John 5: The Basics of Healing

Admin
Jun 20
14 min read

the fifth chapter of John, we see the divinity of Jesus Who is God, as He firmly states that God is His Father. He proves this fact in the first half of the chapter by healing a man who had been crippled for many years.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, in Aramaic called Bethesda, which has five roofed colonnades. In these lay a multitude of invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time, He said to him, “Do you want to be healed?”

The sick man answered Him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, and while I am going another steps down before me.”

Jesus said to him, “Get up, take up your bed, and walk.” And at once the man was healed, and he took up his bed and walked. (John 5:2-9 ESV)

When asked if he wanted to be healed, the crippled man gives an excuse about why he isn’t healed: no one will help him. He wasn’t seeking Jesus for healing, nor did the man acknowledge Jesus as Rabbi. God had a purpose for the healing and despite these interesting details, in this encounter, we see some basics about healing:

You must want to be healed.
1. Jesus knew his heart, but the Lord needed him to request the healing so that He could act.
You have to be willing to obey Jesus.
1. Jesus gave the man specific instructions. Only when the man tried to do what God said, did he receive healing.

God always has a purpose in everything He does. When we look at the chain reaction started by this incident, we see that purpose. Let’s continue reading the words of John.

Now that day was the Sabbath. So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.”

But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’”

They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” (John 5:10-12 ESV)

Because this man had been paralyzed for so long, the Jews noticed that he had been healed. When questioned, again, the man blames another for what has happened. He takes no responsibility for his actions, even though it was part of how he was healed. This man didn’t even know that it was Jesus who healed him, so he couldn’t tell the Jews who instructed him to carry his mat on the Sabbath.

This is cruelty in action and as far from God as you can get. The religious leaders looked at the letter of the Law and not what is good and beneficial for man, what is loving and kindness.

He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (1 John 4:8 KJV)

God is love. It was the love of God that set this man free after years of suffering. We must continue reading to see why.

Can Sin Cause Health Issues?

Does sin affect us in this life? The New Testament urges us to stop sinning once we become Christians by receiving Jesus as our Lord. Are there consequences for continuing in sin?

Afterward, when Jesus found him in the temple, He said to him, “See, you are well! Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” (John 5:14 AMPC)

Jesus says that sin can cause us to lose our healing or cause something bad to happen to us! This man didn’t call Jesus Lord. He wasn’t really submitted to Jesus as his owner, his master; that is what the word lord means. This lack of submission is seen in the unwillingness to change his behavior, even after he is healed. Does this still apply today after we become Christians?

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under law, but under grace? Certainly not! Do you not know that when you offer yourselves as obedient slaves, you are slaves to the one you obey, whether you are slaves to sin leading to death, or to obedience leading to righteousness? (Romans 6:15-17 AKJV)

Sin can affect us in this life. It allows the enemy access to us when we obey him by sinning. If we want healing from Jesus, we need to be willing to obey Him! This puts us in the hands of the right person. Are there more scriptures to support the need to remove sin?

No one who abides in Him [who lives and remains] in communion with and in obedience to Him—deliberately, knowingly, and habitually] commits (practices) sin. No one who [habitually] sins has either seen or known Him [recognized, perceived, or understood Him, or has had an experiential acquaintance with Him]. (1 John 3:6 AMPC)

If Jesus is actually our Lord, we should learn about our new kingdom. We should want to do what He desires of us. This means leaving sin behind. If we say we accept Jesus as Lord but don’t try to do what He says, removing sin from our lives, we really have not accepted Him as our owner.

I have seen more than one person instantly, miraculously healed when the anointing of God is present. Then, over the next few days, months, or years, the condition gradually returns until they are worse off than before they were healed.

There is a book that investigated many ministries: God's Generals: Why They Succeeded and Why Some Failed. The author looked into a ministry known for healing hundreds if not thousands of people. Instantly, miraculously, they came out of wheelchairs and left dozens of them at the altar in each meeting. Five years later, 95% of those people were in the same or worse condition as they were before the healing.

How many ministries do as Jesus has done, letting people know that if they don’t stop sinning, something worse will happen? Most of the time, people don’t even understand how they are sinning! We must be willing to learn and apply God’s ways to our lives if we want to receive healing and keep it!

What was this man's response to hearing that he needed to stop sinning?

How do you React to Correction?

When you learn that something is considered sin in the eyes of God, what is your reaction? Do you welcome the information? After Jesus corrected the healed man concerning sin, look at his reaction.

