Transforming Brokenness: Jesus' Call to Healing
Summary
### Detailed Chronological Summary
Welcome, everyone. Today, we are diving into John 5, focusing on the story of the man at the pool of Bethesda. This passage is rich with lessons about Jesus' transformative power and the excuses we often make to avoid change. Let's start by reading John 5:1-15, where we see Jesus attending a feast in Jerusalem and then heading to the pool of Bethesda, a place known for its healing waters. Here, a multitude of sick people lay, waiting for the water to be stirred by an angel so they could be healed. Among them was a man who had been ill for 38 years. Jesus asked him, "Do you want to be made well?" The man responded with excuses, saying he had no one to help him into the pool. Jesus then told him to rise, take up his bed, and walk, and the man was immediately healed.
Now, let's break this down. Jesus often disrupts our expectations and religious routines. He doesn't go to the feast; instead, He goes to Bethesda, a place filled with brokenness. This is a powerful reminder that Jesus is attracted to the broken areas of our lives. We often try to hide our dysfunctions, presenting a facade of perfection, but Jesus sees through it and goes straight to the heart of our issues.
Bethesda was a place where people hid their dysfunctions, much like how we curate our lives on social media. We put on a show, but Jesus is not fooled. He is not attracted to our feasts and celebrations; He is drawn to our pools of Bethesda, our places of brokenness. This is where He performs His miracles, turning our bitterness into sweetness.
The man at the pool had been there for 38 years, a significant amount of time, almost a generation. He had become comfortable in his hopelessness, making excuses for why he couldn't be healed. Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made well?" is not about God's ability to heal but about the man's willingness to be healed. Often, we get comfortable in our dysfunctions, making excuses and surrounding ourselves with people who reinforce our limitations.
Jesus' command to the man to "rise, take up your bed, and walk" is a call to action. It's an eviction notice from our lame excuses and environments. We need to stop making excuses and start taking steps of faith. The man's healing was immediate, but it required him to act on Jesus' command. This is a lesson for us: God's grace is available, but we must be willing to step out in faith.
The story also highlights the importance of not letting our temporary coverings become permanent cages. The man had been under a covering of grace, but it had become a cage of hopelessness. We must be careful not to let the blessings and opportunities God gives us turn into limitations. We need to stay tuned to God's voice and be willing to move when He calls us.
Finally, Jesus' faithfulness is something we can build our lives upon. His covenantal love, or "chesed," is a recurring theme in the Bible. It is a love that is loyal and faithful beyond reason. This faithfulness is what sustains us and gives us the courage to step out of our comfort zones and into the life God has called us to.
### Key Takeaways
1. Jesus Disrupts Our Expectations: Jesus often disrupts our religious routines and expectations. He is not attracted to our feasts and celebrations but to our places of brokenness. When Jesus enters our lives, He creates a ripple effect, transforming our bitterness into sweetness. This teaches us that true healing and transformation come when we allow Jesus to confront the areas we try to hide. [05:10]
2. Comfort in Dysfunction: The man at the pool of Bethesda had been there for 38 years, making excuses for why he couldn't be healed. This highlights how we often get comfortable in our dysfunctions, making excuses and surrounding ourselves with people who reinforce our limitations. Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made well?" challenges us to confront our excuses and take steps of faith towards healing. [09:43]
3. Temporary Coverings Becoming Cages: The man had been under a covering of grace, but it had become a cage of hopelessness. We must be careful not to let the blessings and opportunities God gives us turn into limitations. Staying tuned to God's voice and being willing to move when He calls us is crucial to avoid turning our coverings into cages. [18:49]
4. The Power of Jesus' Questions: Jesus often asks questions that contain a quest, a journey towards a deeper relationship with Him. His questions are invitations into His glory and presence. The question, "Do you want to be made well?" is not about God's ability to heal but about our willingness to be healed. This teaches us to embrace the questions Jesus asks us as opportunities for growth and transformation. [26:35]
