Embracing Healing: The Invitation to Wholeness

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Sees and Approaches Us in Our Need

No matter how crowded or overwhelming our circumstances may seem, Jesus sees each of us individually and is not afraid to approach us in our pain, confusion, or disappointment. He is the God who initiates, who moves toward us even when we feel unable to move toward Him. Just as He saw the man at the pool of Bethesda among a multitude, He sees you—your struggles, your frustrations, your longings—and He draws near with compassion and understanding. You are not lost in the crowd; you are known and loved by the God who sees. [35:41]

John 5:1-9 (NKJV)
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had. Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?” The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; but while I am coming, another steps down before me.” Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked. And that day was the Sabbath.

Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel unseen or overlooked? How might you open your heart today to recognize that Jesus sees you and is drawing near to you right now?

Day 2: God’s Grace and Mercy Meet Us Where We Are

The pool of Bethesda, meaning “house of mercy,” with its five porches symbolizing grace, paints a picture of God’s heart to pour out grace and mercy on those in need. No matter how long we have struggled or how hopeless our situation seems, God’s grace is sufficient and His mercy is available. He meets us in our brokenness, not because we have earned it, but because it is His nature to be gracious and merciful to us, even when we feel unworthy or stuck. [12:14]

Ephesians 2:4-5 (ESV)
But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved.

Reflection: Where do you need to receive God’s grace and mercy today instead of trying to earn His favor or fix things on your own?

Day 3: Don’t Limit God—He Works in Unconventional Ways

God often works in ways that defy our expectations and logic, using unconventional methods to bring about healing and transformation. The stirring of the waters at Bethesda, Naaman’s washing in the Jordan, and other biblical examples remind us that God is not bound by our patterns or preferences. When we try to dictate how God should move, we risk missing out on the new and creative ways He wants to work in our lives. Trusting His character means being open to His surprising and supernatural interventions. [27:46]

Isaiah 55:8-9 (ESV)
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”

Reflection: Is there a situation where you have been expecting God to work in a certain way? How can you surrender your expectations and invite Him to move however He chooses?

Day 4: Our Misery Makes Us Objects of His Mercy

Jesus is drawn to the brokenhearted and the crushed in spirit; our misery does not repel Him but rather moves Him to compassion. He knows the depth of our pain, our disappointments, and our long-standing struggles, and He approaches us not with judgment but with mercy. Even when we feel helpless or have lost hope, He is near, ready to help and to heal, making our misery the very place where His mercy is most powerfully displayed. [38:17]

Psalm 34:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.

Reflection: What pain or disappointment have you been carrying that you need to bring honestly before God, trusting that He meets you with mercy and not condemnation?

Day 5: Real Change Requires Willingness to Let Go

When Jesus asked the man, “Do you want to be made well?” He was probing deeper than the surface—He was inviting the man to consider if he was truly ready to let go of the familiar, even if it was painful, and embrace the changes that healing would require. Sometimes we become so accustomed to our struggles or hurts that we resist the very freedom God offers. True transformation means being willing to surrender old patterns, comforts, or even identities, and to take practical steps toward the new life Jesus calls us into. [52:39]

Luke 9:23-24 (ESV)
And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it.”

Reflection: What is one specific thing—an attitude, habit, or relationship—that you sense God is asking you to let go of so you can step into greater freedom and healing?

Sermon Summary

In John chapter 5, a powerful scene unfolds at the pool of Bethesda—a place whose very name means “house of mercy.” This pool, surrounded by five porches (the biblical number for grace), was a gathering place for a multitude of the sick, the blind, the lame, and the paralyzed, all waiting for a supernatural stirring of the waters. The story is not just about a miracle, but about the One who performs it—Jesus, the Son of God, who is both the source of mercy and the embodiment of grace.

John’s Gospel is unique in that it focuses less on what Jesus did and more on who He is. The details John provides—the size of the pool, the multitude of people, the proximity to the Sheep Gate—are not incidental. They paint a picture of Jesus as the Lamb of God, the one who brings cleansing and healing, not just to bodies but to souls. The pool itself, used to cleanse sacrificial lambs, becomes a symbol of Christ’s own sacrifice and the cleansing power of His blood.

Amidst thousands, Jesus singles out one man who had been crippled for 38 years. The man had grown accustomed to his condition, perhaps even resigned to it. Yet Jesus sees him, approaches him, and asks a question that seems almost offensive: “Do you want to be made well?” This question pierces to the heart, revealing that sometimes our greatest bondage is not physical but internal—a comfort with our brokenness, a reluctance to embrace the change that healing requires.

