Jesus Is Praiseworthy Essay

Jesus is Praiseworthy
John 5:1-15

Introduction:
Los Baños is a very famous place in the Philippines. Not only because it is where the University of the Philippines is located, not so because it is well known of its Buko pie industry, but most importantly, it is popular because of its hot spring; the very reason why people keep on coming to Los Baños, just to enjoy the rich and natural flow of hot springs. Most of the people love to immerse and bathe on the hot spring because it would make them feel better and relaxed.

In Jerusalem, there are also famous pools of hot springs, that people thought was miraculous. One of those pools of water was called “Bethesda”. It was a beautiful pool with porches built around it so that people could sit

Though the man’s situation catch Jesus’ attention, it seems that, on the part of this man, Jesus was the furthest thing from his mind. He was not aiming for Jesus’ healing and he was not searching for Jesus to be healed. Unlike other bible stories about healing, whenever ill people see Jesus coming, even from a distance, they shout and beg for Jesus healing. But in this story, the man was not searching for Jesus. There’s a basic spiritual truth here. On our own, by our own reason and strength, we don’t seek and ask the Lord. The man’s focus was on the pool, rather than on Jesus, the Messiah. The notion at that time was that if you managed to get into the water at just the right moment, you would receive healing. This people put their faith in the so-called healing waters. Jesus stepped into this neglected community and asked one sick person if he would like to be healed. Interestingly, of all the people from the huge crowd, why did Jesus choose this particular person? Perhaps because he had been there the longest, or Jesus had spotted him as the most in need. We just don’t know. But one thing is sure; wholeness was not to be found in this pool, despite the commonly-held belief. Wholeness and healing was found in Christ and in Him alone. It is a fact that people, instead of looking to God and to His Word for what they need most, they look elsewhere. They look to healing shrines, to healing waters, to false god. What Christ did for

Again, Jesus is taking, here, the initiative. The man had earlier obeyed Jesus’ command, but it had gotten him into trouble with the Jews, who accused him of sinning. He disobeys Jesus’ order to stop sinning, for he immediately betrays Jesus to the Jewish opponents. John portrays this man as a sinner and he betrays the one who healed him. He knows that these leaders were upset with Jesus, so when he informs the opponents he is giving information that will bring Jesus to