Jesus is the Good Shepherd and he is the door of the sheep fold. A shepherd protects his sheep. Jesus has a vested interest in his flock. Why is he the Good Shepherd? He gave his life for you. He protects us and heals us and then when we stray, he will come find you. Let’s take a look at the man sitting at the pool of Bethesda….
John 5:1-3New International Version (NIV)
The Healing at the Pool
5 Some time later, Jesus went up to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish festivals. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda[a] and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades. 3 Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed.
Do you freight over the condition’s of your life? Has your faith withered? Sometimes, we stay in a mind set of discouragement, for such a long time, that we know longer see the value in ourselves, or what God can do. At times, we hang out with people that are “like minded,” just like us and we tend to get comfortable with the condition of our predicament’s. Lets read on…
John 5:6New International Version (NIV)
6 When Jesus saw him lying there and learned that he had been in this condition for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to get well?”
Jesus is asking an important question. Do you want to get well? It’s an important question, it would seem obvious that this man is laying at the pool to be healed but what is his excuse and what is yours?
John 5:7New International Version (NIV)
7 “Sir,” the invalid replied, “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.”
The pool of Bethesda means House of Mercy. The Good Shepherd is extending mercy to you. Sometimes we look at the wrong things. Yes, this was the pool of Bethesda and everyone is looking at the water, but the focus isn’t the water. It’s the true living water. Jesus standing before us, asking to heal us. Do you have expectancy of faith to believe? People often have expectancy, but are looking at the wrong resources for help. Lets remember, we are dependent on God and he is the Living Water.
John 5:8New International Version (NIV)
8 Then Jesus said to him, “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.”
There has to be an intense desire for change. You must seek God for it. Jesus is the living word and when you cooperate with the word, it enables us to accomplish what we need to do. Just like this cripple man. We can do this, because of God’s promises to us and faith enables us to say ,Yes. God wants you to believe in his supernatural power today.
***To hear the full message-tune into the sermon The Good Shepherd part2