Finding Wholeness: Christ's Compassion and Our Helplessness

Devotional

Day 1: Jesus Alone Heals Our Infirmity of Sin

Just as the man at the pool of Bethesda could not heal himself, so too are we powerless to cure ourselves of the infirmity called sin. Sin is not merely a mistake or a weakness; it is a deep spiritual sickness that separates us from God and cannot be remedied by our own efforts, good works, or religious rituals. Only Jesus, through His supernatural power and compassion, can make us whole and restore us to spiritual health. He stands ready to heal all who will admit their need and trust in Him alone for salvation. [50:10]

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.

Reflection: Is there an area of your life where you have been trying to fix yourself, rather than admitting your need and trusting Jesus alone to make you whole?

Day 2: We All Have the Infirmity of Sin

Every person, no matter how moral or religious, is afflicted with the universal problem of sin. The Bible makes it clear that all have sinned and fall short of God’s perfect standard, and that our own righteousness is as filthy rags before Him. This truth humbles us and reminds us that we are all in need of God’s grace, unable to save ourselves or earn our way to heaven. [51:22]

Romans 3:10, 3:23 (ESV)
As it is written: “None is righteous, no, not one.”
For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Reflection: In what ways do you tend to minimize or excuse your own sin, rather than honestly acknowledging your need for God’s forgiveness?

Day 3: Salvation Comes by Faith in Christ Alone

Salvation is not achieved by our works, religious rituals, or a combination of faith and effort; it is a gift received by trusting in Jesus Christ alone. When we come to the end of ourselves and put our faith in what Christ has done—His death and resurrection—we are made whole, given eternal life, and can walk in the assurance of our salvation. Any attempt to add to Christ’s finished work is a split trust, which is not saving faith at all. [01:02:46]

Romans 10:9 (ESV)
Because if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

Reflection: Are you trusting in Jesus Christ alone for your salvation, or are you still holding on to something else—your good works, religious background, or efforts—to make you right with God?

Day 4: Jesus Shows Compassion to the Outcast and the Worst

Jesus did not seek out the powerful or the popular, but went directly to those who were most in need—the sick, the outcast, and even the “worst of the worst.” His compassion is not limited by the depth of our sin or the length of our suffering. No one is beyond His reach, and He delights to save and restore even those whom society has given up on. [01:11:40]

Mark 2:17 (ESV)
And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

Reflection: Who in your life or community might feel like an outcast or “too far gone” for God’s love? How can you show them the compassion of Christ this week?

Day 5: Will We Show Compassion Like Jesus?

The story challenges us not only to receive Christ’s compassion, but also to extend it to others. Unlike the religious leaders, the selfish crowd, or the indifferent townspeople, we are called to actively care for those who are spiritually lost and hurting. We have the answer to the world’s greatest need—will we keep it to ourselves, or will we, like Jesus, go to those who need it most and offer help, hope, and the message of salvation? [01:21:29]

Matthew 9:36 (ESV)
When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.

Reflection: What is one practical way you can step out of your comfort zone this week to show Christlike compassion to someone in need?

Sermon Summary

In John chapter 5, we encounter a powerful scene at the pool of Bethesda, a place known as the “house of mercy,” where many afflicted people gathered, hoping for healing. Amidst the crowd, Jesus singles out a man who had suffered with an infirmity for thirty-eight years. This man, unable to help himself and with no one willing to assist him, represents the universal human condition: we are all spiritually helpless, afflicted by the incurable disease of sin. Just as the man could not reach the water on his own, so too are we unable to save ourselves from our sin by our own efforts, good works, or religious rituals.

Jesus’ question to the man, “Wilt thou be made whole?” is deeply probing. It exposes both the man’s inability and his need for help beyond himself. The man’s response is a mixture of excuse and confession—he cannot get to the water, and no one will help him. In this moment of honest helplessness, Jesus commands him to rise, take up his bed, and walk. The man obeys, trusting Jesus’ word, and is instantly healed. This act is a vivid picture of salvation: when we come to the end of ourselves and trust wholly in Christ, He alone makes us whole.

The passage also highlights the compassion of Jesus. He deliberately seeks out the most desperate, the outcast, and the overlooked. While the religious leaders are preoccupied with legalistic concerns and the crowd is indifferent, Jesus moves toward the broken, offering healing and hope. His compassion is not limited by the severity of our condition; He is able and willing to save “to the uttermost” all who come to Him.

