Embracing Healing: Responding to Christ's Call

Today’s gathering centered on the call to worship God with our whole being, recognizing that praise is not just a ritual but a response to God’s surpassing greatness and generous love. We began by lifting our voices in song and prayer, remembering that God desires our hearts above all else and meets us wherever we are, regardless of our past or present circumstances. The Lord’s Prayer reminded us of our dependence on God for daily provision, forgiveness, and deliverance, and we celebrated the joys and milestones within our community, acknowledging that every good thing comes from God’s hand.

Turning to the Gospel of John, we reflected on the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda, paralyzed for 38 years. Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” is both direct and deeply personal. The man’s response was not a simple yes, but an explanation of why healing had eluded him—he lacked the means and support to reach the water in time. Yet, Jesus bypassed the man’s limitations and excuses, offering healing through his own authority. The man’s obedience—rising, picking up his mat, and walking—became a testimony not only to his own transformation but also to the power and compassion of Christ.

This miracle, however, collided with the rigid legalism of the religious leaders, who were more concerned with Sabbath regulations than with the wonder of a life restored. Jesus’ response, “My Father is always at work, and I too am working,” revealed the heart of God—a God who does not cease to act in love, mercy, and new creation, even when it disrupts human traditions. The story challenges us to examine our own hearts: Are we open to the healing and transformation Christ offers, or do we cling to excuses and old patterns? Do we celebrate God’s work in others, or do we let rules and resentments blind us to grace?

The invitation remains: Jesus asks each of us, “Do you want to be made well?” This is not just about physical healing, but about freedom from whatever paralyzes us—be it sin, bitterness, addiction, or despair. God’s healing is still at work today, sometimes in ways we cannot explain, and our role is to respond in faith, openness, and gratitude, joining in God’s ongoing work of restoration in our lives and in the world.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Worship as a Response to God’s Generosity True worship flows from recognizing God’s surpassing greatness and the abundance of His love. It is not confined to a place or a moment but is the natural outpouring of hearts that have encountered God’s grace. When we gather, we are invited to bring our whole selves—our joys, our struggles, our gratitude—knowing that God delights in our praise and meets us where we are. [14:25]
• 2. Jesus’ Question: “Do You Want to Get Well?” This question pierces through our defenses and excuses, inviting us to confront our deepest desires and the barriers we’ve accepted as immovable. Often, we explain away our lack of change by pointing to circumstances or limitations, but Jesus calls us to a simple, vulnerable openness to His healing. The willingness to say “yes” to Jesus, even when we don’t understand how healing will come, is the first step toward transformation. [35:37]
• 3. Obedience Opens the Door to Miracles The paralyzed man’s healing began not with understanding, but with obedience—he acted on Jesus’ word before he saw the result. Faith is often expressed in small, courageous steps, even when the outcome is uncertain. God’s power meets us in our willingness to trust and respond, and our obedience can become a testimony that inspires faith in others. [37:24]
• 4. Legalism Can Blind Us to God’s Work The religious leaders’ fixation on Sabbath rules caused them to miss the miracle unfolding before their eyes. When tradition or self-righteousness becomes more important than compassion and mercy, we risk opposing the very work of God. We are called to discern where our own “rules” may be hindering love, and to embrace the newness that Christ brings, even when it challenges our comfort. [45:51]
• 5. God’s Healing is Mysterious but Always at Work Not every question about suffering and healing has an answer, and sometimes God’s ways remain hidden to us. Yet, the testimony of Scripture and the stories among us affirm that God is still bringing life, joy, and restoration. Our role is not to demand explanations, but to remain open, grateful, and ready to participate in God’s ongoing work of healing—in our lives, our community, and the world.
  
  ** [54:52]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [08:43] - Call to Worship and Psalm 150
• [09:28] - Opening Hymn: Come Christians, Join to Sing
• [10:36] - Children’s Dismissal and Opening Prayer
• [11:55] - The Lord’s Prayer
• [12:50] - Announcements and Evangelism Event
• [14:25] - Celebrations: Birthdays and Anniversaries
• [16:22] - Community Celebrations and Song
• [18:22] - Invitation to Fellowship
• [19:57] - Honoring Volunteers
• [21:27] - More Celebrations and Community Sharing
• [22:40] - Prayer for the Spirit’s Work
• [24:12] - Introduction to the Gospel Reading
• [30:59] - The Healing at Bethesda: The Story
• [32:41] - The Pool, the Colonnades, and the Waiting
• [33:55] - The Paralyzed Man’s Story
• [35:37] - Jesus’ Question and the Man’s Response
• [37:24] - The Miracle: Get Up and Walk
• [39:52] - The Community’s Reaction
• [41:10] - Sabbath Controversy and Legalism
• [43:45] - The Healed Man’s Testimony
• [44:54] - The Leaders Confront Jesus
• [45:51] - Jesus’ Response: My Father is Always at Work
• [46:58] - The Offense and the Plot Against Jesus
• [48:17] - Sabbath: Law or Love?
• [49:49] - The Question for Us: Do You Want to Be Made Well?
• [51:04] - No More Excuses: Opening to Healing
• [52:11] - Modern Testimony of Healing
• [53:57] - The Mystery of God’s Healing
• [54:52] - God’s Work Continues: Our Response and Sending

Bible Reading

John 5:1-15 (ESV) — 1 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades.
3 In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.
5 One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years.
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”
7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”
8 Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.”
9 And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.
10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”
11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’”
12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”
13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place.
14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.”
15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him.

Observation Questions

1. What question did Jesus ask the man at the pool, and how did the man respond? ([35:37])
2. What did Jesus tell the man to do after hearing his explanation, and what happened next? ([37:24])
3. How did the religious leaders react when they saw the man carrying his mat on the Sabbath? ([41:10])
4. According to the sermon, what was the main concern of the religious leaders when they confronted Jesus? ([45:51])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why might Jesus have asked, “Do you want to get well?” instead of simply healing the man right away? What does this question reveal about Jesus’ approach to people’s needs? ([35:37])
2. The man gave reasons for why he hadn’t been healed. What does this tell us about how people sometimes respond to the possibility of change or healing? ([36:32])
3. The religious leaders focused on Sabbath rules rather than the miracle. What does this reveal about the dangers of legalism in religious life? ([45:51])
4. Jesus said, “My Father is always at work, and I too am working.” What does this statement teach about God’s character and priorities? ([46:58])

Application Questions

1. The sermon said that worship is a response to God’s generosity, not just a ritual. When you come to church or pray, do you feel like you’re responding to God’s love, or just going through the motions? What could help you bring your whole self to worship? ([14:25])
2. Jesus’ question, “Do you want to get well?” is personal. Is there an area in your life—physical, emotional, or spiritual—where you sense Jesus asking you this question? How do you honestly want to answer? ([49:49])
3. The man at the pool explained why he couldn’t be healed. Are there excuses or patterns in your life that keep you from accepting God’s help or change? What would it look like to move past those excuses? ([36:32])
4. The man was healed when he obeyed Jesus’ command, even before he understood everything. Is there something God is asking you to do that feels risky or confusing? What small step of obedience could you take this week? ([37:24])
5. The religious leaders missed the miracle because they were focused on rules. Are there “rules” or traditions—either personal or in church—that might be keeping you from seeing God at work? How can you be more open to God’s new ways? ([45:51])
6. The sermon mentioned that God’s healing is sometimes mysterious and not always as we expect. How do you respond when God doesn’t answer prayers for healing or change in the way you hoped? ([54:52])
7. The story ended with an invitation to join God’s ongoing work of restoration. What is one way you can participate in bringing healing or encouragement to someone else this week? ([54:52])