From Brokenness to Wholeness: Jesus' Healing Invitation
Summary
In our journey through the Gospel of John, we have encountered a profound truth: Jesus loves broken people and has the power to make them whole. This morning, we delved into the story of a man who had been an invalid for 38 years, lying by the pool of Bethesda, a place that symbolized both hope and despair. This man's condition is a mirror reflecting our own brokenness, whether spiritual, relational, emotional, or physical. We all carry scars and wounds, some inflicted by life's circumstances, others by people, and some simply by the passage of time.
The man at the pool was waiting for someone to help him into the water, believing it would heal him. Yet, Jesus approached him with a life-changing question: "Do you want to get well?" This question pierces to the heart of our own struggles. It's not merely about physical healing but about a deeper wholeness that Christ offers. To embark on this path of healing, we must first admit that our own efforts are insufficient. We must confront the reality that the solutions we cling to, like the man's hope in the stirring waters, often fall short.
Repentance is the beautiful turning point where we acknowledge our need to let go of the old and embrace the new life Jesus offers. It's a pivot from the brokenness to the beauty of a relationship with Christ. This turning away from sin and toward our Savior is the essence of the Gospel. It's about moving from hurt to healing, from problems to solutions, from the pool's edge into the arms of grace.
Taking action in faith is the next crucial step. It's about doing the next right thing, one step at a time, moving towards Jesus. Whether it's seeking counsel, joining a support group, or making a lifestyle change, these steps are acts of faith that bring us closer to the wholeness Christ promises.
The question Jesus asked the man at the pool is the same one He asks us today: "Do you want to be made whole?" The power to change and the strength to walk in newness of life are available to us through Christ. It's up to us to pick up our mats and walk in the direction of the life He has for us.
Key Takeaways:
- Jesus' love for broken people is not just a passive emotion; it is an active force that seeks out and heals the most wounded among us. His first stop in Jerusalem was not among the influential but at the pool of Bethesda, where the broken gathered. This teaches us that our mission as His followers is to love and serve those who are hurting, recognizing that healing often requires a long-term commitment and the understanding that hurt people hurt people. [42:27]
- The story of the invalid man at the pool of Bethesda is a powerful illustration of how we can become comfortable with our afflictions, even to the point of letting them define us. Jesus challenges this mindset by asking us if we truly desire to be made whole. He invites us to shed our old identities and embrace the new life He offers, one that is not defined by our defects but by our relationship with Him. [53:50]
- Repentance is often misunderstood as a negative or harsh concept, but it is actually a beautiful act of turning away from the things that harm us and towards the healing embrace of Jesus. It is a journey from the pain of our past to the promise of a future filled with grace and truth. This turning is not just about leaving behind sin but also about stepping into the fullness of life that Jesus offers. [57:21]
- Faith is not a passive state but an active response to Jesus' invitation to wholeness. It involves taking concrete steps, one at a time, towards the life that God has planned for us. Whether it's seeking help, making amends, or changing harmful patterns, each step is a demonstration of our trust in God's power to transform us. [58:33]
- The ultimate question that Jesus poses to each of us is whether we want to be made whole. His power to heal and renew is readily available, but it requires our willingness to rise, take up our mats, and walk towards Him. This decision to move forward is the beginning of a journey from slavery to sin to the freedom of life in Christ. [59:48]
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 5:1-9 (NIV)
> "Sometime later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed. One who was there had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, 'Do you want to get well?' 'Sir,' the invalid replied, 'I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred. While I am trying to get in, someone else goes down ahead of me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked. The day on which this took place was a Sabbath."
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the condition of the man at the pool of Bethesda, and how long had he been in this state? ([31:03])
2. What question did Jesus ask the man, and what was the man's initial response? ([31:45])
3. What command did Jesus give to the man, and what was the result? ([32:01])
4. According to the sermon, what does the pool of Bethesda symbolize in the context of the man's condition and our own struggles? ([27:27])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus asked the man if he wanted to get well, even though his condition seemed obvious? ([39:25])
2. How does the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda illustrate the concept of repentance as a turning point from brokenness to wholeness? ([57:01])
3. What does the sermon suggest about the importance of taking action in faith after recognizing our need for healing? ([58:00])
4. How does Jesus' choice to visit the pool of Bethesda first in Jerusalem reflect His mission and priorities? ([42:04])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on the question Jesus asked the man: "Do you want to get well?" Is there an area in your life where you need to confront this question honestly? ([39:25])
2. The sermon mentioned that we often become comfortable with our afflictions. Are there any "mats" in your life that you need to pick up and walk away from? ([32:01])
3. Repentance was described as a beautiful act of turning away from harm and towards healing. What is one specific area in your life where you need to practice repentance? ([57:01])
4. Taking action in faith was highlighted as crucial. What is one concrete step you can take this week to move towards the wholeness Christ offers? ([58:00])
5. Jesus' love for broken people was emphasized. How can you actively show love and support to someone in your life who is hurting or struggling? ([42:04])
6. The sermon discussed the long-term commitment required for healing. What is one way you can commit to a long-term process of healing or support for yourself or someone else? ([43:04])
7. The ultimate question posed was whether we want to be made whole. What does wholeness in Christ look like for you, and what steps can you take to pursue it? ([59:48])
Devotional
Day 1: Embracing Jesus' Love for the Broken
Jesus' love is a transformative force that actively seeks to heal the broken. His encounter with the man at the pool of Bethesda is a testament to His commitment to those who are suffering. This love is not just a feeling but an action, demonstrated in His willingness to go to the places of deepest need. As followers of Christ, we are called to emulate this love, reaching out to those who are hurting. It's important to understand that healing is a process, often requiring patience and the recognition that those who have been hurt may inadvertently hurt others. This cycle can be broken through the persistent and compassionate love that Jesus exemplifies. [07:40]
"Thus says the Lord: 'The people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness; when Israel sought for rest, the Lord appeared to him from far away. I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.'" - Jeremiah 31:2-3 ESV
Reflection: How can you actively demonstrate Jesus' healing love to someone in your community who is experiencing brokenness?
