12/06/09 “Perspectives”
Perspectives
12 6 09 HT PM
John 5:1-16 NKJV
Perspective is the “state of one’s ideas”, a vantage point by which we look at things.
John 5:1 NKJV
After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.
John 5:2
Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda, having five porches.
John 5:3
In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water.
John 5:4
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.
John 5:5
Now a certain man was there who had an infirmity thirty-eight years.
John 5:6
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?”
John 5:7
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.”
John 5:8
Jesus said to him, “Rise, take up your bed and walk.”
John 5:9
And immediately the man was made well, took up his bed, and walked.
And that day was the Sabbath.
John 5:10
The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.”
John 5:11
He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’”
John 5:12
Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you,‘Takeup your bed and walk’?”
John 5:13
But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place.
John 5:14
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.”
John 5:15
The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.
John 5:16
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
Three Perspectives –
1. The Lame man
• Circumstances and condition were linked
• The crowd around kept him camouflaged
• Never answered the question of healing
• Regretfully familiar with his condition
• The lame man details the condition of mankind.
Matthew 9:36 NKJV
But when He saw the multitudes, He was moved with compassion for them, because they were weary and scattered, like sheep having no shepherd.
Matthew 9:37
Then He said to His disciples, “The harvest truly is plentiful, but the laborers are few.
Matthew 9:38
Therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”
2. The Religious people
• When it happened was more important than what happened
• No real care for the hurting person
• Real commitment to rules, regulations and historical paradigms
Matthew 15:1 NKJV
Then the scribes and Pharisees who were from Jerusalem came to Jesus, saying,
Matthew 15:2
“Why do Your disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? For they do not wash their hands when they eat bread.”
Matthew 15:3
He answered and said to them, “Why do you also transgress the commandment of God because of your tradition?
Matthew 15:4
For God commanded, saying, ‘Honor your father and your mother’; and, ‘He who curses father or mother, let him be put to death.’
Matthew 15:5
But you say, ‘Whoever says to his father or mother, “Whatever profit you might have received from me is a gift to God”—
Matthew 15:6
then he need not honor his father or mother.’ Thus you have made the commandment of God of no effect by your tradition.
Matthew 15:7
Hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy about you, saying:
Matthew 15:8
‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth,
And honor Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
Matthew 15:9
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.’”
• The religious people reveal the condition of our traditions and religiosity
Mark 3:1 NKJV
And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand.
Mark 3:2
So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him.
3. The Son of God
• The desire to meet needs
• The desire to seek a persons heart ( do you want would be a heard question)
• The power to meet the needs
• The commitment to GO FORWARD (vs 14)
• Whatever and whenever mentality!
Luke 19:1 NKJV
Then Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
Luke 19:2
Now behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus who was a chief tax collector, and he was rich.
Luke 19:3
And he sought to see who Jesus was, but could not because of the crowd, for he was of short stature.
Luke 19:4
So he ran ahead and climbed up into a sycamore tree to see Him, for He was going to pass that way.
Luke 19:5
And when Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw him, and said to him, “Zacchaeus, make haste and come down, for today I must stay at your house.”
Luke 19:6
So he made haste and came down, and received Him joyfully.
Luke 19:7
But when they saw it, they all complained, saying, “He has gone to be a guest with a man who is a sinner.”
Luke 19:8
Then Zacchaeus stood and said to the Lord, “Look, Lord, I give half of my goods to the poor; and if I have taken anything from anyone by false accusation, I restore fourfold.”
Luke 19:9
And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house, because he also is a son of Abraham;
Luke 19:10
for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.”
Of the three – what perspective do you have?
1. Are you the person with the condition?
2. Are you the person with the complaint?
3. Are you the person with the cure?