We live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? The Greek word πιστεύω (pisteuo) is translated believe. It is not just an intellectual exercise. It is an entrusting of one’s self to a person or a cause. The gospel of John uses pisteuo 98 times! “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." This fall may "your heart not be troubled. Believe!” πιστεύω #John #2025
What is something that you believed about your earthly father? Why?
Lord we live life in troubled times with troubled hearts. Who or what do we believe? You tell us clearly what to believe. You tell us, “These are written so that you may believe Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and by believing you may have life in His name." As we study the book of John, open our hearts and minds to believe. May we encourage one another to truly believe entrusting our lives to you and your will being done. May we strive to lead people to believe in you “the way, the truth, and the life.” Amen
The word father can carry great emotions. Father's Day is often cited as the lowest-attended Sunday of the year for many churches. Our earthly father’s can impact greatly our view of our heavenly father often in ways that we may not even understand. In John 5, Jesus wants us to see and believe in the Father through Him the Son. This section in John 4:46-5:46 is a sign to all using sons and fathers as the example.
The trip that this royal official father walked was 23 miles, likely over rough terrain, taking 6-7 hours, all to ask Jesus to come heal his son. He had come to the end of all his options.
Take a moment to think to yourself about this entrance and community pool scene. Imagine the sights, sounds, smells, etc.
Jesus enters through The Sheep Gate in the northeastern wall of ancient Jerusalem. It was the entry point for sheep brought to the Temple for sacrifice. The Sheep Gate was one of the first sections of Jerusalem's wall to be rebuilt by Nehemiah as prophesied by Jeremiah 70 years after Jerusalem’s destruction (455 BC). The high priest and his colleagues started Nehemiah’s crucial rebuilding project, symbolizing the start of the city's restoration and spiritual renewal.
Jesus doesn’t ask the sick to come to Him, He goes straight to the sick at the pool Bethesda. He doesn’t ask for the man to believe in Him and have faith. He doesn’t ask for an thanksgiving offering or tell the man to offer one. There are many popular pastors, leaders, and christians who claim the ability to miraculously heal. They even insinuate that it is God’s will that all true believers experience earthly healing by coming under the faith of their proclamations and teachings.
READ James 4:13-16
Discuss how John 5 and James 4:13-16 challenge most modern healing proclamations and practices?
This man says that he has been waiting 38 years for God to show up and fix his issue.
He believes in the superstition that angels stir the waters for healing. The Scriptures do not say that angels do this or did this at this place in the Old Testament. This passage is likely just describing what the man and people thought.