Title: Jesus Sees (07.11.18)
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John 5:1-9
Everyone makes many choices while living in the world. Your choice will determine your happiness or unhappiness. It is said that in order to live a happy life, you must choose three things well. First, which religion will you choose? is to do Everyone is religious. So, every race or country has a religion. This is because, depending on the choice of religion, the rise or fall of a nation is determined, and individual happiness or unhappiness is determined. Second, which spouse will you choose? that is. So when climbing a mountain, pray once, when going out to sea, pray twice, and when getting married, pray three times. Third, what kind of job will you have? is to do You should not choose a job that is not noble in your job, but that harms the soul and body of others.
The Bible verse we read today is about a man who was supremely happy after meeting Jesus. A man who had suffered from disease for 38 years met Jesus who went up to Jerusalem for the feast and was healed. At that time, there were three major festivals, or festivals, that all Israelis had to observe. It is not known exactly what kind of festival this is, but it seems to be one of the three major holidays in Israel. In Israel, there is the Passover to commemorate the day of liberation from Egypt. Firstfruits to give thanks to God after harvesting wheat and barley, which are the first grains of the year, and the Feast of Ingathering, or Thanksgiving, to give thanks to God after harvesting in the fall are the three major holidays. During this festival, Israelites from all over the country came to Jerusalem to keep the festival. During this feast, adult males living within an 80 li radius of Jerusalem were obliged to attend. So there must have been a huge crowd. All of them offered gifts to God, participated in feasts, prayed to God, praised God, and glorified God.
At that time, all the famous people of Israel must have gathered. Neighbors whom I had not seen for a long time, brothers and acquaintances, friends, and people from all walks of life who wanted to meet must have gathered and had a pleasant and enjoyable fellowship. In addition, at that time, the gap between the rich and the poor was even greater than now, so the countryside was as it was, and the city has developed so much that you can see buildings that are still unimaginable. It is likely that the people who came from the countryside every time of the season were arguing with excitement as they looked around. In this way, Jerusalem at the time of the festival was filled with a festive atmosphere.
During this feast, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. But on the other hand, there was a place where people who could not attend this beautiful and wonderful temple and festival full of joy were gathered together with people who were marginalized due to pain, sighs and loneliness due to disease. There are several gates in Jerusalem, among them the Sheep Gate located in the northeast direction. The reason it is called Yangmun is because there was a sheep market inside the gate. The gate is now called the Stephen Gate. There was a pool called Bethesda by the gate. There were five tents, and in them lay many sick, blind, lame and withered people with paralyzed hands and feet.
Please compare the appearance of the temple of Beopseokdae with the appearance of Bethesda Pond during the festival. The blind, the lame, and the withered blood were severely ill and had to live a more miserable life even among the disabled. These were people who lived a cursed life, and they lived only with the desire to get better. These are people who cannot worship God, go up to the temple, and fulfill the human mission God has given to them even after the holidays return. People who have lost human purpose, meaning and value. They were outcasts who had no love or respect from anyone. The place where these people gathered was the pool of Bethesda.
一. Jesus went here.
The Bible records the story of Jesus going up to Jerusalem for the feast, emphasizing Jesus who came by the pool of Bethesda, not Jesus in the temple full of festive atmosphere. Jesus cared more for the sick by the pool of Bethesda than for the beautiful temple, the splendid festivals, the beauty of worship and praise to God, the famous people of Israel, and the thrill and joyous crowd. He searched for people in suffering, filled with sighs and pain, and performed miracles for them. Jesus is the One who finds the sick, the poor, and the oppressed and brings blessings to them. Our Jesus is the river of life that gives new life to the land of death, the barren wilderness, and the corner of the curse. That Jesus said, "If anyone thirsts, let him come and drink from me. Whoever believes in me, as the scripture says, out of his belly will flow rivers of living water" (John 7:37). In this way, Jesus came as a river of living water in this world. Jesus did not go to the temple, but looked for the sick by the pool of Bethesda who were struggling through hardship.
二. Jesus also found a 38-year-old sick man by the pool of Bethesda.
