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:55.799 not to a man lying on a mat 2000 years ago, 00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:59.299 but to all of us here in Edinburgh tonight. 00:04:59.300 --> 00:05:03.300 We all know people in need of physical healing. 00:05:04.420 --> 00:05:08.199 Some people are in very urgent of miraculous healing. 00:05:08.379 --> 00:05:08.660 We know, 00:05:08.740 --> 00:05:09.639 and we pray for them. 00:05:10.560 --> 00:05:12.400 But even if you're relatively well, 00:05:12.520 --> 00:05:15.639 even if you were able to, 00:05:15.639 --> 00:05:15.879 you know, 00:05:15.920 --> 00:05:18.759 run up the steps from the car park today, 00:05:19.300 --> 00:05:22.100 you don't have to look too far to see things 00:05:22.100 --> 00:05:24.220 that you need to be healed from. 00:05:25.319 --> 00:05:27.519 You can see the brokenness of the world, 00:05:27.519 --> 00:05:31.000 the fragility of our mental and emotional health. 00:05:31.839 --> 00:05:34.139 You know that human relationships are fragile. 00:05:34.579 --> 00:05:37.699 They're so easily broken and so difficult to heal. 00:05:38.399 --> 00:05:40.139 You've experienced disappointments. 00:05:40.180 --> 00:05:41.199 You've experienced suffering. 00:05:41.879 --> 00:05:43.060 You've seen greed. 00:05:43.240 --> 00:05:44.339 You've seen envy. 00:05:44.459 --> 00:05:45.180 You've seen hurt. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:47.879 You don't need to be a Christian to know 00:05:47.879 --> 00:05:51.680 that we all need healing from all of these things. 00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:55.019 The story of Jesus healing an invalid by the pool 00:05:55.019 --> 00:05:58.199 goes beyond our need for physical healing. 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:00.419 It offers true healing 00:06:00.419 --> 00:06:03.899 because true healing doesn't just patch us up for a while. 00:06:05.120 --> 00:06:06.680 True healing is complete. 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.060 It offers deep, 00:06:09.680 --> 00:06:13.939 eternal rest from ever needing to go looking for healing again. 00:06:13.939 --> 00:06:17.800 So this passage doesn't just tell us about the wonderful healing. 00:06:18.519 --> 00:06:21.560 Also points us clearly to the source, 00:06:21.719 --> 00:06:23.519 where this healing comes from. 00:06:23.819 --> 00:06:24.620 And it's not a pool. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:26.459 It's a person. 00:06:27.459 --> 00:06:28.399 I've got three points. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.699 The first point is, 00:06:31.079 --> 00:06:32.180 what's wrong with you? 00:06:33.420 --> 00:06:34.339 John goes up to, 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:37.819 John tells us that Jesus is going up to a festival. 00:06:37.819 --> 00:06:41.180 And there he comes to the Sheep Gate 00:06:41.180 --> 00:06:41.959 and there's a pool, 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:43.819 a pool called Bethesda. 00:06:44.540 --> 00:06:45.540 For a long time, 00:06:45.980 --> 00:06:47.879 people who wanted to discredit the Bible 00:06:47.879 --> 00:06:50.300 kind of hung on this pool and said, 00:06:50.459 --> 00:06:54.000 there's no evidence that this pool actually ever existed. 00:06:54.620 --> 00:06:55.959 Notice that the passage tells us 00:06:55.959 --> 00:06:57.420 this pool has five porticos. 00:06:58.100 --> 00:06:59.500 Those are porches. 00:06:59.959 --> 00:07:02.120 And they offered shelter from the sun and the heat 00:07:02.120 --> 00:07:04.039 for those who were lying around them. 00:07:04.040 --> 00:07:06.439 So we all know, don't we, 00:07:06.580 --> 00:07:08.480 that swimming pools are only rectangular, 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:10.379 oval, maybe a circle. 00:07:10.819 --> 00:07:14.560 Nobody's ever heard of a pentagon shaped pool. 00:07:15.340 --> 00:07:17.420 There's no archaeological evidence 00:07:17.420 --> 00:07:18.860 that this pool ever existed. 00:07:19.640 --> 00:07:21.680 And John's really specific about where it is, 00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.500 right beside the Sheep Gate. 00:07:23.960 --> 00:07:26.900 It had never been discovered until it was. 00:07:27.000 --> 00:07:29.040 And finally, it was uncovered relatively recently 00:07:29.040 --> 00:07:30.960 in the 19th century. 00:07:30.959 --> 00:07:34.759 Archaeologists think that this wasn't necessarily 00:07:34.759 --> 00:07:35.739 a healing pool, 00:07:35.919 --> 00:07:38.319 like it's been treated by this man, 00:07:38.719 --> 00:07:43.060 but it was probably a Jewish ritual cleansing pool. 00:07:44.659 --> 00:07:46.719 There were, when it was excavated, 00:07:47.319 --> 00:07:50.319 they found that there was a rectangular pool. 00:07:50.879 --> 00:07:53.459 So rectangular pool has four sides, right? 00:07:54.120 --> 00:07:55.240 Four porches, 00:07:55.579 --> 00:07:58.139 except there was two separate basins. 00:07:58.139 --> 00:08:01.539 So the top pool would flow into the second pool. 00:08:01.620 --> 00:08:02.659 And across the middle, 00:08:03.180 --> 00:08:04.279 there was this wall, 00:08:04.399 --> 00:08:05.300 which had a porch. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:06.579 And there we have it, 00:08:06.719 --> 00:08:07.560 five porches, 00:08:08.519 --> 00:08:09.919 a five porched pool. 00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:11.639 And it proves exactly 00:08:11.639 --> 00:08:14.779 what Jotun was writing about is true. 00:08:14.899 --> 00:08:15.919 So why does that even matter? 00:08:15.979 --> 00:08:16.699 Why does it matter? 00:08:17.439 --> 00:08:18.740 Why does it need to be a real pool? 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:20.379 Isn't the most important bit, 00:08:20.680 --> 00:08:21.759 the bit that Jesus does? 00:08:22.259 --> 00:08:22.979 Well, yes, 00:08:23.159 --> 00:08:25.300 the most important bit is the bit that Jesus does. 00:08:25.300 --> 00:08:29.120 But if we can trust the Bible to be completely accurate 00:08:29.120 --> 00:08:31.040 about a five-sided pool 00:08:31.040 --> 00:08:32.460 that people never thought existed, 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:35.139 and the detail that goes into describing 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:36.399 exactly what that is, 00:08:36.940 --> 00:08:39.740 then we can trust the Bible to be really crystal clear 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:42.600 about the big important things that it tells us, 00:08:43.200 --> 00:08:46.220 like we're going to see tonight who Jesus really is. 00:08:46.220 --> 00:08:51.279 So Jesus comes to this pool of Bethesda. 00:08:51.700 --> 00:08:54.600 Bethesda means something like house of mercy 00:08:54.600 --> 00:08:55.720 or house of grace, 00:08:55.920 --> 00:08:58.180 which is bitterly ironic 00:08:58.180 --> 00:09:00.180 because it doesn't seem as though 00:09:00.180 --> 00:09:03.460 there's much mercy or grace in this place. 00:09:03.519 --> 00:09:04.899 It's full of people lying around 00:09:04.899 --> 00:09:07.200 completely debilitating, 00:09:07.920 --> 00:09:08.680 debilitated, 00:09:08.860 --> 00:09:11.660 waiting for a miraculous healing. 00:09:12.299 --> 00:09:14.339 There's no grace in this place at all 00:09:14.339 --> 00:09:16.620 until Jesus shows up. 00:09:17.500 --> 00:09:19.740 And then amongst this sea of sick people, 00:09:20.259 --> 00:09:21.799 Jesus identifies one man, 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:23.219 an invalid. 00:09:23.600 --> 00:09:24.799 He's lying on his mat, 00:09:25.059 --> 00:09:27.299 probably like a reed mat that you can roll up. 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.199 And he's been there a long time. 00:09:30.360 --> 00:09:31.659 But John tells us that 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:33.639 Jesus didn't need to be told any of this 00:09:33.639 --> 00:09:35.019 because he already knew exactly 00:09:35.019 --> 00:09:36.759 what the man's condition was. 00:09:37.959 --> 00:09:39.279 So the passage doesn't tell us exactly 00:09:39.279 --> 00:09:41.759 what the man's disability was, 00:09:41.799 --> 00:09:44.039 what was specifically wrong with him. 00:09:45.860 --> 00:09:47.419 He had a weakness and he couldn't walk. 00:09:48.379 --> 00:09:49.799 But it does show us 00:09:49.799 --> 00:09:52.339 that there's more to this man's condition 00:09:52.339 --> 00:09:54.360 than his physical ailment. 00:09:55.959 --> 00:09:57.039 John's one of four gospels 00:09:57.039 --> 00:09:59.459 and they all tell the story of Jesus's life, 00:09:59.839 --> 00:10:01.480 but they come at it from slightly different angles. 00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:04.240 John's a very precise writer. 00:10:04.240 --> 00:10:06.120 He's really clear about what he does. 00:10:06.120 --> 00:10:08.679 And he doesn't usually include 00:10:08.679 --> 00:10:10.519 specific details by accident. 