Jesus, The Deliverer
John 5:1-9
The picture tonight is that Jesus is the true deliverer.
All throughout this world, people are literally trapped in bondage.
Some are trapped in sickness…
Some are trapped in addiction…
Some are trapped in deception…
Some are trapped in all of those, and more.
Tonight, we are going to learn one truth rises above the rest, And that is that Jesus is the only source of freedom.
Only Jesus can deliver a person from their prison.
John 8:31-36 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
As we examine this story,
There are three things I want you to focus on,
And as you do, you will see the power of Jesus unfold to bring freedom in a way that the world never will.
#1 A PRISONER’S POOL
John 5:1-4
When Jesus is in Jerusalem, the contrast between Him and religion is seen so much more clearly.
And John says in Jerusalem there is a pool called “Bethesda, having five porticoes.”
And in these pools we have a peculiar sight.
“In these lay a MULTITUDE of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered”
Now, if you are reading the NIV, verse 4 is omitted.
You can find it in italics at the bottom of the page.
It gives us insight as to why there were a multitude of people at this pool. They were “waiting for the moving of the waters; for an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the waters; whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted.”
Let me tell you why the verse may be missing in your Bible.
The thought of the day was that an angel of the Lord was stirring the waters and making it healing water and whoever could get in first would be healed.
And this kept them surrounding the pool.
But here is what I want you to see tonight.
This pool is not a place of healing.
This pool is a prison.
I believe this is a place of demonic deception.
Just because the people thought it was from God does not mean it was.
2 Corinthians 11:14 “No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.”
Whatever it is that happens at this pool, it is not a work of God that sets men free, it is a work that keeps men bound.
Whoever is doing this, is not wanting men healed,
He is wanting men to stay bound in their prison.
That is not the freedom that comes from God.
John 8:36
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Not only that, but there is a real ambiguity
As to the source of the healing.
This is never the case with God.
When He works a miracle,
He makes sure that there is no doubt where it comes from.
I believe this pool to be a work of the enemy meant to keep people in chains, not the work of God meant to set men free.
But here is what I want you to realize tonight.
THIS STILL HAPPENS TODAY
I believe the enemy still works
In exactly the same fashion today.
He mimics and copies the true works of God
in order to draw people to himself.
FOR EXAMPLE
1 Corinthians 12:8-11 “For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills.”
In that passage Paul mentions 9 gifts that come from the Spirit of God.
Wisdom, Knowledge, Faith, Healing, Miracles, Prophecy, Discernment, Tongues, and Interpretation of Tongues
Satan counterfeits them in order to keep men in bondage.
Benny Hinn, “It’s because they stop believing that they have been healed.”
Now let’s test that theory off of what we know to be true about Jesus.
John 8:36
“So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
False prophets do this in pulpits throughout America.
2 Peter 2:17-19 “These are springs without water and mists driven by a storm, for whom the black darkness has been reserved. For speaking out arrogant words of vanity they entice by fleshly desires, by sensuality, those who barely escape from the ones who live in error, promising them freedom while they themselves are slaves of corruption; for by what a man is overcome, by this he is enslaved.”
Peter said there would be loads of false prophets who would come promising you freedom, when they aren’t even free themselves.
HOW CAN THIS BE?
Because just as we talked about on Easter Sunday,
They are not treating the source.
WHY DID JESUS SAY YOU WILL BE FREE?
John 8:32 “and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”
The point is there are prisons like this pool all over the place today.
Some are actual churches.
Some are doctor’s offices.
Look at how fast anti-depressant drugs sell in America.
It is not Biblical that a believer should need them.
John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.”
John 15:11 “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.”
These people weren’t receiving freedom, they were being enslaved.
LET ME ASK YOU: IS THERE ANYTHING THAT IS PROMISING YOU FREEDOM, BUT HAS REALLY JUST ENSLAVED YOU?
Maybe it is that second job that promised financial freedom, but instead became your master.
Maybe it is that drug that promised you happiness, but instead became something you can’t live without.
Maybe it is that relationship that promised you fulfillment, but instead became a sinful snare.
Maybe it is that addiction that promised you acceptance into a certain group, but instead controls your life.
Those things only say they will set you free, but they don’t really do it.
This world is full of Bethesda’s pools,
Promising people freedom, but does not deliver.
