Let us die to service. Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made heaven and earth, who keeps the truth forever, who does not forsake the works of his hands. Amen. Grace, peace, mercy, and comfort be unto you from God the Father. and of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord, in the communion with the Holy Ghost. Amen. Let's continue our service by singing Psalter 225, stanzas one, two, and three. 225, all stanzas. you. you. you you Let's turn to our Bibles, the book of Exodus chapter 20. We will read verses 1 to 17, God's holy law. And after that, we will sing Psalter 280, the second stanza, 280 verse two, after God's holy law as follows. And God spake all these words, saying, I am the Lord thy God, which hath brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of bondage. Thou shalt have no other gods before me. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them nor serve them, for I, the Lord thy God, am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me, and showing mercy unto thousands of them that love me and keep my commandments. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain, for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work. but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God. In it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day. Wherefore, the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it. Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee. Thou shalt not kill. Thou shalt not commit adultery. Thou shalt not steal. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's house. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor anything that is thy neighbour's. God bless America. Congregation, we open the next scripture reading in the New Testament, the gospel according to John chapter 5, verses 1 till 18. John chapter 5, 1 till 18, and the word of God comes again to us as follows. After this, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool and troubled the water. Whosoever then first, after the troubling of the water, stepped in, was made whole of whatsoever disease he had. And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years, When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole? The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool. But while I am coming, another steppeth down before me. Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. And immediately the man was made whole and took up his bed and walked. And on the same day was the Sabbath. The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the Sabbath day. It is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed and walk. Then ask they him, what man is that which said unto thee, take up thy bed and walk? And he that was healed wist not who it was, for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. Afterward, Jesus findeth him in the temple and saith unto him, Behold, thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee. The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus which had made him whole. And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the Sabbath day. But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. Therefore the Jews sought the Moor to kill him, because he not only had broken the Sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God. Let us seek the Lord's face and pray. merciful, most gracious God in heaven. On this Sabbath day morning, we come before thee as a congregation united in prayer to call upon thy name as our God and Lord and Savior. who has revealed Thyself in the Scriptures, which we already read together. O Lord, Thou hast revealed Thyself in Thy holy law, who Thou art and who Thou remainest. Thou art the only God, and Thou art a God who is never be, it's never possible to make an image of thee with our hands or rather with our thoughts. Thou art too great, from everlasting to everlasting, way more than we can ever imagine. And still thou art the God who has revealed thyself in scripture. And that's enough for us to know for our own salvation. Thou hast revealed Thyself in particular in Thy dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Thou hast opened Thy heart in Him. Like we have already read and heard from the scriptures this morning. endowed healing also that paralyzed man. O Lord, we pray, grant us to understand all these stories of Scripture, to to have a taste of who thou art, O Lord Jesus Christ. We easily can read all these stories and think thou art a man of miracles and going around like that. Never tasting the very heart behind it and in it. And God has revealed his heart in thee, O Lord Jesus Christ. And also in the story before us, we have seen already the height of God seeking the lost, seeking the poor. Oh, and when we come before thee this morning, that our hearts might be touched by that, that our hearts might be aware of who we are by nature. We are poor, although we think often we are rich and we are powerful and we can make our own plans and do our own things and plan our own future, but there are so many also among us who have experienced in their own lives the opposite truth. Oh, Lord, we are dependent people. We are weak and frail. Oh, one day we can think we have everything and the other day we lost it. Oh, Lord, we pray for the whole congregation in all our circumstances. Yes, Lord, we thank Thee for all the prosperity Thou has given us up till today in so many different ways. Thou hast given us health, and Thou hast given us welfare, and Thou hast given us love and family. our daily labors and, oh Lord, there are so many things to thank for. And we are able to go to school and to study and we can come to church and all