John 5: 1-9

Brothers and sisters,

"Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep [market] a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda ..."

Now "Bethesda" means "house of mercy". This water was located near the Sheep Gate, the gate through which the sheep were brought to the temple.

So we have in this story sheep ... with water ... in a house of mercy ... That wonderful place makes me spontaneously think of the "church": you and me, believers, we are like "sheep" (an image often used in the Bible) who come together near "water" (living water) in this "house of mercy" (this is what the church actually is).
Its no coincidence that our story actually happens on a "Sabbath", the resting day when people come to church (Sunday in our culture instead of the original Saturday).

And look, what sort of people are gathered in Bethesda (and in our church )?... "In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered ..." (verse 3) ... it really is the church!!
Are we not sick of sin? Blind to the truth? Paralyzed in our righteous acts? Impotent to do good? ...

Now, we would never have heard of that place "Bethesda" if Jesus had not come there. Is it also not the most logical place for the Great Healer? Here was work for his healing hands and healing words. He who "came to seek and save the lost ..." was at its most natural place in Bethesda. And as he was there near that pool, so he is here this morning among us ... In the midst of our "Bethesda". But do we see him? ... Or are we just like those sick and crippled people who were always waiting for 'something' to happen (the unexpected movement of the water) ... and who had no eye for the Savior.

Because this is a first point to be mentioned : those patients who were at that water Bethesda, were well aware that they were sick. Many people in our society are not aware of their illness to death. But people who come to church (you and me) are aware, if all is well, of our "disease" : that we are sick with sin, blind to the truth, paralyzed in doing justice, powerless to do good ... In other words, those who come to church are aware that they need heavenly help, just like those sick and crippled in Bethesda knew it.

But what do we notice in our text about Bethesda and in our own church? The sick and lame at the waters of Bethesda were constantly "waiting" ... because sometimes “something” happened : we are told it was a movement of the water as an angel descended. What do we have to imagine by this? ... No one knows for certain, but apparently it was rare and ... actually, when all is said and done, let's face it, not really effective at all, as only the first who touched the water after the motion, was healed. That (special and spectacular) 'movement' cured one (1) person and the rest were left disappointed ... so the sick man of our story had waited thirty-eight years in the hope that one day he would be that first person to reach the 'moving' water.

I fear, brothers and sisters, that our churches are just like that!
Are we not 'waiting' for 'something' ... a special 'movement' in the church ... a "revival" for example. And if there were such a 'movement' ... if such a revival did happen in the church ... then yes! ... we would experience great things... we think. And we do hear about such things ... (always somewhere else of course ... or from long ago) ... and how people there were “cured” : people became enthusiastic, or there were perhaps miracles ...
Actually, we are constantly "waiting" in the Church: we think something 'special' has to happen or that we should have a special experience... before we are a 'real' Christian ...

And so we say to ourselves: yes, if there was something special to happen in our church ... I would really feel like a 'true' Christian ... so I'd really be "cured" ... now however I still feel too "sick" ... Now however I don't feel like a 'true' Christian (like in the books). Lots of stuff in my life isn't how it's supposed to be ... (At least, that's how I often feel).
And therefore we "wait" for "something" to happen in our lives ... we wait for a sign in the church, a wonder ... A special experience, a special emotion ... (Unfortunately, for some churches this is even a must if you want to fit in). Very sad ...

Bethesda ... Jesus is in their midst ... but do they see Him? ... For these people are 'waiting' for 'something' to happen... Something special must happen... We need to feel something special ... and Jesus is simply ignored ...
Is this the gospel ???... ...

"Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved ..." (Acts 16: 31). What is "belief' really?... The Greek word also mean 'to trust'. Trust, belief is to accept something without visible proof. So without special events or special emotions ... As the Gospel asks us to believe (that is, to trust) in Jesus... what right do we have to yearn for special events, signs and wonders?
See, this very morning (today) He is in our midst! Who cares that we are but little believers... Who cares that our gatherings are often so lifeless ... He who can heal us is in our midst! But we ignore him, yes, we despise him ... Very strange.

What a sad spectacle: Bethesda, the church: all these ill patients, all those blind people, all those without power ... They wait and wait... always waiting ... for the wrong things ... While the Healer is yet so close ... Just next to us!
Jesus Christ and Him crucified... that is the only hope for the people. The only hope for you personally. Not by miracles ... not by specific emotions one has to have...

This is the gospel (Isaiah 45:22) "Look unto me, and be ye saved (that's the only thing we can do ... turn to and look, to see the crucified who redeems us, who is in our midst), all the ends of the earth for I am God and no more ... " . This is the way of the Bible.

