The Power to Rise

Bethesda - “house of mercy” or “house of grace”

John 5:1-15 (NKJV)

 After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 

2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches. 

3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 

4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had.

 5 Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years. 

6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he already had been in that condition a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”

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.”

8 Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.” 

9 And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.

And that day was the Sabbath. 

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”

11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 

13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.”

15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.

You Are Never Hidden in a Crowd when God is looking for you 

Isaiah 43:1 (ESV)

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”

Luke 19:10 (ESV)

10 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost.” 

Obedience Opens Doors to God’s Power 

James 1:22 (NLT)

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves. 

Luke 11:28 (NLT)

28 Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” 

Grace finds us before we seek it

1 John 4:19 (NKJV)

19 We love Him because He first loved us. 

Romans 5:8 (NLT)

8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.