the church activities. Lord, there are so many things we have to thank Thee and we want to thank Thee for. Remember us also in all our troubles and needs. We pray for widows and widowers. And Lord, that it not only be every Lord's Day list of people, but that we might realize the truth of being a widow or a widower or going lonely through this world. When we don't have experience, dear Lord, we so easily can forget them. And I'm not aware of the burden and the sufferings of their hearts and lives so often. the feeling of being homesick. Oh, remember them, Lord, and strengthen them, and grant them, indeed, a satisfaction for that what they lost. Lord, we remember our families, the parents and the upbringing. Our marriage is, bless them and let them be an example of Christ and His church. We pray, Lord, for our youth. Be with them and remember them. Work mightily with Thy Holy Spirit in their young hearts and lives, the lives of our children. Oh, Lord Jesus, that's really what we need. a mighty saving work in the hearts of our youth and children. Because the world is pulling them, Satan is going around their hearts and lives, knowing their weak spots. But, oh, precious Savior, open their hearts to look unto Thee. Open their hearts to know Thee, to see the emptiness of sin and world. but also to understand the saving power of the blood of Christ. Lord, we pray for those who are sick and afflicted, who are struggling with bodily issues, who are struggling with mental health issues. Oh Lord, take care of them. like thou hast done with this man in Bethesda. Thou art a God who is not only taking care for our souls, but also for our temporal needs. But may we pray for Ina Rose. Thou knowest her circumstances. Oh, be with her and remember her in mercy. Remember those who were in institutions and in care homes. O Lord, thou knowest also what they need. Be with them and strengthen them. Lord, we thank thee that thou brought also our brother, Reverend De Groot, and his wife safely to Canada. And we pray, Lord, that they might have a blessed time again in our midst. We recommend them unto thee, Lord, when ye also hope to preach among us. Take all the obstacles out of the way, in particular that of the language. Lord, that his eyes might be upon thee alone. O Holy Spirit, fill his heart. O Lord Jesus, touch his heart with thy presence and love. Remember them in their circumstances. Thou knowest what they stand in need of. And be so with each and every one of us, we pray, and we ask all these things. Lord, help us this morning in listening. Help us in preaching. Take all the stumbling blocks out of the road. Oh, precious Lord Jesus. Be thou in our midst according to thy word and promise. Without thee everything is empty, Lord. But when thou art in our midst, we will have a blessed meeting, we pray. Not because of any worthiness in ourselves, but for thy name's sake we ask. Amen. Let's sing together Psalter 102. Psalter 102, stanzas one, two, three, and four. 102, one, two, three, and four, and in between there will be the collections, and may God bless you and also your gifts. you Congregation, we follow a bit the gospel according to John, and we already saw how the Lord Jesus dealt with the women of Samaria. And after that, how he dwelt with the Samaritans for two days, and how a huge number of Samaritans believed in the Lord Jesus Christ and were saved. but also that he left that place after two days, like we have seen last week in verse 43, John 4, verse 43, now after two days, he departed then and went into Galilee. And we saw last week, it was not because of, he was expecting there to be worshiped, Although it's like he has spoken in verse 44, Jesus Himself testified that a prophet has no honor in his own country. And that's what happened in Galilee. And then in our chapter this morning, in chapter 5, we find again the Lord Jesus, and again on His way, from Galilee to Jerusalem. And we don't know how much time was in between, actually. It just says, after this there was a feast of the Jews. We don't know actually what kind of feast it was. The Jewish people had all different feasts. And Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And yeah. We can think, why, what's the order in the gospel of John? Jesus, it seemed that first He was, Jesus went to Samaria, and we have seen it was a divine necessity to go there. And then He left Samaria, and then He went up to Galilee. And then right away in chapter five, he goes back. The congregation, there is a kind of a purpose behind it. And that's clearly when we today would like to dwell on the story about the healing at the pool of Bethesda, that in verse nine, The second part of verse 9, it says, and on the same day was the Sabbath. And this is just one small sentence, but this is actually an introduction of that what's following in the next part of the gospel of John. John, he writes this story about the healing on the pool of Bethesda. in the light of all the upcoming events. Because the next chapters of John, they contains discussions between Jesus and between the Pharisees, in particular about the healing on the Sabbath. And you will see when you read through the gospel, there is coming a big gap between the Lord Jesus and between the Jewish leaders, which will end at the end of the book with the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ. And it's tied already with this story and that it says in verse 9b, and on the same day was the Sabbath. Jesus was healing on the day of Sabbath. And that was an introduction for all that, what is coming. But for today, I just want to speak with you about the story itself. So, verses 1 till 9a actually, the story of the healing at the