Yet, the story also challenges us to examine our own hearts. Are we like the religious leaders, more concerned with rules than with people? Are we like the crowd, indifferent to the suffering around us? Or do we share the compassion of Christ, moving toward those in need with the good news of the gospel? The call is clear: recognize our own need, trust in Christ alone for salvation, and then extend His compassion to others who are spiritually helpless.

Key Takeaways

1. The Incurable Infirmity of Sin Every person is afflicted with the spiritual infirmity of sin, a condition that cannot be remedied by human effort, morality, or religious observance. Like the man at Bethesda, we are powerless to cure ourselves and must come to terms with our utter dependence on divine intervention. Only when we acknowledge our helplessness can we receive the supernatural healing that Christ alone provides. [49:42]
2. The Necessity of Honest Helplessness Jesus’ question, “Wilt thou be made whole?” is not merely rhetorical; it demands an honest admission of need. Salvation begins when we stop making excuses or relying on our own resources and instead confess our inability to save ourselves. This humility is the doorway to grace, for Christ meets us precisely at the point of our confessed weakness. [53:24]
3. The Exclusivity and Sufficiency of Christ Trusting in anything or anyone besides Jesus—whether good works, religious rituals, or self-improvement—renders faith ineffective. Saving faith is undivided trust in Christ alone, who is the only way, the truth, and the life. Any attempt to combine our efforts with His finished work is a “split trust,” which is no trust at all. [63:23]
4. The Compassionate Pursuit of the Outcast Jesus intentionally seeks out those whom society overlooks or rejects. His compassion is not reserved for the “deserving” but is lavished on the worst of the worst, demonstrating that no one is beyond the reach of His saving grace. This challenges us to reflect His heart by moving toward, not away from, those who are spiritually or physically broken. [71:40]
5. The Call to Reflect Christ’s Compassion The story exposes the indifference of the crowd, the callousness of the religious, and the absence of helpers for the helpless. As recipients of Christ’s mercy, we are called to be agents of that same compassion, actively seeking out and serving those in need. Our willingness to share the gospel and extend practical help is a measure of how deeply we have understood and embraced the mercy shown to us. [81:13]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[25:31] - Introduction to John 5 and Setting the Scene
[30:18] - The Jewish Feasts and Their Significance
[35:33] - Identifying the Feast in John 5
[37:55] - The Multitude in Jerusalem
[38:11] - The Pool of Bethesda: History and Archaeology
[41:13] - The Meaning of Bethesda and the Sheep Gate
[43:06] - Jesus Enters Through the Sheep Gate
[45:07] - The Troubling of the Water and the Infirm Man
[49:08] - The Universal Infirmity of Sin
[52:08] - Jesus’ Question: “Wilt Thou Be Made Whole?”
[55:08] - The Impossibility of Self-Salvation
[58:15] - The Man’s Honest Admission and Jesus’ Command
[61:21] - The Nature of Saving Faith
[65:33] - The Compassion of Jesus
[76:35] - The Religious Leaders and the Crowd’s Indifference
[81:13] - The Call to Compassion and Gospel Action
[82:26] - Invitation and Closing Prayer

Bible Study Guide

Observation Questions

What was the condition of the man Jesus healed at the pool of Bethesda, and how long had he suffered? ([26:38])
According to the passage, what did the man say when Jesus asked, “Wilt thou be made whole?” ([26:55])
How did the religious leaders respond when they saw the man carrying his bed on the Sabbath after being healed? ([27:14])
What does the name “Bethesda” mean, and why is that significant in this story? ([41:13])

Interpretation Questions

Why does Jesus ask the man, “Wilt thou be made whole?” even though He already knows the man’s situation? What does this question reveal about the man’s heart and about our own? ([52:08])
The sermon compares the man’s physical infirmity to the spiritual condition of sin. In what ways are we like the man at Bethesda when it comes to our own spiritual helplessness? ([49:42])
The religious leaders focused on the rules rather than the miracle. What does this reveal about their priorities, and how might this attitude show up in churches today? ([01:17:05])
Jesus chose to approach the most desperate and overlooked person at the pool. What does this teach us about the heart of Christ and who He seeks out? ([01:06:36])

