P4 Miracles | The Man at the Pool of Bethesda

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Breaking Free from Self-Imposed Barriers: Lessons from the Pool of Bethesda
In John 5:1-9, we encounter a powerful miracle where Jesus heals a man who had been sick for 38 years. This man was lying by the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, a place where many sick, blind, lame, and paralyzed people gathered, hoping for healing when the waters were stirred.


But before Jesus healed him, He asked what might seem like a strange question: "Do you want to get well?" This question reveals something profound about human nature and our spiritual journey.


The Dog with the Invisible Fence
Consider this story: A small Bichon dog would bark ferociously and charge toward passersby, but always stop at the edge of his yard. When asked about this behavior, the owner explained they had installed an electric fence years ago that would give the dog a small shock when he approached the boundary. The interesting part? They had turned off the fence years ago—but the dog didn't know it.


This dog's life was limited by a barrier that no longer existed. He could have explored beyond his yard, but he remained hemmed in by an obstacle that was only in his mind.


What barriers are keeping you from experiencing God's best?
Like that dog, our lives can be limited by self-imposed barriers. We hem ourselves into small "yards" because of obstacles that aren't actually real. Jesus asked the man at Bethesda if he wanted to be healed because sometimes we become comfortable with our limitations.


As Christians, we must remember who we are in Christ—God's children, heirs with Christ, people God pursues and desires to bless abundantly. Yet many of us settle for mediocrity and the status quo, content to live smaller lives than God intends.


Barrier 1: Complacency Born Out of Comparison
The man at Bethesda had been among other sick people for a long time. When we surround ourselves with others who share our limitations, we can become complacent.


Throughout life, we're trained to define success based on comparison:


You don't need to ace the test, just do better than most classmates

You don't need to execute flawlessly, just better than others competing for the spot

You don't need all the votes, just more than your opponent


This mindset can infiltrate our spiritual lives too:

"I don't do all I could for Kingdom work, but I do more than most people I know."

"I could be more disciplined in spiritual practices, but I'm more disciplined than others."


When we compare ourselves to other broken people, we're comparing ourselves to spiritual invalids. We all fall short. True abundance comes when we break through this comparison mindset.


Barrier 2: The Fear of Cost
For 38 years, this man had relied on others and likely survived on charity. Being healed meant taking on responsibilities he hadn't shouldered for decades. There's always a cost associated with being set free.


Jesus was clear about the cost of following Him. In Luke 14, He says that anyone who doesn't hate (by comparison) their family members and even their own life cannot be His disciple. He states that whoever doesn't carry their cross and follow Him cannot be His disciple, and those who don't give up everything cannot be His disciples.


Many avoid life-changing encounters with Jesus because they fear what it will cost them:


"Following Jesus will cost me money."

"Following Jesus will cost me time."

"Following Jesus may cost me my dreams."


The man at Bethesda had to decide if he was willing to give up what he knew to be set free—and he decided it was worth it.


Is following Jesus worth the cost?
If you're weighing the cost of following Jesus, rest assured that it pays off in the end. As Jesus promised in Luke 14:14, "You will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."


Paul understood this when he wrote in Philippians 3 that he considered everything a loss compared to the surpassing worth of knowing Christ. Trading the temporary currency of this world for the eternal currency of heaven is like trading rocks for diamonds.


As missionary Jim Elliot famously said, "He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose."


Barrier 3: Belief Without Faith
Jesus didn't just tell the man he was healed—He commanded him to act: "Get up, pick up your mat and walk." The man believed Jesus enough to do what seemed impossible after 38 years of inability.


There's a crucial difference between belief and faith: obedient action. The world is full of people who believe the Bible, but far fewer who place their faith in it by acting on what it says.


It's like believing the car manual contains good advice but never following the maintenance schedule. You can believe the Bible completely, but unless you put God's Word into practice, you'll remain hemmed in by the status quo.


Life Application
As someone for whom Jesus died, there is no reason for you to be hemmed in by obstacles of your own making. Nothing can stand in the way of God's abundant blessing in your life if you'll answer "yes" to the question: "Do you want to be made whole?"


Consider these questions this week:

What self-imposed barriers am I allowing to limit my spiritual growth?

Am I comparing my spiritual life to others rather than to Christ's example?

What am I unwilling to give up that might be keeping me from experiencing God's best?

Where in my life do I believe God's Word but fail to act on it?


Take one step this week to break through a barrier. Perhaps it's stopping a comparison habit, surrendering something costly to follow Jesus more fully, or taking action on something you believe but haven't acted upon.


Remember, Jesus didn't just offer the man at Bethesda physical healing—He offered him a whole new life. He offers the same to you today.