pool of Bethesda. And like it says, there was in Jerusalem by the sheep market or the cheap gate, a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. And it's remarkable that in verse 2 it says, and there is. So, the moment John wrote this gospel, it was still there. And afterward, it has been proved that on that particular place, there has been such a kind of a place like Bethesda. So, there is at Jerusalem, by the sheep market or the sheep gate, a pool which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda. And what kind of pool it was, children? It was a single, large, two-pool complex, and it was separated by an by a portion, two pools and in between, there was an area in between. And all around the pool, the two pools you can say, and also that area in between the pools, it was covered, like the text says, it has five porches. You can also say five-roofed colonnades with stoas on it. And it was actually the walkways where people could walk and could sit at a pool. And it was that place Jesus was visiting. And it was called Bethesda, and in the Hebrew language, in the Aramaic language, and some will translate it with a house of mercy. Others will translate it with a house of outpouring. And it was a place, in a certain sense, it was a place of mercy. People were healed at that place. There's also a place of outpouring, like we can find in verse 4, for an angel went down on a certain season into the pool and troubled the water. God came down by an angel. God sent His angel to trouble the water, and when people jumped in, they were healed. When I was preparing this portion and studying this portion, I figured out that there's a lot of discussion about, in particular verse four, when it speaks about that angel who came down, and there are many commentators who will say, it's just fog belief, it's just people's belief. people thought, but it was just like we also have today, all kind of hot springs, healing springs, and that was the case also over there. And there are even Bible translations, and I don't like to bring all these things often at a pulpit. When you read, for example, the authorized version, but the English standard version, for example, this is often used by many people, you will figure, you will see the first four you can find over there. It's taken out. So there's a, between scholars, there's a kind of discussion, is that first four, was it originally in the original Bible or not? And you know we don't have the original Bible, we just have only manuscripts. But there are many good reasons to... assume that also verse 4 was part of the original text, and it was not just only false belief. You know also verse 7, otherwise verse 7 it says, and it actually, it is an explanation when it says, the impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man when the water is troubled to put me into the pool. The people who were laying down over there were aware that on certain moments, the water was being troubled. And when people went in the water, they were healed. And they all were aware it was something divine. And congregation, I really believe that it is true what we can find here. God, He did send an angel from time to time to that place. Why? Let's try to imagine congregation. We can't actually, but between the time Lord Jesus came to this world and the last prophet, who was the last prophet in the Old Testament? Malachi. There were 400 years in between. In 400 years, there was not a prophet at all in Israel. It was not a revelation of God, not a word of God. It was a very dark time. But God has not forgotten His people. And I think this was, like John Calvin says, this is one of the signs. which God was given to his people, that at certain moments, he has sent an angel down to this earth, to that pool, and people who were healed by that power. And so this is what I really believe. It's a story which is showing us how God also, by healing people, was showing His mercy for the Jewish people, although they didn't have the prophets at all. He did not forget His covenant people. And it was at that place, congregation, that the Lord Jesus met a man. And it says, there were a great multitude of impotent fog, blind, half-withered, waiting for the moving of the water. But, and it says in verse 5, a certain man was there which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. That's a very long time. Every day again, they carried him from his home to that spot and he was waiting and hoping for one day that he could be healed also. But he was paralyzed, children. He couldn't walk at all. And those friends and those families, I think they didn't wait because they never knew when the angel would come. And this man, we don't know for how many years he already was there, and he came over there, but he was already paralyzed for 38 years, and that's a long time, it's a very long time. And I think he didn't expect to get healed anymore. Like today congregation, when old people When they were moved from their own place to a hospital or an old age home, at first it will be hard, but after some time they will get used to it. And also hospital circumstances, and we call it often hospitalized people. people who feel safe on that spot. That's their new world. And I think this is the case also with this man. He was there, he was not expecting anymore to be healed. And on one day, there came Jesus. And he says in verse six, when Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, will thou be made whole? Congregation, what a beautiful words. It says, first Jesus saw him lie. There are many people over there, but Jesus saw in particular that man. He saw him, and he knew. He knew exactly what was going on with that