Supernatural Stories for the Summer — Series
A Miracle for Life’s Disabilities
Pastor Brent Snook · June 14, 2026 · AM Service
Text: John 5:1–9
“Problems are platforms for God to do miracles.”
Today we find our third miracle in the book of John. If the refreshments had not run out at Cana, Jesus would never have turned water into wine. If the nobleman’s son had not been near death, Jesus would never have healed him. Problems are platforms for God to do miracles.
I. THE CONDITION OF THE MAN
A. His Place — v. 2
Just inside Jerusalem’s sheep gate — through which sacrificial lambs were brought into the temple — lay the Pool of Bethesda. Bethesda means House of Mercy. It had five porches and was a gathering place for the sick, a kind of ancient health spa. A superstition held that when an angel stirred the water, the first person in would be healed. For many, it was their last hope.
B. His Peers — v. 3
This house of mercy was also a house of misery — the blind, the lame, the withered, the diseased, the impotent. A great multitude of suffering people lay waiting. But Jesus focused on one man. He was not merely in the healing business — He came as a Savior, not simply a healer. This miracle was a symbol of a far greater spiritual truth.
C. His Problem — v. 5
For 38 years — nearly four decades — this man had lain at the pool waiting for a miracle. The waters seemed to be his last hope. Is that you this morning?
II. THE CHALLENGE TO THE MAN — v. 6
A. The Request of Jesus
“Wilt thou be made whole?” There is not a more important question in all the world. This request reveals two things about Jesus:
1. Jesus Knows
“When Jesus saw him lie and knew that he had been now a long time in that case…” — v. 6. Jesus knew all about this man’s problem. How comforting to know that God knows all about you:
“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off… For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” — Psalm 139:1–4
2. Jesus Cares
For 38 years this man lay at the pool with no one to help, no one who cared. But Jesus walked through that sheep gate — He who would be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world — and He came walking straight to this one man.
B. The Response of the Man — v. 7
His response revealed two things:
1. He Was Helpless
Every year he grew worse, not better — his muscle tissue deteriorating. Lying by the pool was an admission of weakness. The problem with many people today is they will not admit they are spiritually paralyzed. Even if you can hide your spiritual paralysis from others, you cannot hide it from God. The first step to being healed spiritually is to admit your sin.
2. He Was Hopeless
38 years. No cure. He couldn’t walk. He had lost all hope. The pool of mercy had become a pool of misery. Richard Pryor — wealthy, famous, and celebrated — tried suicide multiple times, married seven times, and died hopeless and unhappy. That story can be repeated over and over again by the famous and the unknown, the rich and the poor. But for this man, hope was about to arrive — because Jesus arrived.
III. THE COMMAND TO THE MAN — v. 8
A. Stand Up — “Rise”
B. Show Forth — “Take Up Thy Bed”
C. Step Out — “Walk”
Notice the order. Jesus did not say “Walk — take up your bed — and rise.” He said: “Rise — take up your bed — and walk.” Do you know why the Christian life hasn’t worked for some people? Because they tried walking before rising. They tried to live it without Jesus.
He walked because he was healed — not the other way around. Jesus gave this man a command he could believe or reject, accept or refuse.
George Wilson was sentenced to hang for murder in Pennsylvania. President Andrew Jackson pardoned him — but Wilson refused the pardon. The case reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which ruled: “A pardon is only a pardon if it is accepted.” George Wilson was hanged.
Friend — Jesus stretched out His arms on a cross. A pardon that is refused is no pardon. The question is not is He willing — the question is are you willing?
“…And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” — Revelation 22:17
IV. THE CURE FOR THE MAN — v. 9
“And immediately” — the man was made whole. God can do a miracle in your life instantly. You may have walked into this church lost in your sin — you can walk out forgiven and set free. You may have come here paralyzed by sin — you can walk out free by the power of Jesus Christ.
A. He Is Walking
38 years since he had walked — and now he is skipping away. Those touched by Jesus are changed by Jesus.
B. He Is Worshipping — v. 14
He went straight to the temple. When one is changed by Jesus, you don’t have to force them to worship — they want to.
C. He Is Witnessing — v. 15
From that day, the Pharisees came after this man — because he told everybody what Jesus had done. When he met Jesus:
• His body changed — he walks
• His behavior changed — he worships
• His boldness changed — he witnesses