Jesus’ approach is deeply personal. He sees each individual in the crowd, knows their pain, and moves toward them with compassion. He does not wait for us to come to Him; He comes to us, even when we feel unable to move. The challenge is not just to desire healing, but to be willing to make the changes that healing demands. Sometimes, the cost of freedom is letting go of what has become familiar, even if it is brokenness.

The invitation is clear: Jesus sees you, knows you, and asks if you are willing to be made whole. The answer requires honesty, surrender, and a willingness to step into the unknown with Him, trusting that His grace is sufficient for every weakness and every need.

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Key Takeaways

1. God’s Grace and Mercy Meet Us Where We Are The pool of Bethesda, with its five porches, is a vivid symbol of God’s grace and mercy intersecting in our lives. No matter how long we have been in a place of brokenness or waiting, God’s grace is not exhausted. He meets us in the midst of our need, not because we are worthy, but because His nature is to be merciful and gracious to the undeserving. [12:14]
2. Jesus Sees and Initiates, Even in the Crowd In a multitude of suffering people, Jesus singles out one man. This reveals that God’s attention is not diluted by the crowd; He sees each person’s pain individually. Even when we feel invisible or unable to approach Him, Jesus moves toward us, initiating relationship and offering hope where we have only known disappointment. [35:41]
3. The Supernatural Is the Norm Where Jesus Is Present The stirring of the waters at Bethesda was a supernatural event, reminding us that wherever Jesus is, the supernatural is to be expected. God is not limited to our logic or traditions; He often works in unconventional ways. Our role is not to dictate how God should move, but to remain open and expectant for His creative and surprising interventions. [23:41]
4. Healing Requires Willingness to Change Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be made well?” exposes the reality that not everyone truly desires change. Sometimes, we become so accustomed to our dysfunction that it feels safer than freedom. True healing often demands that we surrender familiar patterns, comforts, or even identities, and embrace the discomfort of transformation. [47:17]
5. God’s Grace Is Sufficient in Weakness and Disappointment Even when prayers seem unanswered and disappointments accumulate, God’s grace is enough to sustain us. Like Paul, who was told, “My grace is sufficient for you,” we are invited to find strength in our weakness and to trust that God’s presence is more valuable than any immediate solution. Our misery does not repel God; it draws His mercy. [45:03]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[01:46] - The Uniqueness of John’s Gospel
[02:49] - John’s Focus: Who Jesus Is
[06:09] - The Exclusive Miracle at Bethesda
[07:19] - Going Up to Jerusalem: Spiritual Significance
[09:44] - Bethesda: The House of Mercy and Grace
[13:24] - Historical and Archaeological Context
[16:43] - The True Scale of the Pool and the Multitude
[18:53] - Understanding the Multitude
[21:34] - The Mystery of Verse 4 and the Supernatural
[23:41] - God’s Unconventional Ways
[27:46] - Avoiding the Limitation of God
[30:49] - The Sheep Gate and the Lamb of God
[32:06] - The Deeper Meaning of the Miracle
[35:41] - Jesus Sees and Approaches the Individual
[41:49] - God’s Mercy in Our Misery
[45:03] - God’s Grace in Weakness
[47:17] - The Cost and Challenge of Healing
[52:39] - Surrendering for Spiritual Growth
[54:50] - The Invitation to Wholeness

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading

John 5:1-9 (ESV) — After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. 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?” 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.” Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. Now that day was the Sabbath.

Observation Questions

What details does John give about the pool of Bethesda and the people gathered there? Why might these details be important? ([09:44])
How does Jesus interact with the man who had been an invalid for 38 years? What stands out about Jesus’ approach? ([35:41])
What question does Jesus ask the man, and why might this question seem surprising or even offensive? ([47:17])
According to the passage, what happens immediately after Jesus tells the man to get up, take his bed, and walk? ([32:06])

Interpretation Questions

The sermon points out that John’s Gospel focuses on who Jesus is, not just what He does. Why is it significant that Jesus is described as both the source of mercy and the embodiment of grace in this story? ([09:44])
Jesus singles out one man among a multitude. What does this reveal about God’s attention to individuals, even in a crowd? How might this challenge our own feelings of being overlooked? ([35:41])
The question “Do you want to be made well?” is more than just about physical healing. What deeper issues might Jesus be addressing with this question? ([47:17])
The sermon mentions that sometimes we become comfortable with our brokenness. Why might someone resist change, even if healing or freedom is offered? ([49:56])