When Jesus went to Bethesda, he went to the side of the poorest patient there. Verses 5-7: “There was a sick man 38 years old. When Jesus saw that he was lying down, he knew that he had been ill for a long time, and said to him, “Do you want to be healed? On the way, someone else goes down first.” He explained the condition of the sick man. This pool of Bethesda was a legendary pond where angels would come down from time to time to stir the water, and whoever enters first at this time will be healed. He was a patient who had vague expectations of not knowing when the water would move, and because this person was a lying patient, he tried to move when the water began to move, but because someone else was already running, he always had to miss the opportunity. So there was no one by his side to help him get the water in quickly. This man was an alienated man who had no strength in himself and no help from his neighbors.
three. The text teaches us a lesson.
1. It makes us realize where we need to pay attention.
Where should we seek, where should we reach? Bethesda Pond. It is a neglected place. It is a place of loneliness. It is a place of frustration and sighing. Who are we who believe in Jesus? It is a member of Christ. If we are truly members of Christ, we should definitely find the pool of Bethesda that Jesus, the head, was looking for. We should seek out those who are discouraged, encourage them, and pray for them. You will have to stretch out the hand of love. The cold winter is coming. Christmas and the end of the year are approaching. This is a valuable lesson that shows us where we, children of God, should show our interest. In the Old Testament, Proverbs 19:17 says, “To have compassion on the poor lends to the Lord, and he will repay them for their good deed.
2. Don't be discouraged and look to Jesus Christ.
When I look at people and see the world, I am always disappointed. Jesus came to a 38-year-old sick man who no one cared about. We too must look to Jesus. The 38-year-old sick man did not give up 38 years. He had a tenacity in life. God loves those who are patient and serve Him. Psalm 40:1-2 says, “I waited for the Lord and waited, and attentive to my ears he heard my cry; he brought me up out of the miraculous pit and pit; he set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. .” he said. James 5:11 says, “Behold, we call blessed those who persevere. You have heard of Job's patience and have seen the end of the Lord, but the Lord is the most merciful and merciful.”
A believer once said, “Give up is a word used only when counting Kimchi cabbage.” Those who serve God must live a life of absolute hope. Psalm 107:9 says, “He satisfies the longing soul and fills the hungry soul with good things.”
A woman had her husband's business gone bankrupt, so she lost all her household income and went out on the streets. There was nothing to eat and no clothes to wear. I became like a beggar. Then one day, the child returned from school. I stole a pencil from the stationery and was kicked out of school when it was discovered. What made her even more desperate was the derailment of her children brought about by poverty. The wife held her children and cried, "I can't live like this anymore. There is no meaning or value to live,” and decided to commit suicide with the child. All the doors were closed and the gas valve turned on while the children were put to sleep. For a while, gas leaked out and I was dazed. But at that moment, a hymn was heard.
If I present all my trials and burdens before the Lord Jesus,
Look back on me, full of worries, take care of all my worries
When I fall down because I can't bear it alone
Only Jesus, the Lord of grace, who will take pity and save you
This hymn was a 363 hymn that was played on the radio next door. The hymn shook and awakened the woman's fainting soul. In that hymn, the woman heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Why don’t you put all your burdens on me?” “Why didn’t you think of praying? If I had the courage to commit suicide, I would have prayed.” The wife got up, shut the gas valve, shook the sleeping children to wake them up, and sent them out, opened the window of the house and prayed with tears. God helped them and they got up again.
Later he testified: “If you have the courage to die, change it to the courage to pray before God. One prayer, not one hundred laments, changes fate.” This is the story of Mrs. “Mericuse Manet” in the book “Goodbye, Anxiety”.
Let me finish my speech.
Jesus did not go to the place of a festival full of joy and joy during the feast, but to a place of loneliness and frustration by the pool of Bethesda. This is the direction of our lives as members of Christ.
Even there, the Lord went with a 38-year-old sick man. This is the voice of the Lord to wait for our Savior, Jesus Christ, without becoming discouraged or giving up even in the face of suffering.
Dear saints! We must turn our eyes to those in need.
Because our Lord's interest is there.
Saints living in a harsh world! Even though life is difficult and difficult right now, I hope that you will look to Christ and have hope. In any case, please do not be discouraged. Because the Almighty Lord is with you. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world” (John 16:33).
I wish you a blessed life in victory in the Lord who is with us until the end of the world.