00:10:11.299 --> 00:10:13.019 I think he's deliberately told us 00:10:13.019 --> 00:10:16.019 that this man's been ill for 38 years. 00:10:16.440 --> 00:10:18.179 And I think that that number 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:20.620 is one of the keys for us unlocking 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:23.700 the meaning of this whole episode 00:10:23.700 --> 00:10:25.039 that Jesus has. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.560 Because we find this exact number 00:10:27.560 --> 00:10:29.060 in a very particular place 00:10:29.060 --> 00:10:30.100 in the Old Testament. 00:10:30.100 --> 00:10:32.080 So in Deuteronomy, 00:10:32.540 --> 00:10:34.500 we read about how God 00:10:34.500 --> 00:10:35.920 had brought the children of Israel 00:10:35.920 --> 00:10:38.159 to the edge of the promised land. 00:10:39.220 --> 00:10:40.220 Right to the edge. 00:10:40.500 --> 00:10:41.540 The land that he promised 00:10:41.540 --> 00:10:43.540 to Abraham, to Isaac, to Jacob, 00:10:43.720 --> 00:10:45.460 to these people's forefathers. 00:10:46.700 --> 00:10:48.360 And they came right up to the edge, 00:10:48.460 --> 00:10:49.720 but they didn't get to go in. 00:10:49.879 --> 00:10:50.779 They weren't allowed to enter 00:10:50.779 --> 00:10:52.899 the land of rest. 00:10:53.639 --> 00:10:55.440 They had to wander in the wilderness 00:10:55.440 --> 00:10:58.040 for years and years first. 00:10:58.039 --> 00:10:58.799 How many years? 00:10:59.679 --> 00:11:00.559 38 years. 00:11:00.639 --> 00:11:01.559 They had to wander in the wilderness 00:11:01.559 --> 00:11:02.839 for 38 years 00:11:02.839 --> 00:11:04.259 until all the people 00:11:04.259 --> 00:11:06.199 who were guilty 00:11:06.199 --> 00:11:08.379 of not putting their trust in God 00:11:08.379 --> 00:11:09.500 had died. 00:11:09.779 --> 00:11:10.959 And it was their descendants 00:11:10.959 --> 00:11:13.259 who were to enter the land. 00:11:13.719 --> 00:11:15.339 They weren't allowed to enter the land 00:11:15.339 --> 00:11:16.919 because of unbelief. 00:11:17.799 --> 00:11:19.419 They simply didn't trust God 00:11:19.419 --> 00:11:20.959 to deliver on the things 00:11:20.959 --> 00:11:22.639 that he promised them he would. 00:11:23.079 --> 00:11:24.559 And I think this is the connection. 00:11:25.620 --> 00:11:26.679 This is one of the connections 00:11:26.679 --> 00:11:28.599 John wants us to make 00:11:28.599 --> 00:11:32.079 between this man and Israel. 00:11:33.019 --> 00:11:34.219 This man is suffering. 00:11:34.339 --> 00:11:36.379 He's been suffering for a long time 00:11:36.379 --> 00:11:38.199 in a really terrible way. 00:11:39.059 --> 00:11:40.519 But underneath his suffering, 00:11:40.659 --> 00:11:42.039 underneath his physical suffering, 00:11:43.239 --> 00:11:44.679 is a spiritual sickness. 00:11:46.519 --> 00:11:48.219 Notice too that Jesus comes 00:11:48.219 --> 00:11:49.819 to this man twice. 00:11:50.139 --> 00:11:51.500 So he comes to him by the pool 00:11:51.500 --> 00:11:53.720 and he sees him when he's unwell. 00:11:54.179 --> 00:11:57.519 But Jesus has also come to him later on. 00:11:57.840 --> 00:11:58.840 He comes to him at the temple. 00:11:59.820 --> 00:12:01.740 And Jesus' words there, 00:12:01.919 --> 00:12:02.879 the words that he says to him 00:12:02.879 --> 00:12:04.559 are important as well. 00:12:05.620 --> 00:12:06.659 In verse 14, 00:12:07.200 --> 00:12:07.840 Jesus says, 00:12:08.519 --> 00:12:09.460 See your well. 00:12:09.700 --> 00:12:10.539 Sin no more, 00:12:11.019 --> 00:12:13.320 that nothing worse may happen to you. 00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:15.340 Jesus is linking the man's 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:17.320 physical condition to sin. 00:12:17.320 --> 00:12:19.260 So he's not doing it 00:12:19.260 --> 00:12:20.100 in a mechanical way. 00:12:20.180 --> 00:12:20.860 He's not saying, 00:12:21.500 --> 00:12:22.060 if you sin, 00:12:22.100 --> 00:12:23.040 you're going to get sick. 00:12:23.780 --> 00:12:24.980 A few chapters later, 00:12:25.080 --> 00:12:25.780 John chapter 9, 00:12:26.379 --> 00:12:27.700 Jesus explains that that's, 00:12:28.300 --> 00:12:28.420 you know, 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:29.220 the idea of suffering 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:30.700 isn't always directly 00:12:30.700 --> 00:12:34.740 connected to punishment for sin. 00:12:35.820 --> 00:12:37.440 But Jesus is showing this man, 00:12:37.520 --> 00:12:38.220 he's showing us, 00:12:38.840 --> 00:12:41.060 there's a need for greater healing, 00:12:41.860 --> 00:12:43.020 even greater healing 00:12:43.019 --> 00:12:47.819 than being paralytic for 38 years. 00:12:49.079 --> 00:12:50.579 The final thing to notice on this 00:12:50.579 --> 00:12:53.379 is that this need 00:12:53.379 --> 00:12:54.659 for a different kind of healing 00:12:54.659 --> 00:12:55.539 is in verse 4. 00:12:57.079 --> 00:12:58.100 John says, 00:12:58.399 --> 00:13:00.419 there are multitudes of sick, 00:13:00.600 --> 00:13:02.519 blind, lame, paralyzed people 00:13:02.519 --> 00:13:03.819 all around him. 00:13:05.059 --> 00:13:06.179 And when we've read the Bible 00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:07.019 and we look at that, 00:13:07.019 --> 00:13:08.579 we see this is a clear picture 00:13:08.579 --> 00:13:10.019 of the fallen world 00:13:10.539 --> 00:13:12.259 under the effects of sin. 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:17.120 This man's physical weakness 00:13:17.120 --> 00:13:18.840 is not his biggest problem. 00:13:19.659 --> 00:13:20.779 His biggest problem 00:13:20.779 --> 00:13:23.120 is spiritual helplessness. 00:13:24.439 --> 00:13:27.299 And this man's physical condition, 00:13:27.679 --> 00:13:29.379 it mirrors the spiritual condition 00:13:29.379 --> 00:13:31.419 of all of humanity 00:13:31.419 --> 00:13:32.899 apart from Christ. 00:13:33.759 --> 00:13:34.699 Apart from Christ, 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:36.100 Christians, 00:13:36.419 --> 00:13:37.240 human beings 00:13:37.240 --> 00:13:39.740 are in a perilous situation. 00:13:39.740 --> 00:13:44.379 You might not have physical ailments 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.539 holding you back, 00:13:45.620 --> 00:13:46.480 but in Ephesians, 00:13:47.159 --> 00:13:48.159 Paul tells us that 00:13:48.159 --> 00:13:49.360 apart from Christ, 00:13:50.320 --> 00:13:51.340 we're not simply unwell, 00:13:52.200 --> 00:13:54.340 we're not simply off key, 00:13:54.899 --> 00:13:57.259 we're dead in our sins. 00:13:58.120 --> 00:13:59.200 Not limping, 00:13:59.379 --> 00:13:59.860 not weak, 00:14:01.259 --> 00:14:02.019 spiritually dead. 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:04.440 And that's the diagnosis. 00:14:04.440 --> 00:14:06.040 That diagnosis 00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:07.280 is much more serious 00:14:07.280 --> 00:14:09.120 than paralysis. 00:14:10.400 --> 00:14:11.720 So Jesus sees this man, 00:14:12.440 --> 00:14:13.240 he sees through 00:14:13.240 --> 00:14:14.640 his presenting symptoms 00:14:14.640 --> 00:14:16.420 to diagnose 00:14:16.420 --> 00:14:18.460 his spiritual desperation. 00:14:18.460 --> 00:14:18.580 condition. 00:14:20.460 --> 00:14:22.180 We don't know exactly 00:14:22.180 --> 00:14:23.480 what the condition 00:14:23.480 --> 00:14:24.720 of this man's legs are, 00:14:25.300 --> 00:14:26.220 but that's not really 00:14:26.220 --> 00:14:26.960 what this is about. 00:14:27.960 --> 00:14:29.060 It's about the condition 00:14:29.060 --> 00:14:29.639 of his heart. 00:14:30.759 --> 00:14:31.580 And it's the same 00:14:31.580 --> 00:14:32.220 for each of us. 00:14:32.660 --> 00:14:34.180 The problem of sin 00:14:34.180 --> 00:14:35.000 is universal. 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:36.620 Everyone, 00:14:37.620 --> 00:14:38.639 all the multitudes 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.500 lying in the porches, 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:40.320 all five porches 00:14:40.320 --> 00:14:41.060 around this pool, 00:14:41.740 --> 00:14:42.600 they had it, 00:14:42.620 --> 00:14:43.480 they had the same condition. 00:14:44.160 --> 00:14:45.200 Each of us has it too. 00:14:45.200 --> 00:14:47.620 But saying that you've 00:14:47.620 --> 00:14:48.259 got a sin problem 00:14:48.259 --> 00:14:49.280 is not an insult. 00:14:49.800 --> 00:14:50.820 It's a mercy 00:14:50.820 --> 00:14:53.340 because you have to know 00:14:53.340 --> 00:14:54.000 what's wrong 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:55.480 in order to know 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:56.320 where to go 00:14:56.320 --> 00:14:57.600 to be healed 00:14:57.600 --> 00:14:59.000 or more accurately, 00:14:59.560 --> 00:15:00.540 who to go to. 00:15:01.440 --> 00:15:02.440 So we have a diagnosis 00:15:02.440 --> 00:15:03.120 for this man, 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:03.759 for ourselves. 