5. Faithfulness of God: God's covenantal love, or "chesed," is a recurring theme in the Bible. It is a love that is loyal and faithful beyond reason. This faithfulness is what sustains us and gives us the courage to step out of our comfort zones and into the life God has called us to. Building our lives on God's faithfulness ensures that we are anchored in His unchanging love and grace. [16:30]
### YouTube Chapters
[0:00] - Welcome
[00:38] - Introduction and Scripture Reading
[03:25] - Lame Excuses and the Friendship of God
[05:10] - Jesus Disrupts Our Expectations
[06:32] - Jesus is Attracted to Brokenness
[08:07] - Hiding Our Dysfunctions
[09:43] - Comfort in Dysfunction
[11:11] - The Significance of Bethesda
[12:32] - The Meaning of Chesed
[14:04] - Covenant Love and Loyalty
[16:30] - God's Faithfulness
[18:49] - Temporary Coverings Becoming Cages
[20:12] - Hopelessness and Envy
[21:20] - Lame Environments
[22:06] - A Porch is Not a House
[24:10] - Staying Comfortable in Dysfunction
[25:30] - The Importance of Jesus' Questions
[26:35] - The Power of Jesus' Questions
[27:58] - Embracing Jesus' Questions
[30:51] - No More Lame Excuses
[32:37] - Hopelessness and Comfortability
[34:13] - Closing Prayer and Call to Action
Study Guide
### Bible Study Discussion Guide
#### Bible Reading
- John 5:1-15
#### Observation Questions
1. What was the significance of the pool of Bethesda, and why were people gathered there? ([01:36])
2. How did the man at the pool respond when Jesus asked him if he wanted to be made well? ([01:36])
3. What command did Jesus give to the man, and what was the immediate result? ([01:36])
4. How did the religious leaders react to the man carrying his bed on the Sabbath? ([02:28])
#### Interpretation Questions
1. Why do you think Jesus chose to go to the pool of Bethesda instead of attending the feast in Jerusalem? ([06:32])
2. What does the man's response to Jesus' question reveal about his state of mind and his faith? ([01:36])
3. How can the concept of "temporary coverings becoming cages" apply to our own lives and spiritual journeys? ([18:49])
4. What does Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made well?" teach us about our own willingness to change and be healed? ([26:35])
#### Application Questions
1. Reflect on a time when Jesus disrupted your expectations or routines. How did that experience lead to personal growth or transformation? ([05:10])
2. Identify an area in your life where you have become comfortable in dysfunction. What steps can you take to confront this and seek healing? ([09:43])
3. Have you ever experienced a blessing or opportunity from God that later felt like a limitation or cage? How can you stay tuned to God's voice to avoid this? ([18:49])
4. Think about a question Jesus might be asking you right now. How can you embrace this question as an invitation for deeper relationship and transformation? ([26:35])
5. God's faithfulness is described as "chesed," a loyal and covenantal love. How can you build your life on this faithfulness, especially in times of uncertainty? ([16:30])
6. What are some "lame excuses" you have made in the past to avoid stepping out in faith? How can you overcome these excuses moving forward? ([30:51])
7. Consider the people you surround yourself with. Are they reinforcing your limitations or encouraging you to grow? How can you seek out more supportive and faith-building relationships? ([21:20])
Devotional
Day 1: Jesus Disrupts Our Expectations
Jesus often disrupts our religious routines and expectations. He is not attracted to our feasts and celebrations but to our places of brokenness. When Jesus enters our lives, He creates a ripple effect, transforming our bitterness into sweetness. This teaches us that true healing and transformation come when we allow Jesus to confront the areas we try to hide. Jesus' visit to the pool of Bethesda instead of the feast in Jerusalem is a powerful reminder that He seeks out our brokenness to bring about His miraculous healing.
In our lives, we often curate a facade of perfection, especially on social media, hiding our dysfunctions and brokenness. However, Jesus is not fooled by our outward appearances. He is drawn to the areas we try to hide, and it is in these places that He performs His greatest miracles. By allowing Jesus to confront our hidden issues, we open ourselves up to His transformative power, turning our bitterness into sweetness. [05:10]
John 5:6-7 (ESV): "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.'"