ARE YOU DEPENDANT ON ANYTHING BUT JESUS?
ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ANYTHING BUT JESUS?
Make sure you aren’t a member at the prisoner’s pool.
It is an addictive place.
And I want you to see just how addictive it is.
#2 A PARLYTIC’S PROBLEM
John 5:5-7
DO YOU WANT TO KNOW JUST HOW GRIPPING THOSE FALSE FREEDOMS CAN BE OVER YOUR LIFE?
Then take this man for an example.
This man was so deceived that he was sitting by this pool for 38 years without a change.
This certainly was a problem he faced, but I want you to know his problem runs much deeper than that, and we know this because of what Jesus says to him.
Verse 6, “When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had already been a long time in that condition, He said to him, “Do you wish to get well?”
WHY ASK SUCH A QUESTION?
Because part of becoming free is wanting freedom.
(DEMON POSSESSION)
NOW THAT SEEMS STRANGE, WHY WOULDN’T THEY WANT TO BE?
John 3:19-20 “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil. “For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed.”
In order to be free, they must turn from the sin.
We will see this is the fact when Jesus approaches this man later.
John 5:14 “Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “Behold, you have become well; do not sin anymore, so that nothing worse happens to you.”
This is much of the problem with the Bethesda pools of our day. There are some who really don’t want to stop what they are doing. They don’t truly have freedom because if we got right down to it, they like the attention.
But there is also another potential problem, and that is self-pity.
Vs. 7, “The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me.”
Now we see that answer to the whole desire thing. This man was trying to get into the pool. But now we are borderline on the problem of pity.
Let met help you understand something about salvation.
Jesus requires that you be poor in spirit, not rich in self-pity.
There is a big difference.
Jesus wants you humble enough to come to Him, not feeling so sorry for yourself that you expect Jesus to do something for you.
People who are full of self-pity are still full of self,
And you must deny yourself to follow Jesus.
These are the dangerous effects of buying into the devil’s deceptions for false freedom.
If you accept what he offers,
Not only are you setting yourself up for a life time of bondage,
But you are also setting yourself up to grow complacent
About the bondage, and selfish about the bondage.
Think about how greed can do this to a person.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 “But those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil, and some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
Adultery can do this to a person.
TURN TO PROVERBS 7
In fact any sin can do this to a person.
Romans 6:16 “Do you not know that when you present yourselves to someone as slaves for obedience, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin resulting in death, or of obedience resulting in righteousness?”
The point thus far is there are many pools like this in our world,
But the real problem is a heart that is willing to sit by them.
If you are willing to find comfort anywhere but Jesus, Satan will offer it.
If you are willing to accept temporary freedom, Satan will offer it.
So we see a prisoner’s pool, and we see a paralytic’s problem
But there is a third thing I want you to see.
#3 A PICKED UP PALLET
John 5:8-9
Regardless of the prison you are in.
Regardless of the lie you have bought.
Freedom is still possible, and it is evidenced by the fact that this pallet that once held a slave is now being held by a free man.
AND DO YOU NOTICE WHAT IT TOOK ON THE PART OF THIS MAN.
We already know he had to want to be free from his slavery.
Now it took 2 things.
1) THE POWER OF JESUS
As we learned this morning, Jesus is the Authoritative One.
He is the only one with power over your captor.
Whatever it is that holds you in bondage, He is the only One who can break the chains.
2) OBEDIENCE TO JESUS COMMAND
When He told this man to get up, he had to obey.
And when this man, by the power of Jesus, obeyed, he was immediately made well.
I believe that you can have freedom tonight.
It comes through the power of Jesus and obedience to His command.
I don’t know where you are in your daily grind.
You may be in prison.
But I know this, if you are willing to
Turn your back on the sin in your life,
Are willing to come to Jesus,
Will walk in obedience to His command,
Then freedom awaits.
And when Jesus sets a person free, it is not temporary.
Nor does He taunt us with a false promise of future freedom.
Remember the passage we started with.
John 8:31-36 “So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, “If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine; and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” They answered Him, “We are Abraham’s descendants and have never yet been enslaved to anyone; how is it that You say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is the slave of sin. “The slave does not remain in the house forever; the son does remain forever. “So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed.”
Give your life to Jesus, obey His word, acknowledge your slavery and turn from it, and let Jesus make you free.
