Healing at the Pool of Bethesda - The Miracles of Jesus
Today, in Calvary Kids, we learned that Jesus overcomes the impossible, faith needs action, the needs of man come before the traditions of men, and Jesus is more concerned of the internal (our heart) than the external (John 5:14).
Read John 5:1-15
Have you ever had to wait for something you really wanted? Maybe Christmas or your birthday? Waiting is hard. Today we're going to learn about a man who waited a LONG time to be healed - 38 years! That's a really, really long time! Then Jesus came and changed everything.
The Bible tells us: Jesus went to a special pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda. Many sick people were at this pool. Some couldn't see, some couldn't walk, and they believed the water could heal them if they got into it first. One man had been sick for 38 YEARS! That's longer than some of your parents have been alive! Imagine being sick your whole life and never being able to walk or run or play.
Jesus saw the man who had been sick for 38 years and noticed him even though there were many sick people around! Jesus knows about YOU too! Jesus sees when you're sad or hurt, and cares about your problems. Jesus asked him a question: "Do you want to be made well?" That might seem like a silly question, because of course he wanted to be healed! But Jesus wanted the man to tell Him what he needed. We should tell Jesus what we need too when we pray!
The man told Jesus his problem: "I have no one to help me get into the pool! Someone else always gets there first!" He had been trying for 38 years. He had excuses for why he couldn't be healed. Sometimes we make excuses too, but Jesus can help us even when it seems impossible. Then Jesus said something amazing: "Rise, take up your bed and walk!" He didn't wait for the water to stir, because Jesus didn't need the pool at all! Jesus just spoke and told the man to get up!
The man had to do something hard: He had to TRY to stand up on legs that hadn't worked for 38 years! That took faith - trusting Jesus even though it seemed impossible The man obeyed Jesus' words And when he did... he was HEALED! His legs were strong and he picked up his mat and walked away! After 38 years of waiting, Jesus healed him in ONE SECOND! But some people weren't happy. The religious leaders were mad because it was the Sabbath (a special day of rest). They said, "You shouldn't carry your mat on the Sabbath!" They cared more about their RULES than about the man being healed. That was wrong because Jesus cared about PEOPLE, not just rules. Later, Jesus found the man again and told him something important: "Don't sin anymore." Jesus healed the man's body, but Jesus also cared about his HEART. Having a good heart is even more important than having a healthy body!
Christ Connection:
WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT JESUS
1. Jesus knows what we need:
Jesus knew the man had been sick for a long time without anyone telling Him. Jesus knows about YOUR problems too! He sees when you're sad or scared or hurt. Jesus cares about everything in your life!
2. Jesus has power to heal. 38 years of sickness - GONE in one second! Jesus has the power to do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Jesus!
3. Jesus' Ways are Not Our Ways:
In this story, we see Jesus confront and break down man's systems: man's traditions about the Sabbath (the pharisees), what man thinks can heal him or save him (a pool or something from the world), man's superstitions (belief in something other than God like the pool itself), man's system for competition (We cannot earn God's salvation). Jesus confronts man's lack of hope and our belief that the impossible can never change (it's in our nature to give up when we don't see a path, but with God, all things are possible), man's lack of faith (usually we have to see before we do something, but the man trusted in Jesus' words), but most importantly, make focuses on the external and not the internal (Jesus warned the man against sin because the inward is more important than the external, and Jesus spoke as if it's more costly to have a bad heart then to have a physical aliment). But while man's systems often get in the way, Jesus cuts through all of them and goes straight to our hearts, because that is what Jesus is truly concerned with.
HOW IT CONNECTS TO OUR HEARTS
1. Jesus wants us to position our hearts near Him, where His power is at work:
The man positioned himself by the pool where he believed healing might happen. We should position our hearts near Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, going to church, and spending time with other Christians. When you're far from Jesus - not praying, not reading your Bible, hanging with the wrong crowd - how can you expect to experience His power? Stay close to where Jesus is working!