00:15:04.800 --> 00:15:06.120 And this is when 00:15:06.120 --> 00:15:07.600 Jesus asks the question 00:15:07.600 --> 00:15:10.420 that with our understanding 00:15:10.420 --> 00:15:11.280 of what sin is 00:15:11.280 --> 00:15:12.240 and the same condition 00:15:12.240 --> 00:15:13.860 can pierce us 00:15:13.860 --> 00:15:14.900 in the heart. 00:15:15.200 --> 00:15:17.520 When we read on, 00:15:18.360 --> 00:15:18.900 when we read, 00:15:18.960 --> 00:15:19.640 Jesus says, 00:15:19.840 --> 00:15:20.780 do you actually 00:15:20.780 --> 00:15:21.520 want to be healed? 00:15:22.300 --> 00:15:23.300 Do you want to be well? 00:15:24.259 --> 00:15:25.280 And when we first read this, 00:15:25.320 --> 00:15:26.280 it feels a bit confronting, 00:15:26.400 --> 00:15:26.660 I think, 00:15:26.800 --> 00:15:27.820 confusing perhaps. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:29.440 This guy's at rock bottom. 00:15:29.520 --> 00:15:30.240 Of course he wants 00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.800 to be well. 00:15:31.879 --> 00:15:33.440 It almost sounds cruel. 00:15:34.600 --> 00:15:35.000 So this, 00:15:35.200 --> 00:15:35.660 you can imagine 00:15:35.660 --> 00:15:36.160 this poor guy 00:15:36.160 --> 00:15:37.379 is kind of dragging himself 00:15:37.379 --> 00:15:38.259 unable to walk 00:15:38.259 --> 00:15:39.240 and somebody else 00:15:39.240 --> 00:15:39.920 is getting down 00:15:39.920 --> 00:15:41.560 and achieving healing 00:15:41.560 --> 00:15:42.259 before him. 00:15:43.020 --> 00:15:43.960 If you think about it 00:15:43.960 --> 00:15:44.340 in those terms, 00:15:44.340 --> 00:15:45.440 it's like Jesus is saying, 00:15:45.600 --> 00:15:47.120 you're not working hard enough. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:47.660 Go harder, 00:15:47.759 --> 00:15:48.320 go faster. 00:15:48.720 --> 00:15:49.780 But that's not 00:15:49.780 --> 00:15:51.000 what's happening at all. 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:53.019 Jesus is asking 00:15:53.019 --> 00:15:53.460 this question 00:15:53.460 --> 00:15:54.100 to expose 00:15:54.100 --> 00:15:55.500 the deeper reality. 00:15:56.300 --> 00:15:56.820 And when you look 00:15:56.820 --> 00:15:57.680 at the man's answer, 00:15:58.200 --> 00:15:59.139 I think it reveals 00:15:59.139 --> 00:16:00.820 to us a lot. 00:16:01.460 --> 00:16:02.420 So first of all, 00:16:02.460 --> 00:16:03.340 look at what the man 00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:03.940 doesn't say. 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:04.940 He doesn't actually 00:16:04.940 --> 00:16:06.120 give a direct 00:16:06.120 --> 00:16:08.040 answer to the question. 00:16:10.200 --> 00:16:10.680 Instead, 00:16:10.679 --> 00:16:11.500 he explains 00:16:11.500 --> 00:16:12.819 why it's impossible 00:16:12.819 --> 00:16:13.459 for him 00:16:13.459 --> 00:16:14.559 to be healed. 00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:15.839 He says 00:16:15.839 --> 00:16:16.599 he doesn't have anyone 00:16:16.599 --> 00:16:17.179 to help him 00:16:17.179 --> 00:16:18.299 and other people 00:16:18.299 --> 00:16:19.000 are more mobile 00:16:19.000 --> 00:16:20.279 than he is. 00:16:20.859 --> 00:16:21.719 So these things 00:16:21.719 --> 00:16:22.339 might be true. 00:16:22.539 --> 00:16:23.459 I'm sure these things 00:16:23.459 --> 00:16:23.959 are true. 00:16:24.279 --> 00:16:25.019 But why doesn't he 00:16:25.019 --> 00:16:26.039 simply say yes? 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:26.939 Why doesn't he say, 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:28.039 yes, I do want to be healed. 00:16:28.739 --> 00:16:29.459 He could say, 00:16:29.859 --> 00:16:30.219 stranger, 00:16:30.599 --> 00:16:31.059 please, 00:16:31.259 --> 00:16:31.919 you've come up 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:32.599 and spoken to me. 00:16:32.679 --> 00:16:33.439 Hang about a bit 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:34.559 just in case the water 00:16:34.559 --> 00:16:35.439 is troubled 00:16:35.440 --> 00:16:36.880 and you can help me 00:16:36.880 --> 00:16:37.480 to the water 00:16:37.480 --> 00:16:39.040 and I can get well. 00:16:39.940 --> 00:16:41.280 But he doesn't say that. 00:16:42.320 --> 00:16:43.320 And I think that reveals 00:16:43.320 --> 00:16:44.340 so much about his 00:16:44.340 --> 00:16:45.720 attitude to life 00:16:45.720 --> 00:16:46.360 and the identity 00:16:46.360 --> 00:16:47.120 that he has. 00:16:48.140 --> 00:16:49.260 So for 38 years, 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:50.120 this guy has been 00:16:50.120 --> 00:16:50.920 the invalid. 00:16:51.900 --> 00:16:53.040 His whole identity 00:16:53.040 --> 00:16:53.840 is wrapped up 00:16:53.840 --> 00:16:55.580 in helplessness. 00:16:56.500 --> 00:16:57.180 He's learned 00:16:57.180 --> 00:16:58.040 to explain 00:16:58.040 --> 00:16:58.980 his condition 00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.820 away to people 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:01.380 rather than 00:17:01.380 --> 00:17:02.380 hold out hope 00:17:02.380 --> 00:17:03.800 for real 00:17:03.800 --> 00:17:05.200 change. 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:06.740 In the film 00:17:06.740 --> 00:17:07.759 The Shawshank Redemption, 00:17:08.740 --> 00:17:09.840 Brooks is the 00:17:09.840 --> 00:17:10.920 elderly librarian. 00:17:11.160 --> 00:17:11.720 He's been in prison 00:17:11.720 --> 00:17:12.820 for 50 years 00:17:12.820 --> 00:17:14.220 and eventually 00:17:14.220 --> 00:17:15.380 Brooks gets parole 00:17:15.380 --> 00:17:18.759 and he leaves prison 00:17:18.759 --> 00:17:20.740 and he doesn't 00:17:20.740 --> 00:17:21.600 last very long 00:17:21.600 --> 00:17:23.100 and he can't 00:17:23.100 --> 00:17:23.880 handle life 00:17:23.880 --> 00:17:24.480 on the outside 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:25.600 and he takes 00:17:25.600 --> 00:17:26.200 his own life 00:17:26.200 --> 00:17:27.080 and he leaves 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:27.960 a suicide note 00:17:27.960 --> 00:17:29.920 and it says 00:17:29.920 --> 00:17:31.059 that at first 00:17:31.059 --> 00:17:32.000 the walls of prison 00:17:32.000 --> 00:17:32.920 felt confining 00:17:32.920 --> 00:17:34.860 but eventually 00:17:34.859 --> 00:17:35.679 he became so 00:17:35.679 --> 00:17:36.679 familiar with them 00:17:36.679 --> 00:17:37.740 that he couldn't 00:17:37.740 --> 00:17:38.459 imagine life 00:17:38.459 --> 00:17:39.139 outside them. 00:17:40.539 --> 00:17:41.500 One of the lead 00:17:41.500 --> 00:17:42.259 characters in the 00:17:42.259 --> 00:17:43.279 film, Red, 00:17:43.859 --> 00:17:44.699 he's played by 00:17:44.699 --> 00:17:45.279 Morgan Freeman. 00:17:45.979 --> 00:17:46.599 He says, 00:17:46.839 --> 00:17:47.979 at first 00:17:47.979 --> 00:17:49.079 you hate the walls 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.740 around you 00:17:49.740 --> 00:17:51.299 and then slowly 00:17:51.299 --> 00:17:52.199 you get used to them 00:17:52.199 --> 00:17:53.959 and given enough 00:17:53.959 --> 00:17:54.359 time 00:17:54.359 --> 00:17:55.559 you come to 00:17:55.559 --> 00:17:56.379 depend on them. 00:17:57.979 --> 00:17:58.639 Enough years 00:17:58.639 --> 00:17:59.139 imprisoned 00:17:59.139 --> 00:18:00.439 and a person 00:18:00.439 --> 00:18:01.099 stops being able 00:18:01.099 --> 00:18:01.539 to function 00:18:01.539 --> 00:18:02.839 anywhere else. 00:18:03.899 --> 00:18:04.659 And do you see 00:18:04.659 --> 00:18:06.419 it isn't that 00:18:06.419 --> 00:18:07.419 the man enjoys 00:18:07.419 --> 00:18:08.019 his broken 00:18:08.019 --> 00:18:09.000 condition. 00:18:10.059 --> 00:18:11.259 It's that 38 00:18:11.259 --> 00:18:12.339 years is enough 00:18:12.339 --> 00:18:12.980 time for him 00:18:12.980 --> 00:18:13.599 to have built 00:18:13.599 --> 00:18:14.919 an entire existence 00:18:14.919 --> 00:18:15.919 around his illness. 00:18:16.619 --> 00:18:17.639 His habits, 00:18:18.219 --> 00:18:18.980 his spot 00:18:18.980 --> 00:18:20.039 under the porch, 00:18:20.879 --> 00:18:21.919 his place 00:18:21.919 --> 00:18:22.379 in the begging 00:18:22.379 --> 00:18:23.219 order perhaps. 00:18:24.279 --> 00:18:25.059 So when Jesus 00:18:25.059 --> 00:18:25.559 says to him, 00:18:25.619 --> 00:18:26.000 do you want 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.599 to be healed? 00:18:27.240 --> 00:18:27.919 The question 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:28.339 isn't true 00:18:28.339 --> 00:18:29.099 and it isn't silly, 00:18:30.019 --> 00:18:31.220 it's surgical. 00:18:33.099 --> 00:18:34.099 Jesus is asking 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.799 if this man 00:18:35.799 --> 00:18:36.720 actually 00:18:36.720 --> 00:18:37.759 is ready 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.539 to lose 00:18:38.539 --> 00:18:39.399 the whole, 00:18:39.619 --> 00:18:39.899 everything 00:18:39.899 --> 00:18:40.579 of life 00:18:40.579 --> 00:18:41.179 that he knows 00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:42.599 in exchange 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.079 for a life 00:18:43.079 --> 00:18:43.539 that he can't 00:18:43.539 --> 00:18:44.119 even imagine. 