man. He knew that this man was sick for so many years. And was it that big? You can find it in commentators who will say yes, but yeah, maybe people told him and so on. It can all be. But I believe, like we have seen already, John is pointing. And like we saw in the story with the Samaritan woman, Jesus, he knew what was in the life of the Samaritan woman. And also he knew what was in the life of this man. He also knows what's in our hearts. He knows what's in our lives, but we will see that later. So it says, he saw him and knew that he had been now a long time in that case. And then he spoke and he saith unto him, will thou be made whole? That's actually a strange question, isn't it children? When the doctor would ask a patient who was coming to his place and ask him, do you want to get better? Do you want to have, do you want to get back your health? Yeah, you want to say to the doctor, yes, of course, that's the reason that I'm here, right? But Jesus was asking him that question, will thou be made whole? In congregation, I think I already mentioned that, you know, when you are for such a long time ill and sick, maybe you are not expecting anymore to get health, to get better. And Jesus was actually stirring up in his heart an idea that it would be possible also for him to be healed again. But then he cried, and the impotent man answered him in verse seven, sir, I have no man. When the water is troubled to put me into the pool, but when I am coming another steps down before me, I have no man, sir. Yes, of course, but nobody helps me. What a poor man. And then Jesus, he not only saw, he not only knew, he not only spoke, but then he also healed him, saying, arise, take up thy bed and walk, without a medicine, without anything, just his word. And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bad. The power of the Lord Jesus Christ. At congregation, when I was preparing my sermon, I was thinking and asking, Lord, what is the message? What is the message in this story? Do I just have to spiritualize the story? and to tell the congregation, yes, we are all paralyzed by sin, and we all need to be healed. Is this the only message? And in the one story, I'm paralyzed, and in the other story, I have another illness, and it's just too spiritualized, and it's just a message about sin and forgiveness. Oh yes, I think this is part of it, and we will come to that. But congregation, I think there is more. Let us first draw some practical conclusions out of this story. You know, this man was paralyzed. That's what we think, and we actually don't know exactly what kind of, sickness he had, and we don't know why he was paralyzed. But one thing is clear, he didn't go to a regular doctor anymore. And he went to that particular place where, in a supernatural way, he hoped to get his health back. And he was expecting it from these supernatural powers of that well touched by an angel. In congregation, I think there's a message in it. Yes, we are allowed, of course, to use also when it comes to our health, to use natural supplements. You know, there is also in nature, our forefathers who didn't have all kind of medication, they used nature for it. And today we are so far away from nature that we don't know the healing power which is still there in nature. And we are allowed to use them. But it's very different from all kind of alternative healthcare. And I would just ask your attention a little bit for that. Because also in our days, we have all kind of alternative healthcare. And many people are using them. And they will say, okay, maybe it will not help, but it will also not cause damage. The congregation, I want to say, be very careful. with all these alternative healthcare. Because many of those have a background in the Eastern world with their pagan religion. Maybe you have heard about the idea of yin-yang. It's a Chinese principle. And it's about two cosmic opposing powers and the whole… Universe actually is controlled by those powers and also the Eastern healthcare is based on that principle and many people in the West are using all different kinds of healthcare which is based on that principle. It's a dangerous principle. It's not from God. So, We need to be careful with using all these kind of alternative healthcare because easily we can get influenced by the powers behind it. Another thing we can learn from this story is how Jesus was healing on the Sabbath. The care for people on the Sabbath was Sabbath-keeping. So Jesus was not a legalist, just following the rules. No, we are called to love God above everything, and we are called to love our neighbors. And when it was necessary, the Lord Jesus was also healing on the Sabbath. And so, the Sabbath is a day, first of all, for worshiping God, but also to look around to my neighbors, to those who need help, who need care. That's also part of Sabbath keeping. Jesus saw that man on the day of Sabbath. He saw him. Congregation, we are a Christian church, right? How many people are going around in this world and nobody sees them? When you go on the streets in Tiltsenburg or in other places, you see them going, right? All these people, all those people. Homeless, addicted. Who sees them? Yes, of course, we just see them and let them go, right? But Jesus saw him, it says. He saw him, and when Jesus sees a person, he sees his needs behind it. And his heart is open for that. So congregation, I think there's also a lesson in this story. As a Christian, we need to have our eyes open for the poor and the needy people. in our area, in our congregation for the needs of others to speak with them. Jesus, He spoke with that man. He asked him. Another very practical lesson we can learn from this