This Sunday we are back in our series in the gospel of John, and are now at chapter 5, looking at verses 1-16.  In this passage Jesus is back in Jerusalem near the sheepgate at the pool of Bethesda.  Here many crowds of people are gathered including many sick, blind, lame and paralyzed; hoping to be healed by the so called “healing” waters there.  Jesus selects one random paralyzed man to give healing to him.  The man does not ask to be healed and seems to have no idea that Jesus is able to give him the healing so he can walk again after 38 years!  Now the healing only creates problems as Jesus heals the man on the Sabbath.  The Jews (Pharisees) complain that the man can’t carry his bed.  No excitement about the miracle; that a man that has been lame probably most of his life is now healed.  No, all they are interested in is who told you that you could carry your bed?  He must be dangerous as so blatantly breaking their man made laws.  And the healed man, rather than respond to Jesus’ love and saving power, seems only interested in saving his own skin.  It’s really a hostile miracle.

More sermon previews here.