​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood                          
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012                                                                              
Sermon Notes (Sunday, July 24, 2022)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor ​

“Bethesda: The House of Mercy!”
John 5:1-9
 
As we continue our summer sermon series – basically looking at some of the key places we encounter in the gospel narratives and reflecting on some of the events took place in there – our stop this morning is Bethesda.  We have already covered some of those key places including Cana of Galilee, Nazareth, Capernaum, and Bethany.  As I pointed out, our journey this morning takes us to a neighborhood in north Jerusalem called, Bethesda. 
 
John gives us enough description of the Pool of Bethesda.  We are told it was located near the Sheep Gate, which means it was on the north of the city.  In fact, the remains of this pool exist till today just exactly as John describes it.  If you’re wondering why the gate was called “The Sheep Gate”, it’s because animals were brought in from the surrounding areas for sacrifices in the Temple.  
 
The word “Bethesda” or “Beth hesda” in Hebrew means, “The house of mercy.”  I assume the pool was given that name because in there, God’s mercy was shown to those who needed it the most.  Although, originally, the Pool of Bethesda was used for ritual purification purposes, where Jerusalem’s pilgrims get washed for worship, over time, the Pool was also believed to be a center for healing, strength, and transformation.  John gives us the reason behind such belief.
 
As we consider the healing of the paralyzed man by the Pool of Bethesda this morning, I would like to underscore two ways this story, this miracle, in John chapter 5 speaks to us today.  Two profound ways this story relate to each and every one of us today:
 
First: The Story Speaks of our Brokenness
John introduces this story by these words in John 5:1-3: “Now there is in Jerusalem near the Sheep Gate a pool, which in Aramaic is called Bethesda and which is surrounded by five covered colonnades.  Here a great number of disabled people used to lie—the blind, the lame, the paralyzed—and they waited for the moving of the waters.”  One of those people at Bethesda was a man who had been waiting for healing for such a long time, for over 38 years.  Can you imagine someone who has been waiting for something to happen for that long?
 
The story before us this morning speaks of our brokenness as human beings.  Challenges are part of this journey we call life.  We all have challenges to face.  As children we were either too short or too tall, too fat or too skinny.  Someone else was always smarter, or faster, or more popular.  As adults we are either too young or too old, too inexperienced or too overqualified, too busy or too alone.
 
Sometimes our challenges are more serious and more real.  We worry about our loved ones, our health, and our finances.  We grieve over a loss of someone close.  We agonize over a rebellious child.  The reality is, we all get our share of the disappointments and failures of life.  Someone said, “you either in a storm, headed into a storm, or coming out of a storm.”  Like the sick man in our story today, we could spend 38 years in our suffering before hearing that voice calling us, “Get up, take your mat and walk.”
 
Second: The Story Speaks of our Redemption
It’s true that at the Pool of Bethesda we are reminded of our brokenness, but also, we are reminded of our redemption.  There is a Redeemer whose name is Jesus Christ who knows our hurt and our pain, our grief and our hopelessness, and who is always ready and willing to lend us a hand.  Sin is real, yet salvation is more real.
 
The story in John 5 reminds us that our true hope is found in a person not a place.  The man came to the Pool of Bethesda to receive healing and wholeness.  This man’s focus was on the pool, rather than on Jesus, the Messiah.  He put his faith in the so-called healing waters. Yet, this man’s life was transformed by a Person who arrived unexpectedly and who left just as unexpectedly.  At the end of the day, wholeness wasn’t to be found in this pool, despite the commonly-held belief, but in a person whose name is Jesus of Nazareth.  Like this paralyzed man, even though Jesus was right there beside him, in front of his own eyes, he put his hopes in the wrong place.  Let’s get our eyes off our “pools” and put them on Jesus.
 
Friends, the cry of this man was, “I have no one to help me into the pool when the water is stirred.”  I have no one to help me.  It’s also the cry of so many in our world today.  The story assures us that there is a Helper; there is a Redeemer.  There is a friend who is always willing and able to help. 
 
“Do you want to be made well?” The Lord still asks.  Yes, Lord, we want your healing and your wholeness so help us.  Heal the sickness of our souls, and the apathy and timidity of our spirits.  Brothers and sisters in Christ, healing belongs to our Lord.  Transformation is our God’s.  May we all hear the words of Christ this morning: “Get up … walk … put one foot in front of the other and follow me.”  In the Name of Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!