00:18:45.959 --> 00:18:46.679 Jesus is asking 00:18:46.679 --> 00:18:46.839 him, 00:18:46.919 --> 00:18:47.119 do you want 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:47.699 to build 00:18:47.699 --> 00:18:48.980 an entire life 00:18:48.980 --> 00:18:49.699 from scratch, 00:18:50.379 --> 00:18:51.359 leaving every 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.079 aspect of your 00:18:52.079 --> 00:18:52.779 old life 00:18:52.779 --> 00:18:53.419 behind? 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:54.799 And that's 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.159 scary. 00:18:55.160 --> 00:18:58.080 I wonder 00:18:58.080 --> 00:18:58.440 if you can 00:18:58.440 --> 00:18:59.040 see elements 00:18:59.040 --> 00:19:00.340 of this man's 00:19:00.340 --> 00:19:01.100 situation 00:19:01.100 --> 00:19:02.400 in your 00:19:02.400 --> 00:19:03.279 spiritual life. 00:19:05.180 --> 00:19:05.440 Are there 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:06.240 patterns of sin 00:19:06.240 --> 00:19:06.820 in your life 00:19:06.820 --> 00:19:07.860 that have 00:19:07.860 --> 00:19:08.500 become so 00:19:08.500 --> 00:19:09.040 ingrained 00:19:09.040 --> 00:19:11.019 that you 00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.779 can't see 00:19:11.779 --> 00:19:12.220 a way of 00:19:12.220 --> 00:19:12.640 leaving them 00:19:12.640 --> 00:19:13.000 behind? 00:19:15.200 --> 00:19:15.920 Maybe you're 00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:16.920 caught in 00:19:16.920 --> 00:19:17.380 apathy, 00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:18.800 in your 00:19:18.800 --> 00:19:19.460 devotional life, 00:19:19.500 --> 00:19:19.920 your prayer 00:19:19.920 --> 00:19:20.240 life, 00:19:20.360 --> 00:19:20.660 your time 00:19:20.660 --> 00:19:21.120 with God 00:19:21.120 --> 00:19:22.000 and that 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:22.480 urgency 00:19:22.480 --> 00:19:22.880 that you 00:19:22.880 --> 00:19:23.300 once had 00:19:23.300 --> 00:19:23.700 to be with 00:19:23.700 --> 00:19:24.120 your heavenly 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:24.700 father has 00:19:24.700 --> 00:19:25.460 dissipated, 00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:27.140 but it's 00:19:27.140 --> 00:19:27.580 been so 00:19:27.580 --> 00:19:28.039 long, 00:19:28.840 --> 00:19:30.100 trying to 00:19:30.100 --> 00:19:30.700 change just 00:19:30.700 --> 00:19:31.100 seems too 00:19:31.100 --> 00:19:31.559 difficult. 00:19:33.580 --> 00:19:34.279 Or maybe 00:19:34.279 --> 00:19:34.620 there's a 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.019 sin in your 00:19:35.019 --> 00:19:35.360 life, 00:19:36.080 --> 00:19:37.019 you know 00:19:37.019 --> 00:19:37.259 that it's 00:19:37.259 --> 00:19:37.640 not pleasing 00:19:37.640 --> 00:19:38.039 to God, 00:19:39.039 --> 00:19:40.080 but you 00:19:40.080 --> 00:19:40.539 even stop 00:19:40.539 --> 00:19:41.360 praying about 00:19:41.360 --> 00:19:42.340 it because 00:19:42.340 --> 00:19:42.680 you just 00:19:42.680 --> 00:19:43.539 think now 00:19:43.539 --> 00:19:44.259 that's part 00:19:44.259 --> 00:19:44.720 of who you 00:19:44.720 --> 00:19:45.059 are. 00:19:46.799 --> 00:19:47.380 Because if 00:19:47.380 --> 00:19:47.779 you can see 00:19:47.779 --> 00:19:48.539 any hints 00:19:48.539 --> 00:19:49.100 of these 00:19:49.100 --> 00:19:49.539 things in 00:19:49.539 --> 00:19:50.019 your life, 00:19:51.100 --> 00:19:51.480 then the 00:19:51.480 --> 00:19:52.400 gospel confronts 00:19:52.400 --> 00:19:53.440 you with a 00:19:53.440 --> 00:19:54.220 stark question. 00:19:54.700 --> 00:19:56.220 do you 00:19:56.220 --> 00:19:56.920 really want 00:19:56.920 --> 00:19:57.819 Christ's 00:19:57.819 --> 00:19:58.420 transforming 00:19:58.420 --> 00:19:58.880 grace? 00:19:59.660 --> 00:20:00.200 Are you 00:20:00.200 --> 00:20:00.640 willing to 00:20:00.640 --> 00:20:01.019 take the 00:20:01.019 --> 00:20:01.380 sins that 00:20:01.380 --> 00:20:01.880 you've become 00:20:01.880 --> 00:20:02.620 so accustomed 00:20:02.620 --> 00:20:04.019 to and 00:20:04.019 --> 00:20:04.340 put them 00:20:04.340 --> 00:20:04.880 to death? 00:20:06.960 --> 00:20:07.220 Okay, 00:20:07.319 --> 00:20:08.539 so our 00:20:08.539 --> 00:20:08.840 deepest 00:20:08.840 --> 00:20:09.740 sickness isn't 00:20:09.740 --> 00:20:10.380 physical sickness, 00:20:10.500 --> 00:20:11.000 it's spiritual, 00:20:11.279 --> 00:20:11.860 it's sin. 00:20:12.980 --> 00:20:13.299 And being 00:20:13.299 --> 00:20:13.940 healed means 00:20:13.940 --> 00:20:14.500 letting go of 00:20:14.500 --> 00:20:15.140 the patterns 00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:16.519 of sin that 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.039 we've become 00:20:17.039 --> 00:20:17.799 so comfortable 00:20:17.799 --> 00:20:18.200 with. 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:19.860 But here's the 00:20:19.860 --> 00:20:20.460 wonderful news. 00:20:21.019 --> 00:20:21.519 You're not 00:20:21.519 --> 00:20:21.759 alone. 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:23.420 you're not 00:20:23.420 --> 00:20:24.000 expected to 00:20:24.000 --> 00:20:24.379 do these 00:20:24.379 --> 00:20:25.180 things by 00:20:25.180 --> 00:20:25.660 yourself. 00:20:26.359 --> 00:20:27.119 In verse 00:20:27.119 --> 00:20:27.539 seven, the 00:20:27.539 --> 00:20:28.059 man says, 00:20:28.200 --> 00:20:29.019 sir, I 00:20:29.019 --> 00:20:29.460 have no 00:20:29.460 --> 00:20:29.819 one. 00:20:30.579 --> 00:20:31.480 But although 00:20:31.480 --> 00:20:31.960 from his 00:20:31.960 --> 00:20:32.480 desperate 00:20:32.480 --> 00:20:33.920 situation, his 00:20:33.920 --> 00:20:34.480 perspective 00:20:34.480 --> 00:20:35.940 looked like 00:20:35.940 --> 00:20:36.359 there was no 00:20:36.359 --> 00:20:36.599 one to 00:20:36.599 --> 00:20:36.879 help. 00:20:39.240 --> 00:20:39.940 The man 00:20:39.940 --> 00:20:40.200 could only 00:20:40.200 --> 00:20:40.700 lie in his 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.819 mat, but 00:20:41.819 --> 00:20:42.980 Jesus comes 00:20:42.980 --> 00:20:43.379 to him. 00:20:44.339 --> 00:20:44.759 This man 00:20:44.759 --> 00:20:45.279 wasn't looking 00:20:45.279 --> 00:20:45.740 for Jesus. 00:20:46.559 --> 00:20:47.140 He doesn't 00:20:47.140 --> 00:20:47.799 ask to be 00:20:47.799 --> 00:20:48.200 healed. 00:20:48.539 --> 00:20:49.059 When Jesus 00:20:49.059 --> 00:20:50.200 arrives, the 00:20:50.200 --> 00:20:50.519 guy doesn't 00:20:50.519 --> 00:20:50.839 even know 00:20:50.839 --> 00:20:51.099 who he 00:20:51.099 --> 00:20:52.980 is, but 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.599 Jesus chooses 00:20:53.599 --> 00:20:53.900 him. 00:20:55.859 --> 00:20:56.240 Jesus' 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:58.160 compassion is 00:20:58.160 --> 00:21:00.460 personal and 00:21:00.460 --> 00:21:01.240 it's intentional. 00:21:02.579 --> 00:21:02.980 And he 00:21:02.980 --> 00:21:03.379 asks the 00:21:03.379 --> 00:21:05.119 man to 00:21:05.119 --> 00:21:05.420 contribute 00:21:05.420 --> 00:21:06.700 nothing to 00:21:06.700 --> 00:21:07.160 his healing, 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.019 nothing at 00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.299 all. 00:21:08.579 --> 00:21:09.059 Jesus simply 00:21:09.059 --> 00:21:09.599 speaks the 00:21:09.599 --> 00:21:10.019 words and 00:21:10.019 --> 00:21:10.379 the man is 00:21:10.379 --> 00:21:10.900 immediately 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:12.099 made whole. 00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:13.259 Like, 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:14.000 spiritually, 00:21:14.539 --> 00:21:15.599 every one 00:21:15.599 --> 00:21:16.720 of us is 00:21:16.720 --> 00:21:17.240 this man. 00:21:18.379 --> 00:21:19.160 God's grace 00:21:19.160 --> 00:21:21.180 always precedes 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.660 faith. 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.360 We don't 00:21:22.360 --> 00:21:22.940 climb up 00:21:22.940 --> 00:21:23.440 to God. 00:21:24.440 --> 00:21:24.840 We don't 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.300 have to get 00:21:25.300 --> 00:21:25.720 near the 00:21:25.720 --> 00:21:26.120 pool in 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:26.380 order to 00:21:26.380 --> 00:21:27.019 splash water 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:27.259 in our 00:21:27.259 --> 00:21:27.740 faces and 00:21:27.740 --> 00:21:28.259 make ourselves 00:21:28.259 --> 00:21:28.740 look clean 00:21:28.740 --> 00:21:29.220 enough to 00:21:29.220 --> 00:21:30.019 be presentable 00:21:30.019 --> 00:21:30.660 to our 00:21:30.660 --> 00:21:30.900 heavenly 00:21:30.900 --> 00:21:31.320 father. 