I have been having a really enlightening time reading through this chapter in John. I would also like to thank my Pastor for going through these same verses during church and for being a catalyst and inspiration in this work.
Whenever I am in church, I am an eager note-taker while I am listening to the sermon, and my mind is going a mile a minute. As I listen, it seems that God is bringing to my remembrance scriptures, references, and applications that enhance and sometimes move toward a different application—and even a different interpretation—than what I am hearing.
Not that I am being critical at all, but sometimes I just see things a little differently, or my emphasis might go in a different direction. Context is very important, and sometimes what is not said is just as loud as what has been said.
Meanwhile, when the sermon is over, I still have all the notes from the sermon and the illustrations that are personal to the message I am listening to and being encouraged by. However, many of those illustrations and applications are for that particular group of people with their needs that the Pastor has prayed over as he was building a sermon for that fellowship of believers. It is personal and, at the same time, universal. As I listen and am encouraged, the Lord is opening up ideas and applications—and even sometimes positions—that were not addressed at all. I think that is what these studies are about and for. Unique? Not hardly, but hopefully they can be a blessing to all who read them, as they have been to me.
John Chapter 5:
True Salvation is More Than Just Skin Deep
John Chapter 5:1-16
John 5:14-16 focus.
“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 asked 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 said 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.”
John 5:1-16 KJV
Remember that this man had been impotent for THIRTY EIGHT years, during which time he had lost all family, friends, and the sympathy of everyone around him. His condition was pretty much terminal, and he knew it. When Jesus came to the pool of Bethesda that day, He was most likely on His way to the Temple, and He had been traveling quite a while—having gone through Samaria, where He had His encounter with the woman at the well and with all the folks she witnessed to, who gratefully begged Him to stay (and so He did for a couple of days) before going into Galilee. There, He was met by a certain nobleman who had a very sick son. When he heard that Jesus had come out of Judæa into Galilee, he went unto Him and besought Him that He would come down and heal his son, for his son was at the point of death. Then Jesus said unto him, “Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.” The nobleman said unto him, “Sir, come down ere my child die.” Jesus said unto him, “Go thy way; thy son liveth.” And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way. (John 4:47-50)
Notice what follows a few verses later, after the father left and was met by his servants who told him that his son lived and was well. Notice the gratitude—like the woman at the well and the Samaritan people who heard Him:
“So the father knew that it was at the same hour in which Jesus said unto him, ‘Thy son liveth’; and himself believed, and his whole house believed.” (John 4:53)
You see, my friends, that when Jesus works in your life, that is His business—but how you react, how you respond, that is yours! What did this man do after he was healed? He picked up his bed and walked. What did he do when he was confronted by the Jews about it ?
A Pattern of Ingratitude and Betrayal
But what does he do next? He goes and reports Jesus to the very people who had accused him of breaking the Sabbath. Instead of gratitude like the healed man in Chapter 9, we see betrayal—much like what would be found with the kiss on the cheek a few years later by another man who had only a skin-deep relationship with Jesus.
There are a lot of patterns in the Bible. Here we see a pattern of ingratitude and betrayal.
Look at Judas—a man who walked with Jesus, saw His miracles, heard His teaching, and yet sold Him out. But Judas and this man are not the only examples of such behavior. The Bible is filled with those who received mercy from God but turned against Him. Let’s consider examples of backstabbers in Scripture, starting with:
• Adam, who was more than willing to blame Eve and even God Himself for his transgression: “The WOMAN whom THOU gavest me…”
• And how about Cain and Abel? (“Am I my brother’s keeper?”
• And what about David—the man after God’s own heart—yet even he was willing to stab Uriah the Hittite in the back, first by sleeping with his wife and then by having him killed to hide the crime! Note how, when God found David after the deed was done, David’s heart was broken, and he penned the 51st Psalm.
And what of:
• Ahithophel – David’s trusted counselor who sided with Absalom’s rebellion (2 Samuel 15:12, 31), and like Judas Iscariot, when he realized he had messed up, he hanged himself.
• Absalom – David’s own son, who stole the hearts of the people and attempted to overthrow his father’s kingdom (2 Samuel 15:1-6). Joab found him hanging from a tree by his hair and pierced him through with a spear—a traitor and a conspirator—and still, his father David wept over his death.
• And what of many others, such as Doeg the Edomite – who betrayed David by reporting to King Saul, leading to the slaughter of the priests (1 Samuel 22:9-10, 18-19).
I would have to say at this point that this is not only a list of individual failings and betrayals but a deep pattern of failings starting even with Jacob betraying Esau and leading to
• All the Israelites in the Wilderness ..– who, after witnessing all the plagues, the many wonders, the Red Sea crossing, and God’s feeding them with “angel’s food” and fresh water from a rock that followed them around the wilderness ! Yet constantly murmuring against Moses and ultimately against God (Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 14:1-4).
•even after being delivered from Egypt, Israel they quickly turned to idolatry while Moses was on Mount Sinai (Exodus 32:1-8). They betrayed Moses and God in just over a month during the Golden Calf incident, even naming it “THE LORD.”!
And should we address the time of the Judges and Samuel?•
Again and again, Israel turned from God, was given into oppression, cried out for help, and after being delivered, turned away again and again (Judges 2:11-19).
And in the New Testament • Demas – A companion of Paul who forsook him, “having loved this present world” (2 Timothy 4:10).
• Peter – Though later restored, he denied Jesus three times in His moment of greatest trial (Luke 22:54-62).
And now we come to Judas Iscariot—who walked with Jesus, witnessed miracles, yet betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver (Matthew 26:14-16). A man whom none of the other Apostles worried about, yet Jesus said of the twelve that one of you is a Devil.