Reflection: What is one area of your life where you have been hiding your brokenness? How can you invite Jesus into that area today to begin the process of healing and transformation?
Day 2: Comfort in Dysfunction
The man at the pool of Bethesda had been there for 38 years, making excuses for why he couldn't be healed. This highlights how we often get comfortable in our dysfunctions, making excuses and surrounding ourselves with people who reinforce our limitations. Jesus' question, "Do you want to be made well?" challenges us to confront our excuses and take steps of faith towards healing.
We often become comfortable in our dysfunctions, creating a sense of normalcy around our limitations. This comfort can lead us to make excuses for why we can't change or improve our situations. Jesus' question to the man at the pool is a direct challenge to this mindset. It forces us to confront our excuses and consider whether we truly desire healing and transformation. By taking steps of faith, we can move beyond our comfort zones and embrace the healing that Jesus offers. [09:43]
John 5:8-9 (ESV): "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: What excuses have you been making for not pursuing healing or change in a particular area of your life? What step of faith can you take today to move towards healing?
Day 3: Temporary Coverings Becoming Cages
The man had been under a covering of grace, but it had become a cage of hopelessness. We must be careful not to let the blessings and opportunities God gives us turn into limitations. Staying tuned to God's voice and being willing to move when He calls us is crucial to avoid turning our coverings into cages.
Blessings and opportunities from God are meant to be temporary coverings that help us grow and move forward. However, if we become too comfortable, these coverings can turn into cages that trap us in a state of hopelessness. The man at the pool had been under a covering of grace, but it had become a cage of hopelessness for him. To avoid this, we must stay attuned to God's voice and be willing to move when He calls us. This requires a readiness to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the new opportunities God provides. [18:49]
Isaiah 43:18-19 (ESV): "Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
Reflection: Are there any blessings or opportunities in your life that have become limitations? How can you stay attuned to God's voice and be ready to move when He calls you to something new?
Day 4: The Power of Jesus' Questions
Jesus often asks questions that contain a quest, a journey towards a deeper relationship with Him. His questions are invitations into His glory and presence. The question, "Do you want to be made well?" is not about God's ability to heal but about our willingness to be healed. This teaches us to embrace the questions Jesus asks us as opportunities for growth and transformation.
Jesus' questions are not merely rhetorical; they are invitations to embark on a journey towards a deeper relationship with Him. When Jesus asked the man at the pool, "Do you want to be made well?" He was not questioning His own ability to heal but rather the man's willingness to be healed. This question challenges us to examine our own willingness to embrace the healing and transformation that Jesus offers. By embracing these questions, we open ourselves up to growth and a deeper connection with Jesus. [26:35]
Mark 10:51-52 (ESV): "And Jesus said to him, 'What do you want me to do for you?' And the blind man said to him, 'Rabbi, let me recover my sight.' And Jesus said to him, 'Go your way; your faith has made you well.' And immediately he recovered his sight and followed him on the way."
Reflection: What question do you feel Jesus is asking you today? How can you embrace this question as an opportunity for growth and transformation?
Day 5: Faithfulness of God
God's covenantal love, or "chesed," is a recurring theme in the Bible. It is a love that is loyal and faithful beyond reason. This faithfulness is what sustains us and gives us the courage to step out of our comfort zones and into the life God has called us to. Building our lives on God's faithfulness ensures that we are anchored in His unchanging love and grace.
The concept of "chesed," or covenantal love, is a powerful reminder of God's unwavering faithfulness. This love is loyal and faithful beyond reason, providing a solid foundation for our lives. When we build our lives on God's faithfulness, we are anchored in His unchanging love and grace. This foundation gives us the courage to step out of our comfort zones and embrace the life that God has called us to. By trusting in God's faithfulness, we can navigate the challenges and uncertainties of life with confidence and hope. [16:30]
Lamentations 3:22-23 (ESV): "The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."
Reflection: How has God's faithfulness been evident in your life? How can you build your life on His unchanging love and grace today?