00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:33.080 We can't. 00:21:33.160 --> 00:21:33.259 We're 00:21:33.259 --> 00:21:33.680 spiritually 00:21:33.680 --> 00:21:34.340 paralyzed, 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:35.920 unable to 00:21:35.920 --> 00:21:36.259 take a 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:37.100 single step 00:21:37.100 --> 00:21:38.460 without God's 00:21:38.460 --> 00:21:38.800 grace. 00:21:39.600 --> 00:21:40.060 We're 00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.800 powerless to 00:21:40.800 --> 00:21:41.400 save ourselves 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:42.420 and we're 00:21:42.420 --> 00:21:42.779 utterly 00:21:42.779 --> 00:21:43.400 dependent on 00:21:43.400 --> 00:21:43.860 someone else 00:21:43.860 --> 00:21:44.220 to save 00:21:44.220 --> 00:21:44.480 us. 00:21:44.480 --> 00:21:46.400 And this 00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:46.860 is actually 00:21:46.860 --> 00:21:47.519 good news 00:21:47.519 --> 00:21:49.039 because the 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:49.940 one who 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:50.660 can save 00:21:50.660 --> 00:21:52.240 us will 00:21:52.240 --> 00:21:52.940 save us. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:55.360 He knows 00:21:55.360 --> 00:21:56.000 exactly who 00:21:56.000 --> 00:21:56.380 you are. 00:21:57.099 --> 00:21:57.319 He knows 00:21:57.319 --> 00:21:57.819 exactly what 00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:58.200 you've done. 00:21:59.160 --> 00:21:59.480 He knows 00:21:59.480 --> 00:22:00.160 exactly what 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:00.539 you need. 00:22:01.640 --> 00:22:02.319 All you have 00:22:02.319 --> 00:22:03.599 to do is 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:04.120 believe that 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.099 he is who 00:22:05.099 --> 00:22:05.700 he says he 00:22:05.700 --> 00:22:05.920 is. 00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.380 And this 00:22:07.380 --> 00:22:07.839 leads us to 00:22:07.839 --> 00:22:08.220 the most 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:08.960 important thing 00:22:08.960 --> 00:22:09.680 I think that 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.140 John wants 00:22:10.140 --> 00:22:10.680 us to see 00:22:10.680 --> 00:22:11.539 in this 00:22:11.539 --> 00:22:12.000 passage. 00:22:12.660 --> 00:22:13.579 So thirdly, 00:22:13.700 --> 00:22:14.019 finally, 00:22:14.480 --> 00:22:15.620 can you 00:22:15.620 --> 00:22:16.079 see the 00:22:16.079 --> 00:22:16.400 sign? 00:22:17.599 --> 00:22:18.140 John tells 00:22:18.140 --> 00:22:19.160 us right 00:22:19.160 --> 00:22:19.660 at the 00:22:19.660 --> 00:22:20.140 end of 00:22:20.140 --> 00:22:20.620 his gospel 00:22:20.620 --> 00:22:21.460 exactly why 00:22:21.460 --> 00:22:21.779 he wrote 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:21.960 it. 00:22:22.519 --> 00:22:22.940 He wrote, 00:22:23.059 --> 00:22:23.460 these things 00:22:23.460 --> 00:22:23.779 are written 00:22:23.779 --> 00:22:24.299 so that you 00:22:24.299 --> 00:22:25.019 may believe 00:22:25.019 --> 00:22:25.880 that Jesus 00:22:25.880 --> 00:22:26.220 is the 00:22:26.220 --> 00:22:26.599 Christ, 00:22:26.980 --> 00:22:27.380 the Son 00:22:27.380 --> 00:22:27.839 of God, 00:22:28.339 --> 00:22:28.860 and that by 00:22:28.860 --> 00:22:29.620 believing you 00:22:29.620 --> 00:22:29.960 may have 00:22:29.960 --> 00:22:30.599 life in 00:22:30.599 --> 00:22:31.059 his name. 00:22:33.640 --> 00:22:34.400 These things 00:22:34.400 --> 00:22:34.839 are written 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:35.259 so you'll 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:35.860 believe that 00:22:35.860 --> 00:22:36.539 Jesus is the 00:22:36.539 --> 00:22:36.980 Christ, 00:22:37.099 --> 00:22:37.440 the Son 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:37.920 of God, 00:22:38.500 --> 00:22:38.960 and that by 00:22:38.960 --> 00:22:39.539 believing in 00:22:39.539 --> 00:22:39.920 these things 00:22:39.920 --> 00:22:40.200 you'll have 00:22:40.200 --> 00:22:40.839 life in 00:22:40.839 --> 00:22:41.259 his name. 00:22:42.360 --> 00:22:42.980 All the 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:43.519 miracles in 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:43.779 John's 00:22:43.779 --> 00:22:44.140 gospel, 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:45.079 are all 00:22:45.079 --> 00:22:45.500 written for 00:22:45.500 --> 00:22:46.180 that purpose. 00:22:47.059 --> 00:22:47.440 And John 00:22:47.440 --> 00:22:47.940 doesn't call 00:22:47.940 --> 00:22:48.400 them miracles, 00:22:48.500 --> 00:22:48.799 he calls 00:22:48.799 --> 00:22:49.599 them signs. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:52.259 Not simply 00:22:52.259 --> 00:22:53.319 to show that 00:22:53.319 --> 00:22:54.640 Jesus is a 00:22:54.640 --> 00:22:55.319 super healer, 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:55.880 although he 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:56.940 obviously is, 00:22:58.079 --> 00:22:58.880 but to convince 00:22:58.880 --> 00:23:00.039 you that he 00:23:00.039 --> 00:23:00.839 really is who he 00:23:00.839 --> 00:23:01.579 claims to be, 00:23:02.039 --> 00:23:02.819 the Son of 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.079 God. 00:23:04.380 --> 00:23:04.660 Look, 00:23:04.900 --> 00:23:05.640 we're used to 00:23:05.640 --> 00:23:07.819 seeing signs 00:23:07.819 --> 00:23:08.880 at poolside. 00:23:08.880 --> 00:23:08.920 God. 00:23:09.980 --> 00:23:10.420 With the 00:23:10.420 --> 00:23:11.000 account of 00:23:11.000 --> 00:23:12.360 this man 00:23:12.360 --> 00:23:13.500 at Bethesda, 00:23:14.080 --> 00:23:14.480 John's 00:23:14.480 --> 00:23:14.940 putting up a 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:15.600 big sign for 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:16.100 us to see, 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:16.680 but the sign 00:23:16.680 --> 00:23:17.300 doesn't say 00:23:17.300 --> 00:23:18.400 no running, 00:23:18.540 --> 00:23:19.020 no diving, 00:23:19.260 --> 00:23:19.700 no heavy 00:23:19.700 --> 00:23:20.120 petting. 00:23:20.760 --> 00:23:21.340 The sign 00:23:21.340 --> 00:23:21.640 reads, 00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:22.580 Jesus truly 00:23:22.580 --> 00:23:23.040 is the 00:23:23.040 --> 00:23:23.480 Christ, 00:23:24.440 --> 00:23:24.780 the Son 00:23:24.780 --> 00:23:25.160 of God. 00:23:26.280 --> 00:23:27.040 Believe that 00:23:27.040 --> 00:23:27.920 and you'll 00:23:27.920 --> 00:23:28.340 have something 00:23:28.340 --> 00:23:29.080 much greater 00:23:29.080 --> 00:23:29.940 than physical 00:23:29.940 --> 00:23:30.300 healing. 00:23:30.980 --> 00:23:31.720 You'll receive 00:23:31.720 --> 00:23:32.800 spiritual healing. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.060 You'll be 00:23:34.060 --> 00:23:34.780 made whole 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:36.299 and that 00:23:36.299 --> 00:23:36.660 means you'll 00:23:36.660 --> 00:23:37.720 be reconciled 00:23:37.720 --> 00:23:38.379 with God. 00:23:40.480 --> 00:23:41.099 But there's 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.700 tragedy, 00:23:42.099 --> 00:23:42.879 tragedy in the 00:23:42.879 --> 00:23:43.420 second half of 00:23:43.420 --> 00:23:43.980 this passage. 00:23:45.079 --> 00:23:46.019 The man who's 00:23:46.019 --> 00:23:46.420 been healed 00:23:46.420 --> 00:23:47.119 walks out 00:23:47.119 --> 00:23:47.700 carrying his 00:23:47.700 --> 00:23:47.920 mat. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:48.960 He's been 00:23:48.960 --> 00:23:49.379 lying there 00:23:49.379 --> 00:23:49.960 for 34 00:23:49.960 --> 00:23:50.480 years. 00:23:51.619 --> 00:23:52.200 Let's put 00:23:52.200 --> 00:23:52.599 ourselves in 00:23:52.599 --> 00:23:52.940 that position 00:23:52.940 --> 00:23:53.399 just for a 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:53.619 second. 00:23:53.779 --> 00:23:54.399 Somebody you're 00:23:54.399 --> 00:23:55.079 vaguely familiar 00:23:55.079 --> 00:23:55.879 with, you know 00:23:55.879 --> 00:23:56.460 that he can't 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:56.639 walk. 00:23:56.700 --> 00:23:56.960 He's been 00:23:56.960 --> 00:23:57.319 lying there 00:23:57.319 --> 00:23:57.960 for 38 00:23:57.960 --> 00:23:59.220 years, begging, 00:23:59.920 --> 00:24:00.379 desperate, 00:24:02.119 --> 00:24:02.559 lonely and 00:24:02.559 --> 00:24:02.839 alone. 00:24:03.420 --> 00:24:04.099 And he comes 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:04.759 walking towards 00:24:04.759 --> 00:24:05.900 you and 00:24:05.900 --> 00:24:06.180 what's the 00:24:06.180 --> 00:24:06.480 first thing 00:24:06.480 --> 00:24:06.700 you would 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:07.019 say to 00:24:07.019 --> 00:24:07.140 him? 00:24:07.180 --> 00:24:07.480 You'd say, 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:08.559 wow, what 00:24:08.559 --> 00:24:09.059 happened? 