Why I relate to this man and my story
- He had a foundation of and
- He was Jewish as he was later found worshiping in the temple (see vs. 14)
- He was unclean (invalid) so he did not fully experience his faith (see vs. 5)
*We understand things through contrast. Without it, we don’t understand anything.
*Normalcy is the enemy of awe, wonder, and gratitude
- He was and
- Greek word for “invalid” is Asthenia (Asthen-I-uh) = suffering, in weakness, in calamity, sick
*Notice, the primary source of his suffering was outside himself. Much of our trauma is not our fault but is amplified in our response and sin
- He sought help in the wrong
- This was at a gentile pool with a temple to the god aklepius (vs. 2)
- Was the water reservoir for the Roman garrison (vs. 2)
- Pagan worshipers believed when the spring would bubble it was the god aklepios moving through the water and he would heal you if you were the first one in
*Jesus was obviously offended. But he didn’t respond in contempt or anger, rather with compassion. Often, we respond in offense but not in compassion.
- He was unable to himself
- He was to weak unable to heal himself (vs 7)
- No one was willing to help (vs. 7)
*Humility comes when we recognize we are unable to heal or save ourselves
What Jesus did for me
- Jesus was to me when everything and no one else was
- Jesus me when nothing or no one else could
- Led me to see His wounds i.e. His love
- Led me to forgiveness
- Jesus led me to practical
- Jesus my authentic worship
- Vs. 14- Jesus addresses his sin after he worships in the temple
- Jesus led me to over many of my losing battles with sin
- Vs. 14- The man was no longer seeking the worldly gods, and was at the temple of the One True God
- Jesus my calling
- Sin fogs your ability to see God’s purpose for your life