On the other hand you have : "Wait for something special, a sign, a wonder ...'. This is actually the gospel of this society who will always want spectacular things... and unfortunately this is also the hopeless Gospel of most churches. Everyone always expects something 'special' : the Greeks want wisdom, the Jews expect miracles ... just like in most of our churches.

And we are blind to the great Healer in our midst!! ... Brothers and sisters, will Bethesda be repeated this morning (today)? ... Do you see Jesus standing in our midst, or are you also 'waiting' for something in your life? ...

First we had a look at the 'sick' and their 'waiting' for something special. Secondly let's have a look at the Healer himself. For it is rather special that He walked in there and nobody in Bethesda paid any attention to him. Nobody said: "Son of David, have mercy on me ..." No one struggled through the crowd to touch the edge of his garment ... Jesus was perfectly able to heal them all, right? But no one was looking for him, even though they all knew themselves to be "sick". Very strange, right?

In our story who takes the initiative? Not the sick, oh no, they're all waiting for great things that will never happen ... it is Jesus himself who takes the initiative! He chose someone from that group : this we call 'election'. God Himself chooses a people of believers in the midst of humanity. Why is that? Why did Jesus choose that one man from the crowd to heal? ... No one knows ... He was not a better man than the others as far as we know ... Maybe he was just even more "sick" than the others, because he was there already thirty-eight years!
Jesus chooses perhaps the worst cases ... 'When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time [in that case], he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? ...' (Verse 6).

Brothers and sisters in "Bethesda" : this is also the question for you this morning: "Wilt thou be made whole this morning?... Or will you wait and wait until you 'feel' something ... something special in the eyes of men? Wilt thou be made whole? You know of yourself how "sick" you really are... or do you think it's not too bad?... You think you don't actually need healing? ...
Those who know themselves to be sick, sick unto death ... Those are chosen by Jesus Himself in grace ... not because they deserve it or because they have done something extraordinary or have felt something special ... No, nothing like that. Being chosen by Jesus is pure grace!

"Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk ..." (Verse 8).
Arise! Resurrection from the 'dead' ... resurrection from the semi-life that people from these 'modern' society desperately cling to. Arise from the 'death' in which we all are and "walk" the way of the Lord. A completely different life than what this society would like us to follow.
But that can only be because He, Jesus, gives us this command. The "life" comes from Him ... not because we're waiting for something 'special'.

Notice how the sick man in our text had "faith". That is, nothing 'special' happened ... no miracle or such thing (or rather not a 'spectacular' miracle). In retrospect we can say that there was a 'miracle' (because we know the story), but the only thing that the sick man at that moment saw was a man who came to him and said, 'Arise' ... And in confidence (in trust!) he picked up the bed, and tried to stand ... and he stood up! And no "water movement" had happened ... no special 'experience '... no particular 'emotion'... had happened.
This, brothers and sisters, is the definition of what it is to believe : trust in Another : Jesus who was crucified for us, and that without the presence of 'spectacular', sensational events.

Perhaps there is someone here present this morning who has come to realize that he or she is "sick" ... mentally ill ... there is awareness of sin and shortcomings ... but you still 'wait' for that something special ... you think, if you see other Christians, that uou not really belong with them because you still miss 'something' special ...
And other people (christians) would like you have believe (consciously or unconsciously) that it really is not easy to be a christian : since you must have the 'right attitude', follow the proper conduct (you must not fail or else ...)... You should be able to do certain things or else ... or you must have the right experiences or else ...

None of that! Thank God, none of that!

Brother, sister, Jesus is now at this very moment right next to you with an outstretched hand: "Wilt thou be made whole?'... "Rise, take up thy bed, and walk ..."!

Believe in Him, trust Him today! Trust that He has done what must be done in your place ... Trust that he has lived the life that we should live. Trust that He died in our place the death that we should die! And you will arise in new Life and you will have received it for free, in grace.

Prayer.

Heavenly Father,

We wait so eagerly for specific events,

special 'experiences', exceptional 'emotions' ...

and in our waiting... we do nothing to honor You.

Give us insight, faith,

that you are always next to us with an outstretched hand.

Give us insight, faith,

that we just have to trust

in what you've already done for us

on the cross at Calvary.

Give us the strength to stand,

When you speak to us words of healing.

We want to be thankful that you have chosen us,

despite our sickness unto death,

despite us waiting for external things.

Teach us what it is to trust in You,

that we learn to rely on your saving of us,

without visible evidence of special experiences or actions.

Save us from condemning others,

when they do not share with us

the 'right' emotions, the 'right' experiences.

You know Father, if there is somebody here,

who is still sick and 'waiting' for 'something' special ...

We ask you this morning, choose them and address them,

Let them be healthy, give them new life,

and let them rise from the death in which we live,

and give them the strength to walk in Your Life.

Amen.