Application Questions

The man at Bethesda had to admit his helplessness before Jesus healed him. Is there an area in your life where you need to stop making excuses and honestly admit your need for God’s help? What would it look like to do that this week? ([53:24])
The sermon says that trusting in anything besides Jesus—even good things like church attendance or helping others—cannot save us. Are there ways you’ve been tempted to rely on your own efforts or “split trust” instead of Christ alone? How can you shift your trust fully to Him? ([01:03:23])
Jesus intentionally sought out the outcast and the overlooked. Who in your life or community might be feeling overlooked or hopeless? What is one practical way you can move toward them with compassion this week? ([01:11:40])
The crowd and the religious leaders were indifferent or even callous to the suffering man. Have you ever found yourself more concerned with rules or your own comfort than with helping someone in need? How can you guard against this attitude? ([01:17:05])
The sermon challenges us to reflect Christ’s compassion by actively seeking out and serving those in need. What is one specific step you can take this month to extend the mercy of Christ to someone who is spiritually or physically helpless? ([01:21:13])
The man’s healing was immediate when he trusted Jesus’ word. Is there an area where you need to take a step of faith and “rise, take up your bed, and walk” in obedience to Christ? What is holding you back? ([01:00:32])
The story ends with a call to examine our own hearts: Are we like the religious leaders, the indifferent crowd, or like Jesus? Which of these do you most identify with right now, and what would it look like to move closer to Christ’s example? ([01:22:11])

Sermon Clips

This is the third recorded miracle of Jesus here in the book of John. And I I believe it's a significant one. The first two, yes, they were important. Um they changed the water into wine or grape juice and the other the healing of the noblemen. So they certainly proved his power and his deity. But here in particular, this passage of scripture, this miracle, uh in verse number 17, Jesus uh wanted to point out to people that he wasn't just another person. He wanted to point out to people that he was the son of God. In other words, he was trying to prove that he was deity. [00:29:20]

Now the three different feasts that happened that were important spiritual significant spiritual events for the children of Israel. The first one was the feast of the Passover. The feast of the Passover took place uh around what we would uh we celebrate Easter. Well, the Passover actually started the week before Easter and it starts every year before the week Easter. So we we get our Easter date uh from based upon when they have Passover. [00:30:59]

But uh the Passover starts the Saturday before Easter. So uh not not the night before, but the Saturday before and it goes all the way through that week and then it ends Saturday night uh right before Easter Sunday. That just kind of gives us kind of an idea of when that feast of the Passover takes place or when Passover takes place. It's part of the Jewish calendar. [00:31:29]

Now, interestingly enough, um this is really close to the temple, and I'll I'll show that map here in just a minute, but it's really close to the temple, and they believe that the water from the pool actually ran underneath the temple and helped to wash away the sacrifices, the blood, and stuff like that, and uh keep the keep the water flowing. But that's where the pool of Bethesda was. Uh it was said to be about 360 feet long. That's a big pool. Okay, but it is separated into two sections. [00:39:28]

The word Bethesda literally means the house of mercy, alluding to the fact that the people were oftenimes healed in the waters. Now at the time it would have been a very beautiful pool. There is something also that's significant mentioned here in this verse. Number two says, "Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda having five porches, the sheep market." [00:41:21]

And you remember the Lord passed over uh the children of Israel if they had the blood on the doorposts. That's why they get that name. That's where they get the name from the Passover. And uh they were supposed to uh celebrate this for a whole week. Uh but they they left uh in the middle of the night. And uh they even symbolically significantly do that even today leaving uh you know just kind of uh some of the things that they do with Passover, they still do it even to this day uh to to commemorate that. [00:32:43]

Now, while we may feel sorry for someone like this, the truth is we all have an infirmity just like this man did. And I think this is really one of the points of the passage here. The Lord's trying to teach us that we all have an infirmity. And that infirmity that we have is called sin. I don't know what this man has, but it could not it it made it so that he couldn't walk. Well, you know, we have an infirmity, too. This infirmity called sin. It it it is something that we as people cannot cure. It is something that can only be cured supernaturally. [00:49:36]

Let me tell you friends, that's an infirmity that all of us have. The Bible says, "For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God." There isn't anybody left out of that statement. Everybody is guilty. There is none that doeth good. No, not one. Bible tells us in Romans chapter 3:10. All of us are guilty of our sin. We have all gone out of the way. We have all become unprofitable. There's none that doeth good, know not what. [00:50:46]

