Jesus began His ministry in the North of Palestine in a region known as Galilee, far from the religious center of the Jewish faith in Jerusalem. In Galilee, Jesus was growing in popularity because of His teaching and incredible miracles. However, in Jerusalem, Jesus was just another traveling rabbi with a less than impressive group of followers. It is only a matter of time before Jesus begins to make waves for the religious elites in Jerusalem. This week we will be exploring John 5:1-15 as Jesus interacts with a paralyzed man who has spent the last 38 years of his life lying on a mat and dragging himself from place to place. The man's eyes fixed on the placid waters of Bethesda, are trained to detect the slightest ripples in the surface. Legend has it that the water was stirred by the presence of angels and that healing awaited anyone who could get into the pool in time to encounter the divine. For years this man had come up short because no one cared enough to help him get into the healing, life-giving waters of the mythical Bethesda pool. He never expected that the "Giver of Living Water" would personally appear and give him his One Big Day.
In preparation for this Sunday’s message read John 5: 1-15