I teach an Adult Bible Community at Thomas Road Baptist Church called the G.A.P. (for Graduates and Professionals), and each week I post the outlines and discussion questions from my lessons on the G.A.P. page on Facebook. A while back I started posting these notes on the blog too. So, here is the outline and questions for our meeting on May 30, 2010. The lesson is on John 5:1-17 and looks at Jesus' encounter with the sick man at the pool of Bethesda. If you have any questions or would like to add a comment or two, that would be great!
Jesus Jumpstarts a Life
John 5:1-17
Introduction
The reluctant lawnmower
Did the jumpstart or the prayer work?
The reluctant “preacher”
How God’s “call” jumpstarted my education
The reluctant witness
Where do we find it difficult to get “started” to do what God commands?
Where do we need a “jumpstart”?
John 5—the man at the pool of Bethesda
Jesus finds a life that needs a “jumpstart”
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, it is never the same
1. The Condition
John 5:1-5
The Man’s Condition
a. The Pool of Bethesda and the Possibility of Healing
b. The Man
38 years sick—crippled? Cancer? Tuberculosis? Multiple Sclerosis?
We don’t know—but he couldn’t walk apparently
c. Crippled people today
In what ways are people crippled, lame, incapacitated today?
What paralyzes us from doing what we should do?
What hinders us?
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, condition doesn’t matter
2. The Question
John 5:6
a. Jesus’ Question
Jesus found out that the man had been sick for a while
He may have discovered that the man came to the pool on a regular basis to get his “healing” or his “quick fix” for his situation.
He knew that the man had a need, he was desperate and incapable of healing himself
b. Jesus didn’t call all the people at the pool to healing—it was not a “healing service”
c. Jesus asks a strange question: “Do you want to be well?”
Is Jesus being cruel? Is this a rhetorical question?
I think that Jesus is asking the man to involve himself in the process. He is asking the man if he really wants to change. Many of us are comfortable in our “lame” conditions. We don’t want or desire a real conversion. I may require a change of lifestyle.
In this man’s situation, if he is healed, then he would have to find something else on which to focus. He would no longer have his “condition” as an excuse to be immobile or inactive. He may have been a beggar before, but with healing he would have to work.
Could it be that the man was “comfortable” with his helplessness and the “attention” it gained him?
d. Jesus’ Question to Us
How do we respond? What is Jesus asking us today?
Do you want to be “well”? Do you want to be free from whatever is keeping you immobile?
Are we ready to leave our dependency on our “condition” to be “cured” or “freed” to follow God?
What is it you want? What immobilizes you? Do we like the attention our “immobility” gives us?
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, he doesn’t avoid the hard questions
3. The Response
John 5:7-9
The Response: This man apparently wants to be healed by his response, but he gives an odd response
a. Placing the blame
The man responds at first by placing the blame on others
“It isn’t my fault, Jesus, no one will help me!”
“My needs aren’t being met!”
b. Pointing out the inability
He acknowledges he is incapable
He also points out that he has (in a sense) given up
“I’ve tried everything, and nothing works!”
c. How about us?
What do we blame for our lack of “healing” or change?
Where have we given up because “nothing seems to work”?
d. The Command: Look how Jesus responds to someone who have given up (Ray Stedman)
He asks an impossible thing: “Get up”
He removes the possibility of a relapse: “Take up your bed”
He expects continued success: “Walk”
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, he expects obedience
4. The Result
John 5:10-13
a. The Result of the man’s obedience was immediate
The man was healed
The impossible happened—the man got up, grabbed his bed, and walked
He didn’t spend too much time thanking Jesus apparently
He didn’t even ask Jesus his identity
Do we acknowledge God when he does something notable?
b. The man was questioned
The Jews didn’t like him “working on the Sabbath
They had a tradition against healing and carrying things on the Sabbath
What traditions keep us from being open about God and his works?
What traditions keep us quiet?
c. The man was quiet
He had no idea who to thank/blame for his current situation
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, he sometimes resists tradition
5. The Finale
John 5:14-17
a. Jesus finds him
Are there any sweeter words here? “Jesus found him.”
What could be change in our lives if “Jesus found” us?
b. Jesus warns him
Don’t take your blessing for granted
Don’t be apathetic about God’s mercy
Don’t walk in sin
c. The man talks about Jesus
He immediately informs the Jews—Why?
To protect himself?
To give Jesus praise?
d. The Jews want to stop Jesus
e. Jesus keeps working
He is even healing folks today
Not just physical healing, but the healing of changed lives/souls
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, he works to make that life effective for God
Application
Have we experienced Jesus transforming power? Has he “jumpstarted” our lives? If so, how should we respond?
We must obey his command to “Get up”: He tells us all to go and make disciples (Matt. 28:19-20). We may experience obstacles or our own inadequacies, but the command is still real. This week, “get up” and tell one person what Jesus has done to jumpstart your life.
We must make plans to avoid a relapse, we must “take up our bed.” Whatever causes hindrance to obedience in your life, this week make a plan to respond to it. Be brutally honest with yourself. Get accountable to others. Do not leave yourself an excuse.
We must continue in what God has done (“Walk”): Plan on success. Start praying today for one person with whom to share God’s love. Make time this week to be with God and ask his help to overcome your barriers. Tell someone else your plan. Then do it.
This week focus on the transforming power of Jesus and not your immobility or your incapacity. Spend time listening to God by reading his word and praying. Let his Spirit guide you. Then share the story of your success with another follower of Christ.
When Jesus jumpstarts a life, nothing is the same.
Discussion
1. What do you think of the man at the pool? Is he portrayed as a positive character? How would he have felt when Jesus came to speak to him? Why did Jesus choose him out of all the people in the crowd? What does this say about God's relationship to us?
2. Considering the dialogue and actions of the invalid throughout this chapter, what is his attitude toward those with him at the well, the Jews chastising him for carrying his mat on the Sabbath, and Christ?
3. What barriers keep us from obeying God and living transformed lives?
How does Jesus break down those barriers? What does he ask us to do?
4. Where does your life need a “jumpstart”?
5. In what ways have you experienced Jesus’ transforming power? Healing? Salvation? Freedom?
6. Who are the people in your area of influence who need a fresh touch, a “jumpstart,” from Jesus? How can you help them?
7. What would the world look like if we all lived transformed lives of obedience? What has God called us to do?
Thanks for reading!
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