Day 2: Shedding Old Identities for New Life
The story of the invalid man at the pool serves as a powerful metaphor for our own spiritual condition. We can become so accustomed to our limitations and afflictions that they begin to define us. Jesus challenges this by asking if we truly want to be made whole. He invites us to let go of our old identities—those defined by our shortcomings—and to step into a new life characterized by our relationship with Him. This new life is not marked by our past but by the potential and purpose we have in Christ. [53:50]
"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. If he does, the wine will burst the skins—and the wine is destroyed, and so are the skins. But new wine is for fresh wineskins." - Mark 2:22 ESV
Reflection: What part of your old identity are you holding onto that Jesus is asking you to release for the sake of a new life in Him?
Day 3: The Beauty of Repentance
Repentance is often seen as a negative concept, but in reality, it is a beautiful act of turning away from what harms us and toward the healing embrace of Jesus. It is about moving from the pain of our past to the promise of a future filled with grace and truth. This turning is not just about leaving behind sin but also about embracing the fullness of life that Jesus offers, a life marked by His love and righteousness. [57:21]
"Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for you have stumbled because of your iniquity. Take with you words and return to the Lord; say to him, 'Take away all iniquity; accept what is good, and we will pay with bulls the vows of our lips.'" - Hosea 14:1-2 ESV
Reflection: What is one area in your life where you need to turn away from sin and towards the healing that comes from a deeper relationship with Jesus?
Day 4: Faith as an Active Response
Faith is not merely a passive belief but an active response to Jesus' call to wholeness. It involves taking concrete steps towards the life God has planned for us. These steps, whether they involve seeking help, making amends, or changing harmful patterns, are demonstrations of our trust in God's power to transform us. Each step of faith brings us closer to the wholeness that Christ promises. [58:33]
"By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going." - Hebrews 11:8 ESV
Reflection: What is one step of faith you can take today that will move you closer to the wholeness Christ promises?
Day 5: The Decision to Move Towards Wholeness
Jesus poses a life-changing question to each of us: "Do you want to be made whole?" His power to heal and renew is available, but it requires our willingness to rise, take up our mats, and walk towards Him. This decision to move forward marks the beginning of a journey from the bondage of sin to the freedom of life in Christ. It is a call to action, to embrace the life He has for us and to walk in the newness of life. [59:48]
"Come, let us return to the Lord; for he has torn us, that he may heal us; he has struck us down, and he will bind us up. After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will raise us up, that we may live before him." - Hosea 6:1-2 ESV
Reflection: What does 'taking up your mat' look like in your current situation, and how can you start walking towards the life Jesus has for you today?
Quotes
- "Jesus loves broken people and has the power to make them whole. His first stop in Jerusalem was not among the influential but at the pool of Bethesda, where the broken gathered." [42:27] (Download | Download cropped video)
- "The reality is for 38 years no hope and this guy was just broken and beaten by time and Jesus comes to the pool and he zeros in on this one man and he asks him this penetrating question: 'Do you want to get well?'" [40:11] (Download | )
- "Repentance is actually really a beautiful thing... you're turning away from the junk and the garbage and the stuff that we're not created for when you make that turn you're turning toward something beautiful and someone beautiful." [57:21] (Download | )
- "Jesus extends that offer to us and all we can do is respond in faith... whatever is the next right thing to do God give me the faith to do that. I want to move towards you Jesus." [58:33] (Download | )
- "Jesus not only sees you in your struggle and knows your struggle and is with you in that but Jesus has the power to overcome that." [25:27] (Download | )
- "Jesus loves broken people. Think about this, you have to guess most aspiring prophets, most wannabe messiahs... wouldn't make their first stop the pool of Bethesda... But Jesus shows up... because that's where the hurting people are and that's where the broken people are." [41:24] (Download | )
- "Jesus doesn't just love broken people and kind of sympathize with them... but Jesus you guys makes broken people whole." [44:46] (Download | )
- "The trauma that we endured may always be a part of our story but it doesn't have to be our future... Jesus finds this desperate guy and what does he say to him? 'Do you want to get well? Do you want to be made whole?'" [46:02] (Download | )
- "Jesus sees more in you than you even see in yourself. The life that we live, the defects, the struggles that we're in, that's not what we were created for... God created us for more not to be stuck in those patterns not to be a slave to those things." [55:08] (Download | )
- "Jesus tells this man, 'Hey take up your mat and walk.' It's almost as if Jesus is saying to him, 'Don't leave the mat there anymore, you're not coming back for it, you're going somewhere new.'" [56:14] (Download | )
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