 

​First Presbyterian Church of Blackwood
21 E. Church Street
Blackwood, NJ 08012
Sermon Notes (Sunday, July 3rd, 2022)
Rev. Dr. Mouris A. Yousef, Pastor
 
“Jesus at Capernaum!
Matthew 8:5-13; Luke 10:13-15
 
As you get to the main gate of the town of Capernaum, there stands a gigantic sign that reads, “Welcome to Capernaum: The Town of Jesus!”  Located only 30 miles northeast of Nazareth, Capernaum became the adopted home of Jesus during His Galilean ministry, hearing much of His teaching and seeing many of His miracles.  Capernaum witnessed the greatest sermons ever preached.  Capernaum witnessed the greatest miracles ever performed. 
 
Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount on a hillside near Capernaum.  It was in Capernaum that Jesus healed the centurion’s son (Matthew 8:5-13), the nobleman’s son (John 4:46-53), Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:30-31), and the paralytic (Matthew 9:1-2).  In Capernaum, Jesus cast out an unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-25), raised Jairus’s daughter to life, and healed the woman with the bleeding issue (Mark 5:21-42).
 
No spot on earth was graced with more sermons and more miracles than the town of Jesus, than Capernaum.  No city or town on earth was ever given the honor to be called the “Town of Jesus” Matthew 9:1.  As we reflect on the time of Christ at Capernaum and His encounter with the people there, let me offer a couple observations on this Communion Sunday:
 
First: Capernaum: a Town of Opposites
One could say that Capernaum was a town of opposites.  It’s a place of great faith and also a place of a lack of faith.  Capernaum is very much like us.  Sometimes we are people of faith and other times, we struggle with our faith.  Capernaum is very much like our world today.  Every day we get to see people who take their relationship with the Lord very seriously while others have totally neglected their spiritual needs and the spiritual needs of their families.
 
On one hand, Capernaum is where the Roman centurion lived and of whom Christ said, “Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith” Matthew 8:10.  But on the other hand, there were many in Capernaum who rejected Christ’s message and cared less about it.
 
In the midst of Capernaum stood a great synagogue that Jesus taught at very often.  It’s called “The White Synagogue” because it was built from the limestone.  In fact, the ruins of that synagogue are still in Capernaum till this very day.  The presence of the synagogue means that the people of Capernaum were very religious, yet they failed to recognize the Son of God who had been in their midst.
 
As we examine the narratives of the gospel regarding Capernaum, we cannot miss Christ’s frustration and disappointment of the people of Capernaum, Chorazin, and Bethsaida.  Luke 10:13-15 is one of those Scripture passage where Jesus spelled out His disappointment and discouragement.  “And you, Capernaum,” Jesus says, “will you be exalted to heaven?  No, you will be brought down to Hades.
 
The cities of Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum received much but repented little.  Capernaum was supposed to be exalted to heaven because it was the adopted home of Jesus during the days of His Galilean ministry, hearing much of His teaching and seeing many of His miracles, yet, because of the people’s unrepented heart, it will be brough down to Hades.  Today’s message calls us to examine our hearts least we ourselves become like the unrepented people of Capernaum.
 
Second: To Whom Much is Given, Much Will Be Required
The story of Christ and His ministry at Capernaum reminds us of a great spiritual principle.  Jesus stated this principle in Luke 12:48, “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required, and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.”  To whom much has been given, much will be required.
 
The people of Capernaum represent many of us who have been exposed to the gospel, but haven’t changed much.  They listened to the best sermons and witnessed the greatest miracles done, yet they failed to fully embrace the message of Christ.  Capernaum had a greater opportunity than most cities to hear and believe in Christ, and the residents would be held to a higher standard of judgment.  Likewise, as Christians, we will be judged according to the light we’ve been given.
 
Friends, once more, we have the choice to either be like the Roman centurion and like Peter Andrew, and Matthew, all from Capernaum and all embraced the fullness of Christ’s call, or be like the rest of the people of Capernaum.  Capernaum reminds us not to miss the great opportunity before us.  Capernaum reminds us not to sit on the fence.  There were many people in Capernaum who probably liked Rabbi Jesus, but they never translated their love to a commitment.  May God grant us wisdom and courage, lest we miss God’s Kingdom goal.  May we never forget that to whom mush is given, much will be required.  In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen!