Illust: C. Schultz -- in one of his Charlie Brown cartoons -- depicts Charlie & his friend Linus -- looking over a fence with their weary faces resting in their hands.
They are consumed with self-pity & depression!
Linus looks at Charlie sadly & says: -- "Sometimes I feel that life just passed me by. -- Do you ever feel that way, Charlie Brown?"
Melancholy -- Charlie replies: -- "No, I feel like it has knocked me down & walked all over me."
In John's Gospel ch. 5 -- Jesus encounters a man who could express similar feelings to those of Charlie Brown.
It was a feast day -- & as Jesus made his way toward the temple He came upon a local healing shrine -- a place called Bethesda -- which means "house of healing" -- or "house of mercy."
The shrine was a pool surrounded by five porches -- a place that had developed a reputation through the years of possessing healing powers
The locals believed that occasionally an angel would come & stir up the waters -- & whoever was fortunate enough to be the first one into the waters when that happened -- would be healed!
So the floor of these porches were covered with the lame -- the blind & the paralyzed. -- It was a place of suffering & misery!
What a pitiful sight it must have been -- the crowd around that pool -- a very distressing scene!
Every reject in the city gathered at the pool of Bethesda -- the "House of Mercy."
But today would be different -- for as Jesus passed by -- perhaps one of the disciples said to Him: -- "Look at that poor man; -- he has been coming to this pool now for 38 years -- & he has never been able to reach the pool in time when the waters are stirred."
Jesus stopped in His tracks -- & said: -- "Time out fellows. -- Here is a man who not only feels like life has passed him by -- but feels like life has knocked him down & walked all over him."
Then looking directly at the man -- Jesus asked a rather strange question: -- "Would you like to be made whole?" -- (Read Jh. 5:6-9)
If you had been that man -- how would you have responded to that question -- & to the words of Jesus that day?
Maybe -- maybe you are that man! -- maybe the HS wants to apply this passage in the Word of God to your heart today!
I suppose we all have our challenges -- our handicaps!
As children we were either too short -- too tall -- too fat -- or too skinny.
Someone else was always smarter -- or faster -- or more popular.
As adults we are either too young -- or too old -- too inexperienced -- or too overqualified -- too busy -- or too alone.
Sometimes it's more serious! -- We carry the baggage of being abused in some unfair way; -- we worry about how to pay the bills; -- we grieve over a loss of someone close; -- we agonize over a rebellious child; -- or we face an uncertain future of chronic physical problems!
We all experience disappointments & failures -- which are often beyond our own control.
We get frustrated -- impatient -- & angry at the way life has treated us.
We may even become resentful & bitter!
Maybe you appear to have life altogether -- but on the inside --life seems so empty & meaningless!
Well my friends -- I have good news for you today!
Whoever you are -- whatever your condition -- or your circumstances -- whatever your past or present problems -- Jesus can restore you to wholeness today just as He did the man beside the pool of Bethesda so long ago!
Vr. 5 reads -- "a certain man was there which had an infirmity 38 yrs."
How long have you been paralyzed beside the pool -- unable to break a habit -- unable to live in spiritual victory -- unable to take a step of faith -- unable to step out of your comfort zone & risk all to obey God -- unable to establish the consistent spiritual disciplines of daily prayer & Bible reading?
For 38 yrs -- you have been an avid reader -- but you have never read & studied the Bible for yourself!
For 38 yrs -- you have called yourself a Christian -- yet have never established a personal prayer time!
For 38 yrs -- you have held on to your bitterness -- resentment -- anger -- jealousy -- worries -- & complaints!
For 38 yrs -- you have been bound by a habit of pill popping -- or over-eating -- or wine drinking -- or TV watching -- or tongue wagging -- or tobacco smoking!
There are three Questions I'd like to ask you this morning!
1. Do You Want To Get Well?
The compassionate Jesus takes a look at the man lying on the ground next to the pool -- & asks what appears to be a very insensitive question: -- "Do you want to be made well?"
Talk about politically incorrect speech! -- What was Jesus thinking?
This poor sick man could have rightfully come back with some sarcastic response like: "Sir, I really rather enjoy being here completely unable to move!"
But maybe it wasn't such a dumb question after all!
The man had waited in this condition for 38 yrs. -- & it might have been that all HOPE had died!
The man might have been content to remain an invalid.
After all -- if he was cured he would have to bear all the responsibilities of making a living for himself.
There are people who find a sense of security in sickness -- & for them -- suffering isn't that unpleasant -- because someone else does the work & worry for them!
Illust: -- I think of the church that discovered that one of their families was living in very poor & unhealthy conditions!
For whatever reason they had not been able to keep their home in a clean & organized manner.