00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.720 Who did 00:24:10.720 --> 00:24:10.960 this? 00:24:10.980 --> 00:24:11.460 I'm so 00:24:11.460 --> 00:24:12.339 pleased that 00:24:12.339 --> 00:24:12.700 you've been 00:24:12.700 --> 00:24:13.019 healed. 00:24:13.700 --> 00:24:14.019 This is 00:24:14.019 --> 00:24:14.519 incredible. 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:16.819 But the 00:24:16.819 --> 00:24:17.599 first people 00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:18.019 that this 00:24:18.019 --> 00:24:18.839 man meets 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.319 don't react 00:24:20.319 --> 00:24:20.619 like that 00:24:20.619 --> 00:24:21.079 at all. 00:24:21.460 --> 00:24:21.879 He meets 00:24:21.879 --> 00:24:22.400 the religious 00:24:22.400 --> 00:24:23.099 authorities of 00:24:23.099 --> 00:24:23.460 the time 00:24:23.460 --> 00:24:25.119 and they're 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:25.680 not full of 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:26.819 joy in 00:24:26.819 --> 00:24:27.299 any way. 00:24:27.599 --> 00:24:27.839 In fact, 00:24:27.879 --> 00:24:28.099 they're 00:24:28.099 --> 00:24:28.640 outraged. 00:24:29.819 --> 00:24:30.420 They say, 00:24:30.480 --> 00:24:30.879 what do you 00:24:30.879 --> 00:24:31.200 think you're 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:31.500 doing? 00:24:32.720 --> 00:24:33.099 It's the 00:24:33.099 --> 00:24:33.720 Sabbath day 00:24:33.720 --> 00:24:34.200 and you're 00:24:34.200 --> 00:24:34.819 breaking the 00:24:34.819 --> 00:24:35.100 law. 00:24:37.220 --> 00:24:38.440 Jesus has 00:24:38.440 --> 00:24:39.200 just performed 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:40.440 miraculous 00:24:40.440 --> 00:24:42.279 healing and 00:24:42.279 --> 00:24:42.960 all they can 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:44.140 see is a 00:24:44.140 --> 00:24:44.660 rolled up 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.819 mat under 00:24:45.819 --> 00:24:46.259 a guy's 00:24:46.259 --> 00:24:46.580 arm. 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.180 Now, this 00:24:49.180 --> 00:24:49.740 guy actually, 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:51.160 he hasn't 00:24:51.160 --> 00:24:52.819 broken God's 00:24:52.819 --> 00:24:53.580 law by 00:24:53.580 --> 00:24:54.059 carrying his 00:24:54.059 --> 00:24:54.279 mat. 00:24:55.160 --> 00:24:55.580 The scribes 00:24:55.580 --> 00:24:56.140 accused this 00:24:56.140 --> 00:24:56.840 man of, 00:24:57.059 --> 00:24:57.620 you know, 00:24:57.660 --> 00:24:58.539 not resting on 00:24:58.539 --> 00:24:58.960 the seventh 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.220 day, the day 00:25:00.220 --> 00:25:01.059 God appointed 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.919 for people 00:25:01.919 --> 00:25:02.399 not to 00:25:02.399 --> 00:25:02.740 work. 00:25:03.460 --> 00:25:04.220 This man 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:05.039 wasn't 00:25:05.039 --> 00:25:05.500 working. 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.139 He'd just 00:25:07.139 --> 00:25:07.539 been made 00:25:07.539 --> 00:25:07.859 whole. 00:25:07.960 --> 00:25:08.159 He was 00:25:08.159 --> 00:25:08.799 going home. 00:25:10.039 --> 00:25:11.019 But in 00:25:11.019 --> 00:25:11.359 the Jewish 00:25:11.359 --> 00:25:11.779 tradition, 00:25:11.899 --> 00:25:12.059 they'd 00:25:12.059 --> 00:25:12.480 invented, 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:13.000 they'd 00:25:13.000 --> 00:25:13.419 created, 00:25:13.599 --> 00:25:13.839 they'd 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:14.659 built around 00:25:14.659 --> 00:25:15.759 the 00:25:15.759 --> 00:25:16.299 Sabbath 00:25:16.299 --> 00:25:16.839 law, 00:25:17.500 --> 00:25:17.919 certain 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.299 rules, 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:18.960 codes that 00:25:18.960 --> 00:25:19.179 they had 00:25:19.179 --> 00:25:19.480 to live 00:25:19.480 --> 00:25:19.740 by. 00:25:20.339 --> 00:25:20.700 I think 00:25:20.700 --> 00:25:20.919 they were 00:25:20.919 --> 00:25:21.319 39. 00:25:21.819 --> 00:25:22.359 I'm not 00:25:22.359 --> 00:25:22.579 sure. 00:25:24.279 --> 00:25:25.000 What they 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:25.399 thought 00:25:25.399 --> 00:25:26.240 constituted 00:25:26.240 --> 00:25:26.799 breaking the 00:25:26.799 --> 00:25:27.319 Sabbath day 00:25:27.319 --> 00:25:28.500 and one 00:25:28.500 --> 00:25:28.759 of those 00:25:28.759 --> 00:25:29.119 rules was 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.480 carrying 00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:30.639 furniture. 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.500 Think about 00:25:33.500 --> 00:25:36.019 what has 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.539 to happen 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:37.679 for you 00:25:37.679 --> 00:25:40.039 for that 00:25:40.039 --> 00:25:40.639 situation 00:25:40.639 --> 00:25:41.460 to come 00:25:41.460 --> 00:25:41.720 about. 00:25:42.319 --> 00:25:42.720 Think about 00:25:42.720 --> 00:25:43.359 how committed 00:25:43.359 --> 00:25:44.000 you have to 00:25:44.000 --> 00:25:45.139 be to your 00:25:45.139 --> 00:25:46.200 own legal 00:25:46.200 --> 00:25:46.579 system, 00:25:46.799 --> 00:25:47.059 your own 00:25:47.059 --> 00:25:47.500 internal 00:25:47.500 --> 00:25:48.359 code to 00:25:48.359 --> 00:25:48.799 live by, 00:25:49.639 --> 00:25:50.339 the code 00:25:50.339 --> 00:25:50.740 that you've 00:25:50.740 --> 00:25:51.019 laid down 00:25:51.019 --> 00:25:52.720 exactly in 00:25:52.720 --> 00:25:53.879 your image 00:25:53.879 --> 00:25:54.559 for you 00:25:54.559 --> 00:25:55.899 to uphold. 00:25:55.900 --> 00:25:57.600 that when 00:25:57.600 --> 00:25:58.600 God performs 00:25:58.600 --> 00:25:59.940 an unmistakable 00:25:59.940 --> 00:26:01.920 miracle directly 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.400 in front of 00:26:02.400 --> 00:26:02.580 you, 00:26:03.160 --> 00:26:04.019 you don't 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.519 even see 00:26:04.519 --> 00:26:04.920 God. 00:26:05.780 --> 00:26:06.180 You just 00:26:06.180 --> 00:26:06.400 see an 00:26:06.400 --> 00:26:07.019 infringement. 00:26:08.300 --> 00:26:08.960 They're looking 00:26:08.960 --> 00:26:09.500 straight at 00:26:09.500 --> 00:26:09.920 the sign 00:26:09.920 --> 00:26:11.780 and they 00:26:11.780 --> 00:26:12.160 can't read 00:26:12.160 --> 00:26:13.820 it because 00:26:13.820 --> 00:26:14.440 they've decided 00:26:14.440 --> 00:26:15.100 in advance 00:26:15.100 --> 00:26:15.500 what the 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:15.960 sign should 00:26:15.960 --> 00:26:16.259 say. 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:19.820 I think 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.220 like for 00:26:20.220 --> 00:26:20.800 all of us, 00:26:20.900 --> 00:26:21.360 those of us 00:26:21.360 --> 00:26:21.660 who've grown 00:26:21.660 --> 00:26:22.000 up in 00:26:22.000 --> 00:26:22.320 church, 00:26:22.420 --> 00:26:22.620 who've been 00:26:22.620 --> 00:26:22.920 in church 00:26:22.920 --> 00:26:23.380 for a long 00:26:23.380 --> 00:26:23.780 time, 00:26:24.200 --> 00:26:24.480 this is 00:26:24.480 --> 00:26:25.019 frightening us 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:25.400 a little 00:26:25.400 --> 00:26:25.700 bit. 00:26:26.540 --> 00:26:26.920 Because 00:26:26.920 --> 00:26:28.160 just like 00:26:28.160 --> 00:26:28.900 the healed 00:26:28.900 --> 00:26:29.200 man's 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:29.780 condition is 00:26:29.780 --> 00:26:30.720 a mirror 00:26:30.720 --> 00:26:31.519 to our 00:26:31.519 --> 00:26:31.860 spiritual 00:26:31.860 --> 00:26:32.360 condition, 00:26:33.240 --> 00:26:33.680 these 00:26:33.680 --> 00:26:34.740 first century 00:26:34.740 --> 00:26:35.000 Jewish 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:35.300 rulers, 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:36.600 they remind 00:26:36.600 --> 00:26:37.180 us that 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:37.660 there's such 00:26:37.660 --> 00:26:38.060 an easy 00:26:38.060 --> 00:26:38.640 tendency 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:39.800 to legalism. 00:26:41.259 --> 00:26:41.820 Doctrine 00:26:41.820 --> 00:26:42.920 is important. 00:26:43.320 --> 00:26:43.680 The Sabbath 00:26:43.680 --> 00:26:44.460 day is really 00:26:44.460 --> 00:26:44.800 important. 