Summary
This sermon centers on the story of the man at the Pool of Bethesda in John 5, who had been paralyzed for 38 years. The speaker draws out the depth of Jesus's gaze, noting that Jesus did not merely glance at the man but truly saw him, studied him, and chose Him out of a crowd of suffering people. Jesus then asked a question that seems obvious on the surface but carries profound weight: "Do you want to get well?" The speaker unpacks this as an invitation to wholeness, not just physical healing, but emotional, mental, and spiritual restoration. The sermon is deeply personal, as the speaker shares her own journey of recognizing that she had been avoiding the hard work of getting well. She reflects on how dysfunction, pride, and self-reliance can become familiar and even identity-forming, making true healing feel costly and uncomfortable. The central message is that Jesus sees us fully, invites us into wholeness, and does the transformative work Himself. Our role is to accept his invitation, surrender our pride and control, and walk in ongoing relationship with the One who heals and restores.
Intro Prayer
Lord, thank you for bringing us together today. Before we dive into this discussion, we ask that you open our hearts and minds to what you want to speak to each of us personally. Remove any distractions, any pride, or any walls we have built up, and help us to be honest with ourselves and with each other. May your Spirit guide this conversation and lead us to the places you want us to go. In Jesus's name, amen.
Ice Breaker
What is one thing you were convinced you would have "figured out" by now that you are still working through?
Key Verses
John 5:2-9
John 5:14
Questions
The man at the Pool of Bethesda had been waiting for healing for 38 years in a place literally called "the house of mercy and grace," yet he never experienced it. Have you ever felt like you were surrounded by the idea of God's grace but struggled to personally receive it? What did that feel like?
Jesus did not just glance at the man in the crowd. He studied him and zeroed in on him with deep intentionality. How does it change the way you relate to God when you consider that He truly sees you, not just a quick look, but a deep, knowing awareness of your full story?
Jesus asked the man, "Do you want to get well?" The speaker suggested the deeper question was, "Are you willing to be made whole?" What is the difference between wanting to be well and being willing to be made whole? Why might that distinction matter?
The man responded to Jesus with a list of legitimate excuses. In what ways do we sometimes use real and valid struggles as reasons to stay stuck rather than as starting points for healing?
The speaker shared that getting well required her to address pride, self-reliance, false narratives, and the need for control. Which of those feels most personally challenging for you, and why?
Jesus asked the man to pick up His mat and walk on the Sabbath, which carried real social and religious risk. What is a step toward healing or wholeness in your own life that feels risky or costly right now?
The sermon emphasized that Jesus initiates healing and does the transformative work. We do not earn or deserve wholeness. How does that truth challenge or encourage you, especially if you tend toward self-reliance or perfectionism?
The speaker described how walking toward wholeness opened her eyes to the pain of people around her, because she was no longer consumed with managing her own. How might your own journey toward healing actually equip you to better love and serve others?
Life Application
This week, take some quiet time to honestly answer the question Jesus asked: "Do you want to get well?" Identify one area of your life, whether emotional, spiritual, relational, or mental, where you have been surviving or managing rather than truly seeking healing. Write it down, bring it to God in prayer, and take one concrete step toward wholeness. That step might be making an appointment with a counselor, reaching out to a trusted friend, trying a new spiritual practice, or simply sitting quietly and letting God speak rather than doing all the talking.
Key Takeaways
God does not merely glance at us. He sees us fully, knows our history, and is deeply aware of our pain and struggles, just as Jesus intentionally zeroed in on the man at Bethesda.
The question "Do you want to get well?" is an invitation to wholeness that goes beyond physical healing. It calls us to examine whether we are truly willing to leave behind familiar dysfunction, pride, and the identities we have built around our limitations.
Healing often comes with a cost. It requires vulnerability, surrender of control, and a willingness to take steps that feel risky or uncomfortable, just as the man was asked to pick up his mat on the Sabbath.
We do not receive wholeness because we earned it or deserve it. Jesus initiates healing and does the transformative work. Our part is to accept his invitation and walk in ongoing relationship with him.
Pursuing wholeness is not a solo journey. Community, honest conversation, prayer, and allowing others to speak into our lives are essential parts of how God brings healing and restoration.
Ending Prayer
Father, thank you for this time together and for the reminder that you see each one of us fully and completely. You know our stories, our pain, our pride, and the places we have been hiding. We thank you that you do not just glance at us but that you pursue us with intention and love. As we leave today, we ask that you continue to ask us the hard question: do we want to get well? Give us the courage to say yes, even when it costs us something. Do the work in us that only you can do, and help us to walk with you in surrender rather than trying to white-knuckle our way through life on our own. Thank you that Jesus changes everything. In his name we pray, amen.