story is how Jesus is caring not only for our souls. Yes, I will come to that also. Don't worry about that. But Jesus is not only a savior from souls. He also takes care of our lives. It's remarkable when you read the whole story of this man who was healed at the pool of Bethesda, we don't read that that man was saved No, actually the Lord Jesus in verse 14 says to say to the man, behold thou art made whole, sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon thee. Now the whole story doesn't tell us that the man was saved, he was just healed, but that means that also that God and Christ takes also care of our health, of our bodies, of our lives, of our circumstances. What a mighty thing is it, right? Oh, how easily, and yeah, so often we, when everything is going smoothly, we think, oh, I can help myself. I can make my own decisions. I will do all these things. But that's the most of our lives that will not be. But here we see how Christ takes care also for a man who was sick for 38 years, who was unable to help himself, and Christ saw him. What a message for a Christian, right? Jesus Christ, and we have already seen that also in the Heidelberg Catechism, you know, that we are not only bought with our souls, but that I with body and soul belong to my Savior. That I have a Savior who also takes care of my body, who takes care of my mental health, who takes care of my life, who takes care of my family life, who takes care of my business, who takes care of my existence? Oh, children, this is the Lord Jesus. He knows exactly your circumstances. He knows exactly all the needs and problems. Why? Congregation, he saw them. You know, it's a danger when we go through all these stories to just think about Jesus' works, what He did, His power. But this story also shows us there is a heart behind it. Oh, the Lord Jesus, He has opened His heart. You can find it in Matthew when He says, I am of a gentle and a lowly heart. Here is a Savior who knows all the circumstances of His people. who knows all the needs of his church, all the daily needs of their lives. He knows them. He knows the needs of a widower or a widower. He knows the needs of them who are struggling with all kind of health issues, who are going through difficult times when it comes to mental health. He knows the needs of those who are in the aging of their years seeing their own strength decreasing. O congregation, Christ, he bought his church with body and soul. No, these are not the only lessons. These are more the practical, but also the lessons from this portion. But there's also, we can also compare this story with our spiritual life. And that's also what I like to do. And so when we read this story about this man, the first thing we noticed is that he was sick for more than 38 years. He was paralyzed. He was powerless. And all human hope has failed up till now. A congregation, can you imagine how that man was there on that place? And as I mentioned already, he was maybe hospitalized, you know, he got used to it. He had accepted it. He didn't expect to get out of it anymore. What an image. What an image of a sinner. Maybe it's the image of you. Oh yes, we all know, you have heard it over and over, we are fallen in sins and trespasses, you know that. And maybe in your life there were times that you were seeking and trying to find peace with God, and you were busy with that, but one day you came to the conclusion, probably it will not be for me. God doesn't answer me. God doesn't change anything in my life. And, oh congregation, How often I have met those type of people. Yes, they will say, yes, pastor, I know. I'm praying for it. I'm praying every day for getting saved, but I will see. Passive, apathetic. And how people can go that way. our congregation, this is the situation of that man at the pool, hopeless in himself, not expecting anything, powerless. That's who we are by nature, right? Did you discover that reality? This man was powerless to help himself. He had no legs to go, to walk. And this can be the experience of a sinner who becomes aware of the reality of being a sinner. No, I don't mean in the way as I said before, you know, just, yeah, to accept it. But maybe you're in the midst of that battle and you realize this, I'm not able, I'm powerless, I have tried, I prayed, I read, I went to church and nothing changed. Powerless. Our congregation, that's the truth. Our fallen paradise is a reality. We are fallen, not in a state of sickness, but spiritually speaking, in a state of death, in a state of death. without knowledge of God. A congregation, this is a reality. This is not just a doctrine. The Holy Spirit will teach a sinner that truth, that reality. that I become aware, oh Lord there is nothing in me, I can't get into the water, I have no legs to go to Christ, I have heard about Him, I have heard about Him and sometimes my heart was longing for Him and at the same time I realized I have no arms to embrace. I have no legs to run. Lord, do you recognize it? I think I mentioned that before. In Holland, a young girl, in that time she was probably 17, 16, maybe a bit older. Pastor, I want to give my life to Jesus, but I don't know how. It was her need. It was her need. The reality of the state of death, and I don't know, Lord, how to believe. I don't know, Lord. I don't know. What a need, right? And it was in that need, in that perspective, that Christ came. He came. And this is, I think this is the message this morning for all those people who think I'm too old, I'm too hard, I'm too cold. It's probably not for me. And maybe you have accepted that idea. No, that's a lie of Satan. But that's in particular unbelief. Because when we go on with this