John Chapter 5
Home Group Meeting – February 22, 2006
Healing the Lame Man, and Sabbath Controversies
A. Review of last week’s meeting
Jesus came to save the world. This was significant to the Samaritans, because up to now they considered themselves to be outside of God’s salvation.
Jesus’ heals the official’s son. But what He is more interested is that we believe in Him.
Faith in God. Involves surrendering ourselves to God and letting Him take charge of our lives. Trusting that God knows best for us – whatever it may be.
B. Healing the Lame Man
Read John 5:1-18
1. Describe what you would see, hear, smell and feel at the pool in Jerusalem if you were physically there?
Many disabled people came to this place. It would be quite smelly, the atmosphere rather sad. There may be lots of shouting and begging. It would be a rather busy area because most beggars congregate where lots of people pass by so they can get more money from begging.
Real life experiences in India, most beggars are in public places like train stations.
2. Have 2 members read aloud the conversations in verses 6-17 between Jesus, the man and the Jews.
3. After Jesus heals that man, does appear to be grateful?
It doesn’t appear to be the case that the beggar is grateful for being healed. In contrast to other times when Jesus performs a miracle, John doesn’t describe that the man was joyful or that he believed as a result of being healed.
4. Compare this to the reaction of the official and his family when Jesus healed his son in the previous chapter.
Verse 53. The official and his household “believed”.
5. In verse 6 Jesus asks the man “Do you want to get well?” This is a penetrating question. Usually the sick are usually begging Jesus to help them, yet in this case, this man does not. In fact, as noted in question 3 above, later after he is healed he doesn’t seem too joyful about being saved. Why?
Believe it or not, a beggar can lose a good living my being cured.
C. Sabbath Controversies
6. Why did the Jews believe that carrying one’s mat on the Sabbath was a sin?
Based on Exodus 20:8-11, it was forbidden to work on a Sunday. However, it is arguable that this man’s act really wasn’t a breach of the law because it originally meant to prohibit the performance of one’s ordinary occupation/work on the Sabbath. Therefore, if the man were a furniture remover would he be guilty? Probably yes, because that is his ordinary work.
Moses gave the law but the Jews amplified this into an elaborate system of regulations to the extreme. This is an example of how the Jews emphasised so much on rules and regulations. This practise of the law came to dominate its spirit. Outward conformity replaced heart commitment. They lost sight of the ultimate purpose of the law.
7. Is there anything unusual about the meeting between the man and the Jews in verse 10 and what they tell him? [Hint: this is related to the previous question]
Yes, the Jews show no interest in the wonder of his recovery or the miracle working powers of Jesus! All they’re interested in is that Jesus broke the law!
D. Question to Consider
8. Being cured has its implications. Could Jesus be asking the question, “Do you want to get well?” to us? Are we responding in the same way this lame man is?
Yes he is asking this question – to all of mankind – he is giving us the choice to be healed, to be saved. We may not be physically crippled but spiritually, we need healing.
But are we ready to be for the implications of salvation, including having to repent of sin and expressing a new loyalty to Christ?
Some people don’t want to be healed. Why, because they are happy exactly where they are. If they rich, powerful, and have everything, or quite simply, they are living in sin and they enjoy it, why would they want to give it up?
The Truth is, God is our creator and without Him in our lives, our lives have no meaning, no purpose. This is so, even if we have the wealth of Bill Gates, the fame of Brad Pitt, the IQ of Albert Einstein, or the power of George Bush!
Healing the Lame Man, and Sabbath Controversies
A. Review of last week’s meeting
Jesus came to save the world. This was significant to the Samaritans, because up to now they considered themselves to be outside of God’s salvation.
Jesus’ heals the official’s son. But what He is more interested is that we believe in Him.
Faith in God. Involves surrendering ourselves to God and letting Him take charge of our lives. Trusting that God knows best for us – whatever it may be.
B. Healing the Lame Man
Read John 5:1-18
1. Describe what you would see, hear, smell and feel at the pool in Jerusalem if you were physically there?
Many disabled people came to this place. It would be quite smelly, the atmosphere rather sad. There may be lots of shouting and begging. It would be a rather busy area because most beggars congregate where lots of people pass by so they can get more money from begging.
Real life experiences in India, most beggars are in public places like train stations.
2. Have 2 members read aloud the conversations in verses 6-17 between Jesus, the man and the Jews.
3. After Jesus heals that man, does appear to be grateful?
It doesn’t appear to be the case that the beggar is grateful for being healed. In contrast to other times when Jesus performs a miracle, John doesn’t describe that the man was joyful or that he believed as a result of being healed.
4. Compare this to the reaction of the official and his family when Jesus healed his son in the previous chapter.
Verse 53. The official and his household “believed”.
5. In verse 6 Jesus asks the man “Do you want to get well?” This is a penetrating question. Usually the sick are usually begging Jesus to help them, yet in this case, this man does not. In fact, as noted in question 3 above, later after he is healed he doesn’t seem too joyful about being saved. Why?
Believe it or not, a beggar can lose a good living my being cured.
C. Sabbath Controversies
6. Why did the Jews believe that carrying one’s mat on the Sabbath was a sin?
Based on Exodus 20:8-11, it was forbidden to work on a Sunday. However, it is arguable that this man’s act really wasn’t a breach of the law because it originally meant to prohibit the performance of one’s ordinary occupation/work on the Sabbath. Therefore, if the man were a furniture remover would he be guilty? Probably yes, because that is his ordinary work.
Moses gave the law but the Jews amplified this into an elaborate system of regulations to the extreme. This is an example of how the Jews emphasised so much on rules and regulations. This practise of the law came to dominate its spirit. Outward conformity replaced heart commitment. They lost sight of the ultimate purpose of the law.
7. Is there anything unusual about the meeting between the man and the Jews in verse 10 and what they tell him? [Hint: this is related to the previous question]
Yes, the Jews show no interest in the wonder of his recovery or the miracle working powers of Jesus! All they’re interested in is that Jesus broke the law!
D. Question to Consider
8. Being cured has its implications. Could Jesus be asking the question, “Do you want to get well?” to us? Are we responding in the same way this lame man is?
Yes he is asking this question – to all of mankind – he is giving us the choice to be healed, to be saved. We may not be physically crippled but spiritually, we need healing.
But are we ready to be for the implications of salvation, including having to repent of sin and expressing a new loyalty to Christ?
Some people don’t want to be healed. Why, because they are happy exactly where they are. If they rich, powerful, and have everything, or quite simply, they are living in sin and they enjoy it, why would they want to give it up?
The Truth is, God is our creator and without Him in our lives, our lives have no meaning, no purpose. This is so, even if we have the wealth of Bill Gates, the fame of Brad Pitt, the IQ of Albert Einstein, or the power of George Bush!
posted by 潇湘客 @ 3:22 PM
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