TOPIC:“The Christ Who Offers Wellness”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:John 5:1-16
“Do you want to be made well?” (John 5:6, NKJV)
One of the most familiar and loved Bible stories is the one found in the opening verses of this chapter of John. It is the story of the healing by Jesus of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda. Before we begin our study of this miracle, let me make a few important remarks about the healing ministry of Christ. There is much confusion over this aspect of our Lord's ministry. It is important to realize that Jesus did not perform any healing miracles during the first thirty years of His life. It is also interesting to note that He restricted His healing ministry to one small land, Galilee, and basically to one group of people, the Jews.
A careful study of the life of Jesus will reveal that the miracles He performed were not simply for the relieving of physical suffering, although surely that was present, but the primary purpose for His performing of miracles was to manifest the fact that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus was God manifested in the flesh. The Apostle John writes of this in chapter 2 verse 11 where we read these words about the first miracle of Jesus: “This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed in Him.” Or as we have it in the KJV: “This beginning of miracles…”
Three questions are answered in the verse I have just quoted regarding this first miracle or sign by Jesus. The WHEN of this miracle - “This beginning of miracles did Jesus.” The WHERE of this miracle - “in Cana of Galilee.” The WHY of this miracle - “and manifested His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.” That is, the disciples began to have real faith in Jesus. The miracle or sign conveyed a meaning and a message. Now as we turn our attention to the story of the lame man it should be carefully noted that Jesus did not heal all of the crowds of sick people. Though He had the power to heal everyone there, I want you to notice that only one man was made well. Therefore, the purpose for the healing of this lame man was for a sign and was intended to teach a lesson.
Now I want you to notice that Jesus did not touch the lame man, but totally healed him with just seven words: “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk” (v. 8). It is these seven commanding words of Jesus that I want to spend time on in this message. Let's look at each one of these commands.
I.
Think, first of all, what I am going to call the LIFTING power of Christ. The first command of Jesus to this lame man is found in one word in verse 8: “Rise.” . . .