The man went away and told the Jews that Jesus had made him well. For this reason, the Jews began to persecute Jesus and sought to kill Him because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. (John 5:15-16 AMPC)

This man had been crippled for years! When he is set free, how does he respond? Is he grateful to Jesus? Does he honor Him or worship Him? No! He runs to the Pharisees and tells them it is Jesus they are looking for so they can punish Him for working on the Sabbath. He pointed out what he believed Jesus was doing wrong: healing and telling people to do stuff on the Sabbath.

Take just a minute and really look at your life. Truly consider:

When a ministry shows you what is sin, how do you react to that?
Do you look for faults within the ministry after receiving correction?
Do you point out the failings to others when they point out sin in your life?

The actions of the healed man were no surprise to God. Jesus had to be rejected and killed by His people. He was even rejected by someone He healed! Through this recounting, we see why God healed the crippled man at the pool; so he would point accusingly at Jesus.

The Jews sought out Jesus. When they found and accused Him, boy did He have a lot to say!

But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” (John 5:17 ESV)

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him, because not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God. Jesus used a possessive qualifying word with “Father,” stating that God was His actual Father. Coupled with the good work done on the Sabbath, the rulers now sought to kill Jesus who they should have bowed to. They were in charge and wanted to keep the status quo with the power and prestige they had.

Pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall. (Proverbs 16:18 AMPC)

The religious leaders of the day were both prideful and haughty. They would be destroyed within the generation and all of Israel would fall! Though Jesus stated His equality with God, He humbled Himself and fully submitted to God’s will.

Should We Pray for Everyone to be Healed?

When people sought Jesus, in many cases, He healed them all. Should we come into agreement for everyone to be healed?

So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of His own accord, but only what He sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. (John 5:19 ESV)

Jesus is our example. Because of His sacrifice, God is now our Father! We should only do what our Lord tells us to do, what we see God doing. We must learn to hear from God so that we can do this!

For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. (Romans 8:14-17 AMPC)

We must be led by the Spirit of God in all things, even when praying for healing! Many times the last verse is quoted to say we are equal heirs with Jesus, so we can heal all people because Jesus healed them all. The last verse must be put into context. We must be led by the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus was led by God and did ONLY what He saw His Father doing!

And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands on a few sick folk, and healed them. And he marveled because of their unbelief... (Mark 6:5-6 AKJV)

When Jesus was in His hometown, He was only able to heal a few people because of their unbelief. At the pool of Bethesda, He only healed the one crippled guy. We must listen to God and do what He tells us to do.

Can our Salvation be Lost?

“Once saved always saved,” is a common belief. Where do you stand on that topic? Have you been told that once you say a prayer accepting Jesus as the Son of God, you will automatically go to Heaven?

Let’s look at more of John Chapter 5 to find out if this is true. Jesus continues to honor His Father in one of the longest speeches Jesus gives! Within this testimony, He shows us a vital detail about salvation:

Even the Father judges no one, for He has given all judgment (the last judgment and the whole business of judging) entirely into the hands of the Son, So that all men may give honor (reverence, homage) to the Son just as they give honor to the Father. [In fact] whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, Who has sent Him. (John 5:22-23 AMPC)

We know that Jesus judges us for sin because He told several people to “stop sinning” and here in John, He qualifies that with consequence upon our physical health if we continue in sin. There is an additional judgment to consider: The Amplified Classic uses parentheses ( ) to signify additional phases of meaning included in the original word, phrase, or clause of the original language. There is a last and final judgment coming and Jesus is the one who will judge everyone who has ever lived. How and when will He judge us?

This is a last judgment, so let’s look at what happens at the end of the Earth. After the 1000-year reign, Satan is let loose “for a little while.” That devious serpent convinces mankind to rebel against Jesus who rules on Earth and in Heaven. God pours out fire which destroys all life on Earth which is reborn in Heaven.

And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire. (Revelation 20:12-15 ESV)

What you do is written in a “book” in Heaven, your place and abilities in Heaven are determined by what is recorded in your book. There is also a Book of Life. If your name isn’t in that book, you get thrown into the Lake of Fire when the Earth is destroyed. This is the second death. The first death is when your body dies.