Now -- I'm not talking about the kind of disorganization we all experience in our homes at times!
This was a situation in which the children were living in virtual filth!
The church family decided they would help -- so they went into the home & worked & cleaned & disinfected.
They hauled out trash & organized things -- & w/i the space of a very long & very hard day's work -- they got that home looking presentable again!
Most importantly -- they reestablished a healthy physical environment for the children!
The folks who had helped with the cleanup went home that day feeling they had really accomplished something important!
The family was not offended or embarrassed; -- they were truly appreciative for all the help!
But do you know what happened next? -- It was only a matter of weeks before that home was back in the same deplorable condition!
Jesus asked: "Do you want to be made well?"
Illust: -- The sounds of their late-night fights could be heard throughout the neighborhood!
The police had to be summoned again & again -- in an attempt to try & calm the situation.
One night in particular -- there were sounds of things crashing & breaking all over the place -- & it was obvious the husband had gone into one of his drunken tirades again!
The police came again that night -- & they stood in the street while she packed up some belongings -- & went off with a friend.
The man would never let her leave unless the police were there.
Tragic events -- but the neighbors said to themselves -- "Well, at least she'll be safe & be able to get some help."
But would you believe it -- the very next day -- here she came again with all her stuff -- & moved back in!
The cycle was repeated over & over again!
Jesus asked: "Do you want to be made well?"
In fact -- we have all seen people who almost seem to go through life -- creating crises -- because its what they know!
Oh, they'd never admit that they want life to be difficult; -- in fact they really don't!
But somehow the cycle of pain becomes more comfortable than the process of healing & wholeness.
Carl Sandburg once said: -- "There is an eagle in me that wants to soar -- & there is a hippopotamus in me that wants to wallow in the mud."
A part of us wants to fly like an eagle -- but we get too accustomed to wallowing in the mud!
Jesus asked: "Do you want to be made well?"
Do you want to get well? -- Do you truly want that sin to be cleansed? -- that guilt to be removed? -- that habit to be broken? -- that anger to be dissolved? -- that bitterness to be uprooted? -- that emptiness to be filled? -- that joy to be reconciled? -- that relationship to be restored?
Jesus knows one of the greatest barriers to our faith is often our unwillingness to be made whole -- so the question He asked was very relevant then -- & still is today: -- "Do you want to get well?"
Jesus asks us the same question today -- & He deserves an honest answer!
2. When Will You Stop Making Excuses & Blaming Others?
When Jesus asked - "Do you want to get well?" -- the man immediately began to offer excuses!
Instead of answering with a simple "yes" or "no" -- he says: -- "Sir, 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."
This withered, discouraged man at the pool -- saw others as road blocks to his cure.
The poor man couldn't drag himself into the water fast enough to be first! -- Others kept taking advantage of his weakness!
The man was focused on what he lacked!
He lacked a friend to help him -- he lacked the strength to do it on his own -- he lacked the ability to get into the water!
But while he was preoccupied with what he didn't have -- he totally missed what he did have; -- he had Jesus -- standing right there!
What's your excuse? --
What's your excuse for continuing on in the same old manner?
What's your excuse for remaining a spiritual child when you should be mature in your faith?
What's your excuse for sleeping when you should be kneeling in prayer
What's your excuse for comfortably sitting in the pew when you should be doing service for the Lord?
What's your excuse for repeated failure & sin?
What's your excuse? -- is it lack of faith -- lack of willpower -- lack of knowledge -- lack of discipline -- lack of encouragement?
People have been playing the blame game since the days of Adam & Eve! -- Adam blamed Eve -- "That woman you gave me, Lord!"
Eve blamed the servant -- & on & on it goes throughout the ages.
Who -- or what are you blaming? -- your past? -- your up bringing -- your family -- your spouse?
You would rather hold on to your excuses than to be made whole!
Quite blaming others for your failures!
There is no cure -- or deliverance from alcohol -- tobacco -- gluttony -- anxiety -- or other devastating habits -- as long as we keep on making excuses & blaming others for our troubles!
We say things like: -- he made me mad -- she drove me to drink -- she knew I always smoke when tempers rise -- I always get afraid & anxious when he is not on time.
These are the words of the person who blames their plight on something -- or someone outside of themselves.
Illust: Shortly after I found out I was diabetic -- I was told I needed to exercise -- walk for at least 1/2 hour every day.
And I gave every excuse in the book!
"I can't get up any earlier -- I am up so late at night as it is"
"If I get up any earlier -- I won't be able to stay alert all day."
"I'm not an early person." -- "It will disturb my wife."
"I won't have the energy I need for the day."
"I'm just too tired; -- God understands."
I stayed on my "mat" for so long that I totally lacked the willpower to get up -- & get started.
I decided to go on being a cripple; -- I just didn't want to be made whole
But then a couple days later -- God spoke to me!
I said, "All right, Lord. -- I'll do what it takes on my part & trust You with the results."
My friends -- I am not alone; -- so many of you who are making excuses -- you are blaming others for your living in defeat!
I ask -- when Will You Stop Making Excuses & Blaming Others?
3. Are You Willing to Trust & Obey?
Jesus does not discuss the pool -- nor does He respond to the man's excuses!
He simply tells the man: "Stand up! -- Pick up your sleeping mat & walk!'
After 38 years of trying to get up & failing & falling again & again -- this man heard God's Word; -- he obeyed God's Word -- & he discovered that the power was already his to just do it!
W/o making any more excuses -- w/o blaming others for his condition -- w/o any argument -- his faith kicked in -- & we read that instantly the man was healed! -- He rolled up his mat -- & began walking!
All Jesus needed to do was speak a word -- & a miracle happened!
Jesus simply spoke; -- the man heard -- & believed -- & obeyed!
If ever a man had a right to question -- or argue -- or ask "How?" -- this man had that right -- he had not walked in 38 years!
But he did not question the Lord's command!
He simply obeyed the Lord's command -- he stood up -- took up his bed -- & he walked!
I wonder what his first step was like!
Did he take that first step w/o really thinking about what he was doing?
Was his second step more tentative?
Did he begin to shout as he took his third step & fourth step -- & realized he was walking?
Did he then stomp his feet? -- did he jump? -- did he begin to run?
What exhilarating joy must have flooded his heart & burst forth on his face! -- What abundant blessing & freedom & happiness were his just for the taking!
When you & I believe God's Word -- all things are possible!
And that is all God asks of us -- that we believe His Word & obey it!
My friends -- our God is still a God of miracles!
The power of God is greater than our infirmity!
I am so convinced this morning -- if you & I will simply trust the Lord & obey His will -- we will see wonderful miracles!
If you read on in this story of the man by the pool -- you discover that a little later in the day -- Jesus encounters him inside the Temple!
Oh, how appropriate!
I wonder how long it had been that he was able to go to church; -- now he is there worshiping God! -- just as it ought to be!
Jesus speaks a word of encouragement to the man: -- "You look wonderful -- See, now you are well. -- You are a fit man now" (vr 14).
Then Jesus gives this man a further Word of instruction! -- "Sin no more -- lest a worse thing come upon you." -- Stop sinning!
Jesus said it so straight! -- Stop sinning!
He did not say -- "Try to cut back some; -- see if you can slow the process down; -- go on a six-month recovery program."
He just simply said: "Stop sinning! -- Do not sin again!"
My friends -- If we obey His Word -- we will see miracles!
Conclusion: -- Do you feel like life has knocked you down & walked all over you? -- You have been dealt a hard blow!
The question before us today is the same one that Jesus asked the poor man by a pool in Jerusalem: -- "Do you really want to be made whole?" --
If you answer "Yes" -- then God can move miraculously in your life!
Every one of us here today probably needs to experience healing at some point.
For some of us it may be physical -- but for most of us it is probably emotional & spiritual.
We are aware of the issues in our lives from which we want to be freed!
We want to experience healing -- & we ask God over & over again to heal us: -- "Just take away the pain; -- somehow wipe away the memory; -- remove the scars!"
We focus on the healing waters of the pool -- but that's all we see.
We make excuses -- we blame others for the way we are.
We go on living in our comfort zone -- year after year -- pain & all.
But because Jesus loves us so much -- & He is committed to our wholeness. --
He continues to confront us with the tough questions.
Jesus refuses to be cast in the role of a fairy god-mother waving His magic wand to painlessly cure all our ills!
He wants us to deal with the deeper issues in our lives!
And so He asks us the hard question: -- "Do you really want to get well?" -- Do you want to move beyond a band-aid solution to a deep problem? -- Are you willing to deal with the reason for your pain?
I don't know what you are facing today!
Maybe it's a marriage that is crumbling -- or a family failing apart!
Maybe it's a habit -- an addiction -- that you just can't shake.
Maybe financial collapse looms out in front of you.
You've tried & tried to fix it -- & nothing works. -- So you've come to the place where you've just said: -- "Oh, what's the use any way?"
If that's where you find yourself this morning -- then I challenge you to look up from the murky waters of the pool & into the eyes of the One Who truly has the power to heal -- & hear Him ask you the Question -- "Do you want to get well?"
Are you willing to stop making excuses -- & to trust your healing to Jesus! -- Perhaps the real Q. is: "Are you willing to trust His way?"