JESUS' GREATEST HITS

Part 1 - John 5:1-9

Near the Sheep Gate in Jerusalem there was a pool, in Hebrew called Bethesda, with five alcoves.  Hundreds of sick people—blind, crippled, paralyzed—were in these alcoves.  One man had been an invalid there for thirty-eight years.  When Jesus saw him stretched out by the pool and knew how long he had been there, he said, “Do you want to get well?” The sick man said, “Sir, when the water is stirred, I don't have anybody to put me in the pool.  By the time I get there, somebody else is already in.” Jesus said, “Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” The man was healed on the spot.  He picked up his bedroll and walked off (John 5:1-9).

How the Sick Man is Like Me

He had an ILLNESS that affected his life.

He made EXCUSES when he was CONFRONTED by Jesus.

He WALKED AWAY from the other sick people.

How You Can Respond to Jesus

1. Admit your illness.

If we claim that we're free of sin, we're only fooling ourselves.  A claim like that is errant nonsense.  On the other hand, if we admit our sins—make a clean breast of them—he won't let us down; he'll be true to himself.  He'll forgive our sins and purge us of all wrong-doing  (1 John 1:8-9).

2. Respond to the question—“Do you want to get well?”

Jesus came to the world that was his own.  But his own people did not accept him.  But some people did accept him.  They believed in him.  To them he gave the right to become children of God (John 1:11-12).

3. Don't walk away from those who need JESUS.

All people have sinned and are not good enough for God's glory...  They are made right with God by being made free from sin through Jesus Christ (Romans 3:23-24).