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:46.320 But there's 00:26:46.320 --> 00:26:47.180 this permanent 00:26:47.180 --> 00:26:48.180 temptation, 00:26:48.420 --> 00:26:48.800 I think, 00:26:49.259 --> 00:26:49.620 in the heart 00:26:49.620 --> 00:26:50.160 of Christians, 00:26:50.960 --> 00:26:51.360 people who 00:26:51.360 --> 00:26:51.660 take their 00:26:51.660 --> 00:26:52.440 faith seriously, 00:26:53.180 --> 00:26:54.320 to be so 00:26:54.320 --> 00:26:54.759 committed to 00:26:54.759 --> 00:26:55.380 our own 00:26:55.380 --> 00:26:55.820 codes, 00:26:56.600 --> 00:26:57.080 our own 00:26:57.080 --> 00:26:58.120 sense of 00:26:58.120 --> 00:26:58.600 how Christians 00:26:58.600 --> 00:26:58.980 are supposed 00:26:58.980 --> 00:26:59.540 to behave, 00:26:59.660 --> 00:27:00.020 how Christians 00:27:00.020 --> 00:27:00.360 are supposed 00:27:00.360 --> 00:27:00.980 to look, 00:27:02.200 --> 00:27:02.840 things that 00:27:02.840 --> 00:27:03.140 are within 00:27:03.140 --> 00:27:03.680 our comfort 00:27:03.680 --> 00:27:04.080 zone, 00:27:05.380 --> 00:27:06.580 boundaries that 00:27:06.580 --> 00:27:06.880 we put 00:27:06.880 --> 00:27:07.920 around God, 00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.720 what is 00:27:09.720 --> 00:27:10.620 and what 00:27:10.620 --> 00:27:10.880 isn't 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:11.420 acceptable 00:27:11.420 --> 00:27:12.660 to us, 00:27:14.120 --> 00:27:14.660 that there's 00:27:14.660 --> 00:27:15.200 a danger we 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:15.820 miss God 00:27:15.820 --> 00:27:16.080 when he's 00:27:16.080 --> 00:27:16.460 right in 00:27:16.460 --> 00:27:16.720 front of 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:17.020 us, 00:27:18.020 --> 00:27:18.640 doing things 00:27:18.640 --> 00:27:19.060 that only 00:27:19.060 --> 00:27:19.340 he can 00:27:19.340 --> 00:27:19.560 do. 00:27:19.559 --> 00:27:21.799 The question 00:27:21.799 --> 00:27:22.099 that these 00:27:22.099 --> 00:27:22.519 guys should 00:27:22.519 --> 00:27:22.720 have been 00:27:22.720 --> 00:27:23.019 asking 00:27:23.019 --> 00:27:23.599 themselves 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.519 about this 00:27:24.519 --> 00:27:24.740 Sabbath 00:27:24.740 --> 00:27:25.339 controversy 00:27:25.339 --> 00:27:25.960 is not, 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:26.819 is this 00:27:26.819 --> 00:27:27.359 permissible, 00:27:28.619 --> 00:27:29.500 but who 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.039 can do 00:27:30.039 --> 00:27:30.599 what Jesus 00:27:30.599 --> 00:27:31.119 has just 00:27:31.119 --> 00:27:31.419 done? 00:27:32.700 --> 00:27:33.159 Who can 00:27:33.159 --> 00:27:34.059 speak a 00:27:34.059 --> 00:27:34.440 paralyzed 00:27:34.440 --> 00:27:35.740 man well? 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.179 On the 00:27:37.179 --> 00:27:37.419 spot, 00:27:37.519 --> 00:27:38.200 no rehab, 00:27:39.000 --> 00:27:39.799 no recovery 00:27:39.799 --> 00:27:40.220 period, 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:40.919 instantly 00:27:40.919 --> 00:27:41.279 whole. 00:27:43.240 --> 00:27:43.539 I mean, 00:27:43.559 --> 00:27:43.899 there's only 00:27:43.899 --> 00:27:45.339 one possible 00:27:45.339 --> 00:27:45.799 answer. 00:27:45.799 --> 00:27:47.879 only the 00:27:47.879 --> 00:27:48.759 one who 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:49.240 created 00:27:49.240 --> 00:27:49.639 human 00:27:49.639 --> 00:27:50.159 bodies, 00:27:51.159 --> 00:27:52.319 the one 00:27:52.319 --> 00:27:52.839 who created 00:27:52.839 --> 00:27:53.359 human bodies 00:27:53.359 --> 00:27:53.599 in the 00:27:53.599 --> 00:27:54.240 first place 00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:55.139 could ever 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.919 restore a 00:27:55.919 --> 00:27:56.460 human body 00:27:56.460 --> 00:27:57.599 like this. 00:27:59.099 --> 00:27:59.599 Only the 00:27:59.599 --> 00:27:59.859 one who 00:27:59.859 --> 00:28:00.299 holds the 00:28:00.299 --> 00:28:00.980 whole world 00:28:00.980 --> 00:28:01.259 in his 00:28:01.259 --> 00:28:02.500 hands has 00:28:02.500 --> 00:28:02.919 the kind 00:28:02.919 --> 00:28:03.519 of authority, 00:28:03.680 --> 00:28:03.940 the kind 00:28:03.940 --> 00:28:04.559 of power 00:28:04.559 --> 00:28:06.379 over broken 00:28:06.379 --> 00:28:07.700 flesh and 00:28:07.700 --> 00:28:08.680 blood to 00:28:08.680 --> 00:28:09.279 take a man 00:28:09.279 --> 00:28:09.879 whose legs 00:28:09.879 --> 00:28:10.339 are broken 00:28:10.339 --> 00:28:11.139 and make 00:28:11.139 --> 00:28:11.559 him walk. 00:28:12.919 --> 00:28:13.619 That's the 00:28:13.619 --> 00:28:13.960 sign. 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:16.259 And the 00:28:16.259 --> 00:28:17.480 question that 00:28:17.480 --> 00:28:17.980 John's whole 00:28:17.980 --> 00:28:18.600 gospel puts 00:28:18.600 --> 00:28:19.559 to us is 00:28:19.559 --> 00:28:20.480 in this 00:28:20.480 --> 00:28:21.019 story, but 00:28:21.019 --> 00:28:21.480 in other 00:28:21.480 --> 00:28:22.059 places as 00:28:22.059 --> 00:28:23.559 well, is 00:28:23.559 --> 00:28:24.200 can you 00:28:24.200 --> 00:28:24.720 read it? 00:28:25.400 --> 00:28:25.759 Can you 00:28:25.759 --> 00:28:26.140 read the 00:28:26.140 --> 00:28:26.460 sign? 00:28:28.220 --> 00:28:28.559 Will you 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.480 look in 00:28:29.480 --> 00:28:30.039 John's gospel 00:28:30.039 --> 00:28:30.460 at what 00:28:30.460 --> 00:28:31.299 Jesus does 00:28:31.299 --> 00:28:33.240 and see 00:28:33.240 --> 00:28:33.720 who Jesus 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:34.319 is? 00:28:35.600 --> 00:28:36.279 Or will 00:28:36.279 --> 00:28:36.700 you look 00:28:36.700 --> 00:28:37.940 like the 00:28:37.940 --> 00:28:38.759 authorities in 00:28:38.759 --> 00:28:39.420 this passage 00:28:39.420 --> 00:28:41.420 and be so 00:28:41.420 --> 00:28:43.140 preoccupied by 00:28:43.140 --> 00:28:43.460 your own 00:28:43.460 --> 00:28:43.940 code, 00:28:43.960 --> 00:28:44.240 or your 00:28:44.240 --> 00:28:44.940 own comfort 00:28:44.940 --> 00:28:46.140 or your 00:28:46.140 --> 00:28:47.120 own carefully 00:28:47.120 --> 00:28:47.700 curated 00:28:47.700 --> 00:28:48.420 conditions, 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:49.799 your own 00:28:49.799 --> 00:28:50.279 right and 00:28:50.279 --> 00:28:51.720 wrong, that 00:28:51.720 --> 00:28:52.180 you miss 00:28:52.180 --> 00:28:53.059 Jesus entirely? 00:28:55.579 --> 00:28:57.579 So, John 00:28:57.579 --> 00:28:58.259 hangs up a 00:28:58.259 --> 00:28:59.000 sign by the 00:28:59.000 --> 00:28:59.559 pool in 00:28:59.559 --> 00:29:01.059 Bethesda, but 00:29:01.059 --> 00:29:01.420 it isn't a 00:29:01.420 --> 00:29:01.840 list of do's 00:29:01.840 --> 00:29:03.019 and don'ts like 00:29:03.019 --> 00:29:03.740 we might see at 00:29:03.740 --> 00:29:04.079 the local 00:29:04.079 --> 00:29:04.620 swimming pool. 00:29:05.460 --> 00:29:06.000 It's a portrait 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:06.579 of a person. 00:29:07.519 --> 00:29:07.940 Jesus is 00:29:07.940 --> 00:29:08.620 pointing us 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:10.039 to the fact 00:29:10.039 --> 00:29:10.539 that Jesus 00:29:10.539 --> 00:29:12.640 truly is what 00:29:12.640 --> 00:29:13.220 he says he 00:29:13.220 --> 00:29:13.500 is. 00:29:13.960 --> 00:29:14.819 Jesus truly 00:29:14.819 --> 00:29:15.759 is the 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:16.400 God-man, 00:29:17.000 --> 00:29:18.000 the one 00:29:18.000 --> 00:29:18.420 who's so 00:29:18.420 --> 00:29:19.180 much greater 00:29:19.180 --> 00:29:20.319 than a 00:29:20.319 --> 00:29:20.720 pool of 00:29:20.720 --> 00:29:21.319 purifying 00:29:21.319 --> 00:29:22.259 water. 00:29:23.680 --> 00:29:24.720 Just one 00:29:24.720 --> 00:29:25.400 chapter back 00:29:25.400 --> 00:29:25.900 in John, 00:29:25.980 --> 00:29:26.400 John chapter 00:29:26.400 --> 00:29:26.700 four, 00:29:28.019 --> 00:29:29.420 Jesus meets 00:29:29.420 --> 00:29:30.940 a woman 00:29:30.940 --> 00:29:31.420 beside a 00:29:31.420 --> 00:29:32.779 well and 00:29:32.779 --> 00:29:33.220 he said to 00:29:33.220 --> 00:29:33.700 her, if you 00:29:33.700 --> 00:29:34.299 knew who it 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:34.759 was that was 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.279 speaking to 00:29:35.279 --> 00:29:36.019 you, you 00:29:36.019 --> 00:29:36.259 would have 00:29:36.259 --> 00:29:37.960 asked me and 00:29:37.960 --> 00:29:38.279 I would have 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:38.640 given you 00:29:38.640 --> 00:29:39.660 living water. 00:29:40.620 --> 00:29:41.160 Living water 00:29:41.160 --> 00:29:41.560 isn't a 00:29:41.560 --> 00:29:42.300 special drink 00:29:42.300 --> 00:29:42.759 that Jesus 00:29:42.759 --> 00:29:43.279 hands out. 