Quotes
### Quotes for Outreach
1. "His faithfulness is something that you can build your life upon. His faithfulness is something that if you have the courage to step out of a boat, you won't sink. And I'm not sure who in this room, I got like four or five of you, and I know I'm talking right to you. God has called you to something that's going to take great courage. And I know you've been hurt. I know you've been hurt. I know you've been disappointed. I know that people have let you down. I know that you feel like even God may have let you down, but I'm here to tell you, you have been under a covering of grace and I'm here to serve an eviction notice. It's time to get up and go." [33:00]
2. "Hopelessness breathes a need for comfortability. That's why when you feel depressed, the only place you want to go is your bed. This is good. This is good. I don't care what y'all say. This is such good preaching. Thank you. You're welcome, man. That was sermon one out of four. All over this room. Let's go ahead and stand." [32:37]
3. "Lame excuses come from lame environments. We will surround ourselves with people who have convinced themselves that they can't go. And instead of picking you up, they'll also convince you that you can't go." [21:20]
4. "A porch is not a house. Do not get settled in a temporary moment of blessing where we have fixed our eyes on what's provided instead of the provider and we get settled. And that's the moment, that's the very moment that the blessing becomes a curse. When we value the healing over the healer. When we value the opportunity over the promoter, right?" [22:06]
5. "Jesus is attracted to broken areas in your life. See, we're going to get quiet. I can already feel it. And I'm trying to have church on a Wednesday night and my calendar's all mixed up. I feel like it's Sunday morning and I'm trying to, okay. Here's the first thing I want to point out. Bethesda was created as a space to get the debris off of the street. The people that were in eyesore put them by the pool. Bethesda was created as a spot where we could learn how to hide our dysfunctions so that we don't really see it." [06:32]
### Quotes for Members
1. "That means that the covering became a cage. What happens when the blessings that God gives us, the places that God takes us, the opportunities that God gives us, what happens when the covering of grace for a season becomes a cage that you can't get out of? Think about Egypt, right? For the children of Israel and Joseph and his brothers, Egypt was a blessing. It was a covering. It was a grace for a moment. But they didn't stay tuned to the heart, to the voice of God. And what was a blessing became enslavement." [18:49]
2. "Every question that the Lord asks you contains a quest. It contains a journey. It contains an opportunity for a deeper relationship. It's all about the questions that Jesus asks us. His first words in the gospel is question. He gets lost at 12 years old. They find him in the temple and he says, well, mom, why were you looking for me? Did you not know I was about my father's business? His last words on the cross was a question, right? His first words when he was resurrected was a question. And I'll be honest, the most impactful moments of my life are times where I either read his questions in the Bible or he's turned them back on me." [26:35]
3. "Hopelessness is the most devastating thing that you can adopt. In your life for everyone else there, this is still an opportunity of grace and an encounter with God. But for this guy, it has become a bitter cage of envy. And this is not, let's check this out. We gotta fix this. This is not a break in of grace because grace is already there. This is an eviction notice. You don't belong here anymore. I'm tired. This is what Jesus said. I'm tired of all these lame excuses. I'm tired of these excuses. Lame excuses about why you can't go and why you can't do and why you can't trust God and why you can't make that decision that you know he's been calling you to." [20:53]
4. "He is faithful beyond reason. It doesn't matter what kind of resume you've built. It doesn't matter your church attendance. It doesn't matter what you look like, what color you are, what financial situation you're in. His faithfulness is a pattern that you can build your life upon. There's not a step that you can take that he has not bared your weight by his faithfulness." [17:31]
5. "Lame means unable to go forward because if the guy keeps making it almost to the pool continually, that means he's perfectly able to make it back. This is what hopelessness does. When you have convinced yourself that God has done with you and you've seen the apex of what you're going to do by his spirit, you will let hopelessness take you right back to the porch that you got your courage, to leave. No more lame excuses and no more lame environments. If you're not surrounded by people who will snatch you up off of this porch, interrupt your rambling with get up, up and walk. No more, no more pity party. No more talking about all the things that God has done in the past, but now he's done with me. Get up." [30:51]
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