You know, our sin makes it so that we cannot do anything to get to heaven. Our sin cannot uh makes it so that we cannot cure ourselves. Someone here this morning may be confronted with that same question. Wilt thou be made whole? I I want you to understand that you cannot save yourself. There is nothing that you can do as a person to get yourself to heaven because sin is the problem. [00:53:06]

You know what God's standard is? It's perfection. How many of you in here would say, "I measure up to God's standard of perfection." Raise your hand. I didn't think so. Now, the hands aren't raised. Why? Because we know honestly in and of ourselves. We're all sinners. We're not God. What did God What did Jesus Christ say? Be therefore perfect, even as your father which is in heaven is perfect. [00:53:56]

Even if I sinned only one time in my life, which is pretty close. Just kidding. I'm just kidding. Okay. Even if I sin, that was a lie. So that's a sin. But anyway, uh even if I sinned only one time in my life, I still fall short. Why? Because I'm not perfect anymore. I still have this infirmity called sin. So Jesus stands there, asks him this question, wilt thou be made whole? [00:54:29]

We know what Jesus is doing. He's standing there waiting for us to acknowledge the fact that we can't do it ourselves, that we cannot solve our problems, that we cannot cure ourselves of this issue of sin. He's waiting there ready for us to admit it. Just like he was waiting for the man there to admit that he had a problem. The reason for that is because he wants to show us that he is the cure for our infirmity of sin. [00:55:30]

Now, until someone realizes that they have a problem of sin, they cannot be saved. There are many times I have talked to people who excuse their sin in many different ways over and over and over again. I've talked to children who they understand what a sin is, but they don't want to believe that they are a sinner. Say, "Have you ever sinned?" No. Okay. Well, let's get specific. Have you ever disobeyed your parents? No. [00:59:00]

But until someone comes to the point where they say, "I am a sinner and I deserve the punishment for my sin. I have a big problem." Until somebody comes to that point, they can't be saved. They can't be healed. They can't be cured of their infirmity called sin. So, you have to realize that you cannot save yourself. And I believe this man was made whole immediately when he acknowledged that and in essence was saying, "Can you do something for me because I can't do it. Nobody else can help me either." [00:59:48]

You rise, you take up your bed, and you walk. You say, "You know what? I'm a sinner. I have that infirmity. I I I'm dead. I'm I'm separated from God forever. I I need God's help. I really do. He's the only one that can help me. So right now, I'm going to do exactly as he says, and I'm going to put my trust in him that he can heal me. And you know what? God will do it. He will. How many people will he save? Everybody. Anybody that comes to him, whosoever will may come. Whosoever call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." [01:00:54]

When Jesus Christ saves you, he saves you from your sin. You get up, you are saved, and at that moment, you have eternal life. Amen. I tell you, that's a great thing. Somebody ask some people, "Hey, when do I get eternal life?" They'll say, "Well, you get it when you die." Friends, I'm sorry, that's not true. He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life. That's present tense. You have it right now. [01:04:14]

He had compassion on you and that was the reason why is he came to earth was so he died for your sins to keep you from having to spend an eternity separated from him in the lake of fire. That was the ultimate of compassion, what Jesus Christ did for us. And he came to help sinners, those who needed it the most. But also secondly, he showed his his compassion by healing the worst of the worst. [01:11:47]

We all have an infirmity just like that man did. Jesus came to die for those sins. Every one of them, no matter how bad they really are. But I've had people tell me, "You know what? God can't save me because I'm just too bad." No. Friends, Jesus didn't come to heal the people that are doing just fine. God didn't come to die for good people. Jesus came to die for sinners. As the Apostle Paul said, "Of whom I am chief." Every one of us is guilty of sin. And Jesus came to die for every single one of us. Amen. [01:12:44]

Do we feel that same way about others in the world who have this infirmity called sin? That there's nothing that they can do about that, but yet we have the answer. We have the cure for that problem? Are we going to share compassion and show compassion and share this cure with those people or we just going to leave it to ourselves? Are we going to be like the town's people or are we going to be like Jesus Christ who went directly to him to help him because he knew that he couldn't do it by himself? [01:21:08]

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