Application Questions

The pool of Bethesda is called the “house of mercy,” and the five porches represent grace. Where in your life do you feel you are waiting for God’s mercy or grace to meet you? Are there areas where you’ve grown tired of waiting? ([12:14])
Jesus saw the man in the crowd and approached him personally. Have you ever felt invisible or overlooked in your struggles? How does it change things to know that Jesus sees you and moves toward you? ([35:41])
Jesus’ question, “Do you want to be made well?” can be uncomfortable. Is there an area in your life where you sense God asking you a similar question? What would it look like to answer honestly? ([47:17])
The sermon talks about the cost of healing and freedom—sometimes it means letting go of what’s familiar, even if it’s brokenness. Is there something in your life you’ve become comfortable with, even though it’s holding you back? What would it take to let it go? ([49:56])
The man at the pool had experienced disappointment and missed opportunities. How have past disappointments shaped your expectations of God? Are there ways you need to let go of disappointment to embrace hope again? ([38:17])
The supernatural was expected where Jesus was present. Do you still expect God to work in surprising or unconventional ways in your life? Why or why not? ([23:41])
God’s grace is described as sufficient, even in weakness and disappointment. What does it mean for you to rely on God’s grace in a situation where you feel weak or let down? ([45:03])

Sermon Clips

If we want to get serious about God, if we want to get into the things of God, whichever angle we approach it from, we need to go up. Up in our expectation. Up in our faith. Because if we're going to be where God wants us to be we've got to go up in our experience. It's not insignificant that they went up to Jerusalem even though they were coming from the north. [00:08:10] (28 seconds) #RiseInFaith

In the House of Mercy, there are five porticoes, five being the symbol of God's grace, so God's grace and mercy are about to meet. When you come here this morning, what are you expecting to happen? What are you expecting to see? What are you expecting God to do? How are you expecting Him to move? What are you expecting to find when you come in this building? Because John is painting a picture of expectation here. This is the place where the grace and mercy of God are going to be poured out on the sick and disease. [00:12:22] (62 seconds) #GraceMeetsMercy

Can you imagine how many sick or infirm people would have been lying there around this pool? You wouldn't get many around a paddling pool, would you? In fact, my grandkids are in need. I don't get them looking. But you wouldn't get that many lying around. But listen to the text. Paul, remember, he's painting a picture here, John. He's trying to set the scene for something that's about to happen. In verse 3, John uses the word multitude. He said, a multitude of sick people. Blind, lying, paralysed, waiting for the moving of the water. [00:18:01] (41 seconds) #MultitudeOfHope

You have to see the heart of God above what he does in order to really see God. Say that again: you have to see the heart of God above what he does in order to really see God. [00:29:10] (16 seconds) #SeeGodsHeart

Notice it's not the other way around. The man doesn't see Jesus. Jesus sees him amidst a multitude of people. That's why multitude is important. Thousands of people, thousands of people lying there sick, but Jesus sees him. [00:34:25] (18 seconds) #JesusSeesYou

God is not afraid to approach you. He doesn't think twice about approaching humanity because his heart is towards us. Our issues might scare us but guess what they don't scare him. He loves to draw near. [00:37:28] (16 seconds) #MercyForTheMisery

His grace is sufficient. Paul prayed about the thorn in his flesh several times to God to take it away and God said to him my grace is sufficient for you Paul... He didn't say okay Paul I'll have it I'll take it away everything will be onky door and you'll never have a problem in your life again he said my grace is sufficient to you my strength is made perfect in your weakness. [00:46:32] (20 seconds) #ProfoundHealingQuestion

Let me tell you, you cannot follow Jesus if it costs you nothing. That's faith in that message. It's one thing to believe, it's another to follow. Jesus put it this way, if anyone wants to follow me, he must take up his cross and follow me. Put his leg down in his own life. If he wants to save his life, he'll lose it. If he wants to lose his life, he'll find it. Here's the truth. You're dead. I'm dead. We're alive in Christ. It's his life, not ours. [00:53:34] (42 seconds) #PersonalTransformation

There could be eight billion people in this room, I still see you. And I want to engage with you this morning. Are you prepared to make the lifestyle changes that will take you from where you are to where I want you to be? In Jesus' name. That's the question. Only we can answer it. [00:54:50] (25 seconds)

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