2. Jesus calls us to step out in faith BEFORE we see the results:
The paralyzed man had to try to stand before knowing if his legs would work. Faith means trusting Jesus enough to obey His word even when it seems impossible. When Jesus tells you to forgive that person who hurt you, do it BEFORE you feel like forgiving. When He says to share with your sibling, do it BEFORE you want to. Step out in faith, and Jesus will give you the strength to follow through!
HOW IT CONNECTS TO THE GOSPEL:
1. Just like this man couldn't heal himself, we can't save ourselves from sin
For 38 years, this man tried and failed to get into the pool. He was powerless to heal himself. We're the same way with sin - we can't make ourselves right with God through our own efforts, good works, or religious rules. We need Jesus to do what we cannot do! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Jesus offers complete healing - physical AND spiritual, now AND forever
Jesus healed the man's body but also warned him about sin, showing He cares about the whole person. When you trust in Jesus for salvation, He doesn't just forgive your sins - He gives you a new heart, new life, and new power to live for Him! The paralyzed man got new legs, but when we trust Jesus, we get a completely new heart and LIFE! "Rise and walk" spiritually because Jesus gives us power to live differently! (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26)
Application:
1. Pray to Jesus About Your Problems: When something is wrong, talk to Jesus about it first!
2. Obey Jesus Right Away: When you know Jesus wants you to do something, do it even if it's hard!
3. Don't Give Up: The man waited 38 years! When you pray for something, keep praying even if it takes time.
4. Tell Others What Jesus Does: The man told everyone Jesus healed him! Tell your friends and family when Jesus helps you.
5. Remember Your Heart is Important: Jesus cares about our hearts being good, not just our bodies being healthy.
Discussion Questions:
1. How long had the man been sick?
2. What did Jesus tell the man to do?
3. Did the man have to obey before he was healed or after?
4. Why were the religious leaders mad?
5.What does Jesus care most about?
Read John 5:1-15
Have you ever had to wait for something you really wanted? Maybe Christmas or your birthday? Waiting is hard. Today we're going to learn about a man who waited a LONG time to be healed - 38 years! That's a really, really long time! Then Jesus came and changed everything.
The Bible tells us: Jesus went to a special pool in Jerusalem called Bethesda. Many sick people were at this pool. Some couldn't see, some couldn't walk, and they believed the water could heal them if they got into it first. One man had been sick for 38 YEARS! That's longer than some of your parents have been alive! Imagine being sick your whole life and never being able to walk or run or play.
Jesus saw the man who had been sick for 38 years and noticed him even though there were many sick people around! Jesus knows about YOU too! Jesus sees when you're sad or hurt, and cares about your problems. Jesus asked him a question: "Do you want to be made well?" That might seem like a silly question, because of course he wanted to be healed! But Jesus wanted the man to tell Him what he needed. We should tell Jesus what we need too when we pray!
The man told Jesus his problem: "I have no one to help me get into the pool! Someone else always gets there first!" He had been trying for 38 years. He had excuses for why he couldn't be healed. Sometimes we make excuses too, but Jesus can help us even when it seems impossible. Then Jesus said something amazing: "Rise, take up your bed and walk!" He didn't wait for the water to stir, because Jesus didn't need the pool at all! Jesus just spoke and told the man to get up!
The man had to do something hard: He had to TRY to stand up on legs that hadn't worked for 38 years! That took faith - trusting Jesus even though it seemed impossible The man obeyed Jesus' words And when he did... he was HEALED! His legs were strong and he picked up his mat and walked away! After 38 years of waiting, Jesus healed him in ONE SECOND! But some people weren't happy. The religious leaders were mad because it was the Sabbath (a special day of rest). They said, "You shouldn't carry your mat on the Sabbath!" They cared more about their RULES than about the man being healed. That was wrong because Jesus cared about PEOPLE, not just rules. Later, Jesus found the man again and told him something important: "Don't sin anymore." Jesus healed the man's body, but Jesus also cared about his HEART. Having a good heart is even more important than having a healthy body!
