7steps Chapter 1 Real Bethesda, Jesus

John 5:1-9

1.When and where did Jesus go?(1,2) What kinds of people were there?(3) Which chance were they looking for?(3,4) But, how limited is this opportunity and what’s the result of the problem with it?

Jesus went to Jerusalem in a feast of the Jews. Feast of the Jews consists the Passover, Shabuoth, Feast of Tabernacles. We go to our hometown and get together with our relatives in holidays. But, Israelites above 20 made religious community in Jerusalem to spend the holidays. Most of them went to Jerusalem sanctuary. But, Jesus went to the Pool called Bethesda. Bethesda is a house of mercy. Jesus went to see isolated people in a merry holiday. He went there to give them joy. He went there to give joy like festivity.

There were the blind, the lame, the paralyzed, because the first one into the pool after each such disturbance would be cured of whatever disease he had when the water moves. It is similar with our society. First, they understood each other by having a connection. It is a sick society. There were the people who were sick mentally and spiritually. They had loneliness, inferiority, a sense of alienation, a sense of defeat, a sense of emptiness, depression. It can be depicted as darkness. Secondly, they competed with each other because only one person could be healed. Since when we were born, we have lived with constant competition. There are selfishness and jealousy. We, because of it, live tiring and weary lives. Because of the competition, they get stressed out and can have anxiety, fear, indigestion. They can easily get cancer. Thirdly, fluke and luck determines their lives. They should see the water’s moving by luck. We should make good personal connections. We live tiring and weary lives.


2. Especially, Which sick person did Jesus pay close attention to? What did He know about him?(5,6a) And, what did He ask him?(6b) Even though the reason he was here was to get healed, why Jesus asked him this? Who is Jesus in front of him?

Jesus paid attention to the sick who has been sick for 38 years. He was the person who has been sick for the longest time. Jesus wanted to give hope to others through him.

Jesus knew this sickness has been for a long time. He knows our state, even more than our families or ourselves. He understands us. Knowing his birthday makes him happy. He is our creator, and shepherd. This is chronic disease. He was a depressed person by having failure for several times repeatedly. He was a person who lives a limited life.
Jesus asked if he wants to be healed. He came with a hope to be healed. But, he had lost his hope being influenced by failure he had experienced for a long time. He felt miserable for himself. He was depressed. It is like what goes around comes around. It is like a law of inertia. He gives up the treatment of his sickness and the hope to get healed. Jesus only heals him when he has a hope. Having hope is a faith. A law of inertia still exists. His mind partially depends on consistency of his sickness. Jesus can heal his sickness. It is to have a hope based on the word of Jesus. God is Healer. He died on the cross to heal us.

Human cannot do it, but Jesus can. Jesus is the mighty God who can heal his sickness. He wants to heal his sickness. It is not a joke. Jesus is the one who gives hopes of his life. He only heals the one who has a hope. Hope is in another word, faith. Jesus is the one who can give him eternal life and true happiness. We should have a hope in Jesus. That indicates believing in Jesus. Believing Him is being sure of what we hope for. Jesus WANTS to heal us. We should overcome our negative thoughts. Strong and clear desire requires. He wants us to be successful in our lives and blessed and receive His grace.


3. Because of what he said his sickness cannot be healed?(7) In what did he have hope even though he was in front of Jesus?

When the water moves, he couldn’t go into water since he didn’t have anyone to put him into the water and instead other people went in. He shifted blame to others who didn’t put him into the water. It is dependence on others, resentment, complaint, and defeatism. He was depressed by himself and self-tortured himself who couldn’t go into the water. He limited his ability. Even when Jesus was with him, he set his hope on himself and others to go into the pool Bethesda. He was interested in the pool, not Jesus. He thought Jesus is the one who puts him into the pool. He didn’t look Jesus. He alienated Jesus and tries to solve his problem with his effort and other’s help. Resentment and depression comes. When we look Jesus, hope comes into our heart. We should care about Jesus. We should consider him as a Healer and life-changer rather than a helper.


4. Then, how could he get healed his sickness and walk?(8,9) How is the power of Jesus’ word? In what way, Jesus becomes real Bethesda? What does Jesus want to give to the sick? What is your chronic disease and how can it be healed?

Jesus told him to get up and walk. He could let him just go, but he told him to pick up his mat and walk. Our lives before is like our life mat. Jesus tells us to pick up the mat of dependence and failure and complaint. We should listen to it as God’s word. The word actually works. God is the Creator. When he listened to Jesus’ word and obeyed, he could pick up his mat and walk. When Jesus told him, right away he got healed. Jesus is the one who gives us hope and heals us.

Jesus’ word has power. When we listen to His word, the life force comes to us.(25) It has the ability of creation and treatment. It is the word of Jesus who resurrected. The word can change a person. He is almighty Jesus.

Jesus doesn’t get restricted by time and space. Not only the best person gets healed. Everyone can go toward Him. When we listen to Jesus’ word and obey it, He gives us new life and changes us. To Jesus, whenever and wherever anyone can go toward. In Jesus, there is always power.

What Jesus wanted to give him was not treatment of sickness. He didn’t heal everyone who was there. Treatment of sickness doesn’t give us happiness. When we have Jesus in our heart, we become happy truly. Jesus is the true hope, and He wants to give us himself who is the life itself. When we accept Him as a King of our heart, God’s Kingdom is established in our heart. We can have a life in Jesus. When we just listen to Jesus’ word and accept Jesus in our heart, Jesus comes into our heart and gives us true life.

My chronic disease was not having good relationship with others. I had lots of selfishness and doubt in my heart. But, God healed my heart when I accepted Jesus as a King of my heart. And, when I admitted Him as the one can heal my heart and change my life, He actually changed my heart and made me to become very considerate person whom everyone likes. Now, I share Jesus love around me, and I myself get the true joy and life in Jesus Christ.