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:45.540 Like in our 00:29:45.540 --> 00:29:46.300 passage today, 00:29:46.920 --> 00:29:47.620 Jesus isn't 00:29:47.620 --> 00:29:47.980 the one who 00:29:47.980 --> 00:29:48.519 will carry 00:29:48.519 --> 00:29:49.800 broken people 00:29:49.800 --> 00:29:50.640 into a 00:29:50.640 --> 00:29:51.240 healing pool. 00:29:52.600 --> 00:29:53.519 Jesus is 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.700 living water. 00:29:56.300 --> 00:29:57.060 There are so 00:29:57.060 --> 00:29:57.820 many water 00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.660 references in 00:29:58.660 --> 00:29:58.960 the Bible, 00:29:59.300 --> 00:29:59.740 but I'm just 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.240 going to finish 00:30:00.240 --> 00:30:01.480 with this one. 00:30:02.420 --> 00:30:03.360 In the last 00:30:03.360 --> 00:30:04.440 chapter of the 00:30:04.440 --> 00:30:04.980 last book of 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:05.360 the Bible, 00:30:05.359 --> 00:30:06.939 Paul, in 00:30:06.939 --> 00:30:07.359 his vision, 00:30:07.539 --> 00:30:08.240 John sees 00:30:08.240 --> 00:30:10.399 a river, a 00:30:10.399 --> 00:30:11.500 river of 00:30:11.500 --> 00:30:12.159 water of 00:30:12.159 --> 00:30:13.099 life, bright 00:30:13.099 --> 00:30:13.759 as crystal 00:30:13.759 --> 00:30:14.619 flowing from 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:15.179 the throne of 00:30:15.179 --> 00:30:15.740 God and the 00:30:15.740 --> 00:30:16.779 Lamb, flowing 00:30:16.779 --> 00:30:17.199 through the 00:30:17.199 --> 00:30:17.639 middle of the 00:30:17.639 --> 00:30:18.939 street and on 00:30:18.939 --> 00:30:19.479 each side of 00:30:19.479 --> 00:30:20.679 the river is 00:30:20.679 --> 00:30:21.179 the tree of 00:30:21.179 --> 00:30:22.519 life and the 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.159 leaves of that 00:30:23.159 --> 00:30:23.599 tree are for 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.439 the healing of 00:30:24.439 --> 00:30:24.939 the nations. 00:30:26.019 --> 00:30:26.719 This is the 00:30:26.719 --> 00:30:27.179 vision of the 00:30:27.179 --> 00:30:27.619 future for 00:30:27.619 --> 00:30:28.659 everyone who 00:30:28.659 --> 00:30:29.059 puts their 00:30:29.059 --> 00:30:29.479 trust in 00:30:29.479 --> 00:30:29.740 Jesus. 00:30:31.019 --> 00:30:31.639 You see, 00:30:31.859 --> 00:30:32.099 through his 00:30:32.099 --> 00:30:33.179 victory on 00:30:33.179 --> 00:30:33.779 the cross, 00:30:33.779 --> 00:30:36.359 Jesus undoes 00:30:36.359 --> 00:30:37.139 the brokenness 00:30:37.139 --> 00:30:37.519 of the world 00:30:37.519 --> 00:30:37.899 that we see 00:30:37.899 --> 00:30:38.480 around us. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:40.059 He restores the 00:30:40.059 --> 00:30:40.619 beauty and 00:30:40.619 --> 00:30:41.920 splendor of the 00:30:41.920 --> 00:30:42.619 Garden of Eden 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:43.059 when everything 00:30:43.059 --> 00:30:43.759 was perfect. 00:30:45.200 --> 00:30:45.500 And the 00:30:45.500 --> 00:30:46.220 restored access 00:30:46.220 --> 00:30:46.859 to the tree 00:30:46.859 --> 00:30:47.539 of life, 00:30:48.099 --> 00:30:48.980 that includes 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.299 the reconciliation 00:30:50.299 --> 00:30:52.460 of people 00:30:52.460 --> 00:30:53.740 with God 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.660 and the 00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:55.339 intimacy of 00:30:55.339 --> 00:30:55.960 our relationship 00:30:55.960 --> 00:30:56.440 with him. 00:30:57.660 --> 00:30:58.480 This is what 00:30:58.480 --> 00:30:59.420 Jesus is 00:30:59.420 --> 00:31:01.019 bringing when 00:31:01.019 --> 00:31:01.680 he returns. 00:31:01.680 --> 00:31:04.840 the first 00:31:04.840 --> 00:31:05.400 miracle Jesus 00:31:05.400 --> 00:31:06.140 ever performed 00:31:06.140 --> 00:31:06.580 was turning 00:31:06.580 --> 00:31:07.460 water into 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:07.820 wine. 00:31:08.539 --> 00:31:08.940 At the end 00:31:08.940 --> 00:31:09.320 of his life, 00:31:09.360 --> 00:31:09.720 he makes this 00:31:09.720 --> 00:31:10.100 astonishing 00:31:10.100 --> 00:31:10.480 statement. 00:31:10.620 --> 00:31:11.060 He says, 00:31:11.640 --> 00:31:11.920 I'll not 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:12.360 drink wine 00:31:12.360 --> 00:31:12.840 again until 00:31:12.840 --> 00:31:13.360 I drink it 00:31:13.360 --> 00:31:13.960 new with 00:31:13.960 --> 00:31:14.880 you in 00:31:14.880 --> 00:31:16.039 my father's 00:31:16.039 --> 00:31:16.660 kingdom. 00:31:17.240 --> 00:31:17.820 This is the 00:31:17.820 --> 00:31:18.320 great hope 00:31:18.320 --> 00:31:18.840 of every 00:31:18.840 --> 00:31:19.180 Christian. 00:31:20.480 --> 00:31:20.880 This is how 00:31:20.880 --> 00:31:21.360 we can move 00:31:21.360 --> 00:31:21.860 forward with 00:31:21.860 --> 00:31:22.620 joy despite 00:31:22.620 --> 00:31:23.320 the trials, 00:31:23.519 --> 00:31:23.980 the suffering, 00:31:24.120 --> 00:31:24.580 the pain 00:31:24.580 --> 00:31:25.480 that this 00:31:25.480 --> 00:31:26.299 life so 00:31:26.299 --> 00:31:27.560 often hands 00:31:27.560 --> 00:31:28.039 to people. 00:31:29.779 --> 00:31:30.400 Maybe tonight 00:31:30.400 --> 00:31:31.080 you feel like 00:31:31.079 --> 00:31:31.359 you're a 00:31:31.359 --> 00:31:32.299 paralyzed man 00:31:32.299 --> 00:31:33.599 waiting by 00:31:33.599 --> 00:31:33.980 a pool, 00:31:34.679 --> 00:31:35.519 helpless and 00:31:35.519 --> 00:31:36.000 lost. 00:31:37.439 --> 00:31:38.059 But put your 00:31:38.059 --> 00:31:38.799 trust in Jesus 00:31:38.799 --> 00:31:39.439 because this 00:31:39.439 --> 00:31:39.899 is his 00:31:39.899 --> 00:31:40.319 invitation. 00:31:40.779 --> 00:31:41.199 He says, 00:31:41.740 --> 00:31:42.399 one day, 00:31:42.579 --> 00:31:43.099 come to me, 00:31:43.460 --> 00:31:44.179 one day 00:31:44.179 --> 00:31:45.379 you'll drink 00:31:45.379 --> 00:31:46.439 festival wine 00:31:46.439 --> 00:31:47.460 face to face 00:31:47.460 --> 00:31:48.399 with the 00:31:48.399 --> 00:31:48.859 water of 00:31:48.859 --> 00:31:49.159 life. 00:31:50.779 --> 00:31:51.519 Let's pray. 00:31:53.839 --> 00:31:54.399 Lord, 00:31:54.439 --> 00:31:54.859 our God, 00:31:55.059 --> 00:31:55.579 help us 00:31:55.579 --> 00:31:55.960 tonight to 00:31:55.960 --> 00:31:56.500 see clearly 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.259 our own 00:31:57.259 --> 00:31:57.899 need for 00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:58.259 Jesus. 00:31:58.259 --> 00:31:59.180 Jesus, 00:31:59.319 --> 00:31:59.599 who is 00:31:59.599 --> 00:32:00.000 the water 00:32:00.000 --> 00:32:00.500 of life, 00:32:00.859 --> 00:32:01.440 the living 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:02.000 water who 00:32:02.000 --> 00:32:02.619 washes away 00:32:02.619 --> 00:32:03.220 our sins. 00:32:04.140 --> 00:32:04.859 Help us to 00:32:04.859 --> 00:32:05.400 be people of 00:32:05.400 --> 00:32:05.839 repentance, 00:32:06.519 --> 00:32:07.200 confessing our 00:32:07.200 --> 00:32:07.519 sin, 00:32:07.960 --> 00:32:08.940 not just with 00:32:08.940 --> 00:32:09.319 our lips, 00:32:09.400 --> 00:32:09.900 but turning 00:32:09.900 --> 00:32:10.440 away from 00:32:10.440 --> 00:32:10.740 sin, 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.180 so that the 00:32:12.180 --> 00:32:12.559 sin that we 00:32:12.559 --> 00:32:13.079 know is so 00:32:13.079 --> 00:32:13.660 grievous to 00:32:13.660 --> 00:32:13.859 you. 00:32:14.839 --> 00:32:15.619 We thank you, 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:16.200 Heavenly Father, 00:32:16.779 --> 00:32:17.220 for your son 00:32:17.220 --> 00:32:17.519 Jesus, 00:32:18.339 --> 00:32:18.720 the living 00:32:18.720 --> 00:32:19.180 water who 00:32:19.180 --> 00:32:19.759 doesn't merely 00:32:19.759 --> 00:32:20.539 improve us, 00:32:21.019 --> 00:32:21.559 but who makes 00:32:21.559 --> 00:32:22.119 us altogether 00:32:22.119 --> 00:32:22.519 whole. 00:32:23.799 --> 00:32:24.240 Help us 00:32:24.240 --> 00:32:25.039 every day to 00:32:25.039 --> 00:32:25.720 see the reality 00:32:25.720 --> 00:32:26.380 of who 00:32:26.380 --> 00:32:27.059 Christ is 00:32:27.059 --> 00:32:27.900 and what 00:32:27.900 --> 00:32:28.360 he's done 00:32:28.360 --> 00:32:29.460 for all 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.140 sinners and 00:32:30.140 --> 00:32:31.279 for us as 00:32:31.279 --> 00:32:31.759 individuals, 00:32:31.880 --> 00:32:32.259 specific 00:32:32.259 --> 00:32:32.900 individuals, 00:32:33.920 --> 00:32:34.539 seeking us 00:32:34.539 --> 00:32:35.279 out just like 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:35.720 he did with 00:32:35.720 --> 00:32:36.200 this man by 00:32:36.200 --> 00:32:36.519 the pool. 00:32:37.519 --> 00:32:37.740 Lord, 00:32:37.779 --> 00:32:38.200 we ask that 00:32:38.200 --> 00:32:38.660 you'd accept 00:32:38.660 --> 00:32:39.059 our prayers 00:32:39.059 --> 00:32:39.420 in Jesus' 00:32:39.559 --> 00:32:39.700 name. 00:32:40.380 --> 00:32:40.640 Amen.