story, we find here the Lord Jesus coming, and what He did, He saw that man. He saw him, that's the first thing we read, when Jesus saw him lie. And that we read often that in the Gospels, in particular, when you see, for example, the story from Zacchaeus, who was in the tree, trying to hide himself for Christ. What do we read, congregation? And Jesus stopped under the tree, and he looked up, and he saw Zacchaeus. He saw him. And when Jesus is looking, it's not just, just, yeah, just, how do I say that? To see him for a second. No, no he saw him in his need. He saw Zacchaeus in his need. And he saw this man in his need. And my dear congregation, this is the Lord Jesus Christ who is this morning here in our midst and he sees you. And he understands your need. He understands that you are in a state of death. And he sees the need of being saved. This is Jesus. He sees the need of a sinner. Oh, Satan will say, not for me, not for you. But here is the story. Here is the Word of God. Jesus saw the need of that man who was paralyzed. And also today. And do you remember congregation? That's why I spoke about that. It's not just showing his power, it's showing his very heart. And this is the heart of Christ. This is, and Jesus Christ, oh, let me just explain it, congregation. God has revealed His heart, opened His heart, that we might be able to know what is in God's heart. Listen, God has opened His heart to let you know what is in His heart, in Christ Jesus. If you want to know who is God, if you want to know what's in God's heart, look to Christ. Look to the Lord Jesus Christ. God has revealed His heart in the Lord Jesus Christ. And what is Jesus doing in this story? He is opening His heart. He is revealing God. That's what He does today. There's a heart behind. The Lord Jesus is looking to you, everyone. To our children. Children, this morning the Lord Jesus is looking to you. He knows you need to be saved. He knows your sins need to be washed, children. They need to be washed today. The Lord Jesus, he knows. from the oldest in our midst, that without Him you are lost for an eternity. He knows that. He knows what it means. He knows the wrath of God against sin, because God is holy. He knows that. And therefore He is here this morning, sent His servant to show His heart, and He saw And He knows who you are. And He knows of all your things. He knows your state of death. He knows. That's what it says. He saw and He knew. And He knew that He had been now a long time in that case. This is Christ. Oh, my dear congregation, this is Christ. There are no hopeless people for him. There's not a hopeless case for him. He saw, he knew, and he spoke. What? What was his question, children? Will thou be made whole? That's his question this morning to each and every one of us. Will thou be Do you see congregation? He is not waiting for you to come to Him. He comes to you. It's always Christ. It's always God who is the first rate. He is calling for sinners. He is calling for you. He's calling you with His Word. Will thou be made whole? And as I mentioned before, congregation, this man didn't expect it. And his only answer was, like we have seen already, I have no man, so it is impossible. And maybe that's also your reply on the question of Christ this morning. Is here a person who wants to be saved? who wants to be made whole, who has discovered to be filled with sin and unrighteousness in a state of death, not be able to come to Christ, not to be able to believe on Him. And congregation, then we have to say, we don't know exactly what was the reason behind the sickness of this man. I don't think we can, like it seems that in verse 14, Jesus is telling him that there was a connection between his sickness and his sin, but I'm not sure how to explain it now. But for sure, there is a connection between your state of death and your sin. We are not debtors, or I mean, we are not victims. No, it is because of your sin. It's because of my sin. It's because of your unbelief. But have you ever realized that? That's the thing. Or are you still trying to think, now maybe it's not that bad. I keep praying, and I keep reading, and I keep doing. Or did you accept the reality of being lost, except in a state of death, not to be able to come unto Him? And now He comes unto you this morning, and He is asking that very question, will thou be made whole? Will thou be made safe? Maybe you will say, but I have no man. who can help me?" That's not his question. That's not his question. He is just asking, would you like to be saved? And maybe you have to say to this man, Lord, I don't know how. I have no help. I have tried everything. There have been times that I had hope for, but now all my hope is gone. It's an invitation, congregation, for each and every one of us. It's an invitation to cry out your need, to cry out for him, to be hopeless in yourself, powerless. Like he did with those people when he was on the way to Emmaus. You know that story? We have thought about that. Those men who were filled with all kind of concerns and Jesus was still asking them, tell them, what's going on? And then he was listening. And those men were pouring out their hearts, all their needs. That's what God is doing this morning. He will say, put out your heart before me. Put out your whole heart. Cry out your needs. It's an invitation. But then he starts to speak more. And Jesus saith unto him, rise, take up thy bed, and walk. Our congregation, that's not in the power of a pastor, eh? But that's in the power of the Word of Christ. That's what the Lord Jesus did and does today. He speaks through His Word. He speaks through His Bible. By His Holy Spirit. What does He say? Does He