Christ Connection:
WHAT IT REVEALS ABOUT JESUS
1. Jesus knows what we need:
Jesus knew the man had been sick for a long time without anyone telling Him. Jesus knows about YOUR problems too! He sees when you're sad or scared or hurt. Jesus cares about everything in your life!
2. Jesus has power to heal. 38 years of sickness - GONE in one second! Jesus has the power to do the impossible. Nothing is too hard for Jesus!
3. Jesus' Ways are Not Our Ways:
In this story, we see Jesus confront and break down man's systems: man's traditions about the Sabbath (the pharisees), what man thinks can heal him or save him (a pool or something from the world), man's superstitions (belief in something other than God like the pool itself), man's system for competition (We cannot earn God's salvation). Jesus confronts man's lack of hope and our belief that the impossible can never change (it's in our nature to give up when we don't see a path, but with God, all things are possible), man's lack of faith (usually we have to see before we do something, but the man trusted in Jesus' words), but most importantly, make focuses on the external and not the internal (Jesus warned the man against sin because the inward is more important than the external, and Jesus spoke as if it's more costly to have a bad heart then to have a physical aliment). But while man's systems often get in the way, Jesus cuts through all of them and goes straight to our hearts, because that is what Jesus is truly concerned with.
HOW IT CONNECTS TO OUR HEARTS
1. Jesus wants us to position our hearts near Him, where His power is at work:
The man positioned himself by the pool where he believed healing might happen. We should position our hearts near Jesus through prayer, reading the Bible, going to church, and spending time with other Christians. When you're far from Jesus - not praying, not reading your Bible, hanging with the wrong crowd - how can you expect to experience His power? Stay close to where Jesus is working!
2. Jesus calls us to step out in faith BEFORE we see the results:
The paralyzed man had to try to stand before knowing if his legs would work. Faith means trusting Jesus enough to obey His word even when it seems impossible. When Jesus tells you to forgive that person who hurt you, do it BEFORE you feel like forgiving. When He says to share with your sibling, do it BEFORE you want to. Step out in faith, and Jesus will give you the strength to follow through!
HOW IT CONNECTS TO THE GOSPEL:
1. Just like this man couldn't heal himself, we can't save ourselves from sin
For 38 years, this man tried and failed to get into the pool. He was powerless to heal himself. We're the same way with sin - we can't make ourselves right with God through our own efforts, good works, or religious rules. We need Jesus to do what we cannot do! (Ephesians 2:8-9)
2. Jesus offers complete healing - physical AND spiritual, now AND forever
Jesus healed the man's body but also warned him about sin, showing He cares about the whole person. When you trust in Jesus for salvation, He doesn't just forgive your sins - He gives you a new heart, new life, and new power to live for Him! The paralyzed man got new legs, but when we trust Jesus, we get a completely new heart and LIFE! "Rise and walk" spiritually because Jesus gives us power to live differently! (2 Corinthians 5:17, Ezekiel 36:26)
Application:
1. Pray to Jesus About Your Problems: When something is wrong, talk to Jesus about it first!
2. Obey Jesus Right Away: When you know Jesus wants you to do something, do it even if it's hard!
3. Don't Give Up: The man waited 38 years! When you pray for something, keep praying even if it takes time.
4. Tell Others What Jesus Does: The man told everyone Jesus healed him! Tell your friends and family when Jesus helps you.
5. Remember Your Heart is Important: Jesus cares about our hearts being good, not just our bodies being healthy.
Discussion Questions:
1. How long had the man been sick?
2. What did Jesus tell the man to do?
3. Did the man have to obey before he was healed or after?
4. Why were the religious leaders mad?
5.What does Jesus care most about?
Posted in Calvary Kids