JESUS HEALS AN INVALID MAN

John 5:1-47

Key Verse: 5:8

"DO YOU WANT TO GET WELL?" (1-7)

1. Describe the crowd waiting around the pool of Bethesda. Why were they waiting? Think about their attitudes toward one another as they waited. How is this scene like our world?

2. To which one of the crowd did Jesus speak? Think about the hopelessness and repulsiveness of this man's condition. What did Jesus ask him? Why did Jesus ask this? What can we learn about Jesus from this? (Think about Jesus' grace in 1:14,16,17, and his power in 1:3,4)

3. Did he answer Jesus' question? What did he complain about? What does this show about his way of thinking, and his fatalism?

* "GET UP! PICK UP YOUR MAT AND WALK." (8,9a)

4. With what word of command did Jesus respond to this man's complaining? In what respect are Jesus' words a command to live according to God's truth? What happened? What did this man have to overcome to obey Jesus?

* "STOP SINNING ...." (9b-15)

5. Why did the Jews rebuke the man who had been healed--instead of rejoicing with him? When Jesus found this man at the temple, what warning did he give him? Why? How and why did this man forget grace and yield to pressure?

* THE SON GIVES LIFE (16-47)

6. When the Jews persecuted Jesus, what did he teach them about who he is and what he does? (16-18) What was their reaction?

7. How does Jesus share in the' life-giving work of the Father? (19,20,21) To whom does Jesus give life? (21,24,25,26) How is the healing of the invalid an example of this life-giving work?

8. What other work does God specifically grant to the Son? (23) What is the consequence of rejecting the love of God given through his Son? (3:17,18) To what event do verses 27-30 refer? Why must every person choose either God's love or condemnation?

9. Read verses 30-47. What is the purpose of witnesses? (1:7) Who are the witnesses that testify about Jesus?

10. With so many undeniable witnesses, why don't people believe in Jesus? (38,39-40,42,44)