But nothing unclean will ever enter it, nor anyone who does what is detestable or false, but only those who are written in the Lamb's book of life. (Revelation 21:27 ESV)

John is shown Heavenly Jerusalem when it is united with the Earth. Only those whom Jesus, the Lamb, has judged worthy to be written in His book get to enter New Jerusalem. We see that same book mentioned in connection with a portion of the body of Christ:

And to the angel of the church in Sardis write; These things said He that has the seven Spirits of God, and the seven stars; I know your works, that you have a name that you live, and are dead, Be watchful, and strengthen the things which remain, that are ready to die: for I have not found your works perfect before God. Remember therefore how you have received and heard, and hold fast, and repent… He that overcomes, the same shall be clothed in white raiment; and I will not blot out his name out of the book of life, but I will confess his name before my Father, and before his angels. (Revelation 3:1-3, 5 ESV)

Just because you call yourself a Christian, it doesn’t mean that you will be in Heaven for all eternity. You may wind up in eternal suffering! Some people in this church are told to “repent” meaning to turn and go the other way. What do they have to turn from? They have no perfect works for God. Having our names blotted out of the Book of Life, means we go into eternal suffering!

Even Jesus, who is God, did work for His Father! We should be working for our Father as well. If we received Jesus as our Lord and did nothing, then we may be in danger of losing what we have received.

It is through the love of God that we have received salvation and we receive healing. To receive both, we must be willing to submit to Jesus as our Lord. Believing in Him is trusting in Him. Cling to Him. To trust in and rely on Him!

So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith and I have works.” Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.

You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder! Do you want to be shown, you foolish person, that faith apart from works is useless? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered up his son Isaac on the altar?

You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works; and the Scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him as righteousness”—and he was called a friend of God. You see that a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way was not also Rahab the prostitute justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out by another way? For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead. (James 2:17-26 ESV)

The half-brother of Jesus shows us that faith in Jesus should inspire us to work with God to fulfill that faith. Salvation is a free gift because we cannot earn it, but it doesn’t mean we don’t have to do anything once we receive it! Jesus confirms this as He continues speaking to those trying to kill Him:

I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, the person whose ears are open to My words [who listens to My message] and believes and trusts in and clings to and relies on Him Who sent Me has (possesses now) eternal life. And he does not come into judgment [does not incur sentence of judgment, will not come under condemnation], but he has already passed over out of death into life. (John 5:24 AMPC)

We must trust in, rely on, and cling to Jesus to possess eternal life. It is the salvation we receive when we cling to Him. If we just call ourselves a Christian and never consider Jesus and what He wants, just continuing on in sin, then we will not have eternal life!

As John continues the narrative, Jesus shows us why can we trust in and obey Him. How we know that Jesus is the true Son of God. This is according to God’s ways establishing with Moses:

A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established. (Deuteronomy 19:15 ESV)

According to God, it takes at least two or more witnesses to establish something as true.

If I alone bear witness about Myself, My testimony is not true. There is another who bears witness about Me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about Me is true. You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth (John 5:31-33 ESV)

John is referred to as the Witness of the Coming of Jesus. When John baptized Jesus, he proclaimed Jesus as the Messiah after baptizing Him. He is one witness, but there are better witnesses as to who Jesus is:

But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given Me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about Me that the Father has sent Me. (John 5:36 ESV)

The miracles Jesus did by the power of the Holy Spirit also testified that He is from God. That is two witnesses. There is one more witness, and we still have that witness today:

And the Father who sent me has Himself borne witness about Me. His voice you have never heard, His form you have never seen, and you do not have His word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom He has sent. (John 5:37-38 ESV)

The Old Testament has over 100 prophecies that Jesus fulfilled when He came the first time. The rest He will fulfill in the second coming. This is the third testimony about Jesus. The leaders of Israel should have known the word of God, they should have been looking for the Messiah.

You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about Me, yet you refuse to come to Me that you may have life. I do not receive glory from people. But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. (John 5:39-42 ESV)

The religious leaders were reading the Word of God to get eternal life on their own terms. They were infamous for twisting it to their benefit. They were only seeing what they wanted to see.

When the crippled man was healed, they didn’t rejoice for the healing. They were not acting in the love of God because they didn’t have His love for them.

God is love. Jesus is God. We are now God’s children. If we are really children of God, we treat others with love.

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35 ESV)

This is one of the only commandments from our Lord. We must operate in love, especially with one another. It is the love of God that sent His Son to the Earth to be a sacrifice for our sin.

When we receive Jesus, His Spirit will begin guiding us. As we learn God’s ways and apply them, We are giving Him more influence in our lives. He is the one who will help us to love others just as we are loved by God!