say, congregation, oh poor man, I see your circumstances and I know your needs and I know you are not able to go in the water And so I will not say to you, you have to go and to run into the water because I know you are not able to do that. And yeah, I also don't say rise because you are not able to rise, you are paralyzed, right? But I will just say to you, pray, pray, pray, pray, pray. Was this his answer? Congregation is often the answer you can hear. But at the end of the day, the only answer is you have to pray for it. And of course, congregation, there's nothing wrong with that, to say that. The Bible speaks about that. Seek, knock, but that's not first. What Jesus did was a command, rise. Yes, Lord, I'm not able to rise. Doesn't matter, rise. Lord, I'm not able, rise. And maybe He didn't use that volume I'm using now. I don't think that. He just said, rise. Rise, command. This is what the Apostle Paul spoke to the jailer who was asking him, man, brethren, what do we have to do? What does he say? Pray? No. Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved. And he believed in his whole house. And congregation, here you see the mystery of the gospel. And it is not a mystery, because the words of Christ are living words. And when Christ speaks in a sinner's life through the Bible, it's that living word, that powerful word, that two-edged sword, which makes sinners alive right away. And congregation, that's the thing we need. Yes, and who we are by nature. Maybe that's what you are starting to, maybe, I don't know what's going on in your mind, of course. But I know a little bit how it went in my own life. When I heard about all these things, you know, I didn't believe it. To be honest, I didn't believe it. I was expecting and waiting for something that I felt, that something would happen, that I would experience something. I was waiting and praying for that. It never came. Why not? The Holy Spirit is teaching a sinner to just hear the voice of Christ. And that's a living voice. And that's a divine voice, and that's a life-giving voice, and that's a powerful word. Oh, the Bible is a powerful word. It's not, first of all, a book about God. It's the word of God. And so Christ was speaking to that man, rise, take up thy bed and walk. And what does the text say? It's actually a remarkable congregation. Here it is translated with immediately. And you don't find that word so often in the Gospel of John. You find it in the Gospel of Mark so often. But John actually never used that word. But here he is using that word to place special stress on this sudden and complete character of the cure of Jesus, how he was saving and who was healing that man just with one word. immediately. It was not partial. It was not for, let me say, it was a complete healing. And that's what Christ does. That's a wonderful, fine congregation. When He speaks, He works faith. And when faith believes, Everything is there, everything, the complete salvation. And you know, and you will know. Oh, that powerful word and word of Christ, which opens the heart of a sinner. For whom? For himself and for his finished work. Immediately, the man was made whole by the power in the word of Christ, by the power in the blood of the lamb. And this is the message congregation. This is the savior we can find also in this story, which is about that healing of that man at the pool of Bethesda, Jesus. He was the first who came. Jesus saw him. Jesus knew him. Jesus asked him. And Jesus spoke to him. It's all about him and his divine power. Decongregation, this is the Christ of Scripture. This is the Christ of Scripture for people who are spiritually speaking like this paralyzed man. And maybe you are old and cold, but here, here is a Savior for a sinner who is not able to save himself, but also a Savior for those who are saved, but still have to learn more and more to be paralyzed. Isn't it? Are here those broken people paralyzed? Without Thee, Lord Jesus, they can't do anything. Nothing. I have no power to fight against sin. I have no power to trust thee. By nature, Lord, I'm always distrusting thee. I'm trusting myself, putting myself in the center. But here is the Savior, the healing Savior, in His willingness and in His power. Amen. That is Sing, Psalter 198. Stanzas 1 and 7, 198, 1 and 7. Amen. Oh. Let's pray. O Lord, Thou art the only Savior. Thou art a complete Savior for a complete sinner. And Thou hast also this morning Out of scripture reveal thyself. And thou art that savior who speaks that living word in divine power to bring sinners out of death into life. Out of darkness into light. Our eyes are unto thee. Remember the whole congregation. Thou knowest who we are and where we are. And grant us, Lord, for the first time, through Thy power to arise out of a state of death to look unto Thee by Thy own power, O Lord. And there's that wonderful word, But Thou art still doing. That's why Thou art sending Thy servants all around the world by the foolishness of preaching. And Thou art using it as the power of Thee to bring sinners to Thee. Bless the word. Be with us in the furtherance of this day. Lord, be with us when we will have the Catechism class and the Sunday school classes. Help the teachers. Bring us all safely back in this evening. Remember Pastor de Groot, Lord, when he will preach for us, grant him his Holy Spirit. And we ask all these things for Jesus' sake. Amen. In closing, we will sing psalter 77, stanzas 1 and 2. 77, 1 and 2. Amen. you Dear people, go in peace, lift up your hearts, and receive the blessing of our Lord. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God the Father, and the comforting communion of the Holy Ghost be with you all. Amen.