One thing for sure, there is a lot of betrayal in the Bible, and there is a lot of skin-deep affection and insincerity. There are not many examples like Jonathan and David, but there are quite a few like Samson and Delilah.
One of the sobering aspects of this account in John 5 is that the man was physically healed, but there seems to be no indication that he was spiritually saved. Jesus had warned him in verse 14, “Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” Yet, instead of clinging to Jesus now that he knew who He was and what He had done for him, he immediately went and reported Him to the authorities—much like Judas, who partook of His holiness but was not a possessor of His Holy Spirit, even though Jesus reached out to him.
This raises an important truth: miracles do not save people. Israel saw miracles in the wilderness and still rebelled. Judas saw Jesus’ power firsthand and still betrayed Him. People can experience God’s goodness, yet remain spiritually dead. The Bible warns against those who have a form of godliness but deny the power thereof (2 Timothy 3:5).
God’s Patience and Call to Repentance
Despite all this betrayal, God still extends the offer of repentance. Even in the book of Judges, where Israel continually turned from God, He repeatedly raised up deliverers when they cried out. David, though betrayed, still sought reconciliation where possible. Peter, after his denial, was restored and used mightily.
This should give us hope, but also a warning. The difference between Judas and Peter was that Judas never repented. He was sorrowful, but it was a worldly sorrow that led to death (2 Corinthians 7:10). Peter, on the other hand, wept bitterly and turned back to Christ.
This is not a TV show or one of those sideshow religious festivals—this was the real deal, a real healing, and a real warning that God is truly merciful and can, and will, heal the body. But unless the soul is healed and set free from sin by faith, with godly sorrow working repentance, it is all just skin deep. Salvation is much deeper than that, and a love for God will see Jesus as the author and the finisher of his faith.
I would like to close with this, and it seems that this man in John had a lot in common with Judas in his betrayal, but I noticed, at least in his physical condition, he has a lot in common with Job.
Read this together with me and tell me if you see a parallel—but with a noted difference…
Job 19:13-27
13 He hath put my brethren far from me,
And mine acquaintance are verily estranged from me.
14 My kinsfolk have failed, and my familiar friends have forgotten me.
15 They that dwell in mine house,
And my maids, count me for a stranger:
I am an alien in their sight.
16 I called my servant, and he gave me no answer;
I intreated him with my mouth.
17 My breath is strange to my wife,
Though I intreated for the children’s sake of mine own body.
18 Yea, young children despised me;
I arose, and they spake against me.
19 All my inward friends abhorred me:
And they whom I loved are turned against me.
20 My bone cleaveth to my skin and to my flesh,
And I am escaped with the skin of my teeth.
Notice the condition—see the similarities, and yet let us now see the difference.
21 Have pity upon me, have pity upon me, O ye my friends;
For the hand of God hath touched me.
22 Why do ye persecute me as God,
And are not satisfied with my flesh?
23 Oh that my words were now written!
Oh that they were printed in a book!
24 That they were graven with an iron pen and lead
In the rock for ever!
25 For I know that my redeemer liveth,
And that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth:
26 And though after my skin worms destroy this body,
Yet in my flesh shall I see God:
27 Whom I shall see for myself,
And mine eyes shall behold, and not another;
Though my reins be consumed within me.
Dear Saints, faith is way more than skin deep—it goes way past the bone. Salvation is the amazing work of grace alone; it tears out the old stony heart and leaves in its place a heart that beats and yearns for more.
Lester Roloff preached a message a long time ago called “Dr. Law and Dr. Grace.”
We all have a HEART PROBLEM, NOT A SKIN CONDITION!
Jesus did not come to earth, suffer and die, and rise again to put sunscreen on us, but rather to wash us in His own blood.
Salvation is way more than Skin Deep!
Question: Will You Be Grateful or Betray?
This healed man’s story is a warning. He received a gift from Christ but turned against Him. What will you do with the goodness God has shown you? Will you respond with faith and gratitude, or will you betray Him when it becomes inconvenient?
Dear Saint, even when we fail—even though we may fail—He remains faithful. He has said, “I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” Dear Saint, let us not behave like Judas or the healed man—men who received mercy but never embraced the Savior. YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED! If you have believed and trusted the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, remember: He washed you from your sins in His own Blood. Read Romans 12:1-2 again. Read again about the cross, the tomb, and the ascension into Glory. Listen again as He says, “Come unto me, and I will give you rest…” Remember how He found you, be faithful, and proclaim His name no matter the cost.
The next sermon , lesson will deal with those Jews who set this man up and used him…
Below is the complete list of Scripture references based on the sections you provided:
1. John 4:47-50 – The nobleman’s healing narrative that sets up the context.
- John 4:53 – The display of gratitude by the nobleman’s household.
- John 5:15-16 – The account of the healed man reporting Jesus, leading to persecution.
- Luke 22:54-62 – Peter’s denial of Jesus, as a contrasting example of betrayal.
- Matthew 26:14-16 – Judas Iscariot’s betrayal of Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.
- 2 Samuel 15:12, 31 – Ahithophel’s betrayal of David.
- 2 Samuel 15:1-6 – Absalom’s rebellion against David.
- 1 Samuel 22:9-10, 18-19 – Doeg the Edomite’s betrayal of David.
- Exodus 16:2-3; Numbers 14:1-4 – Israel’s murmuring and rebellion in the wilderness.
- Exodus 32:1-8 – The Golden Calf incident, where Israel turned to idolatry.
- Judges 2:11-19 – The recurring cycle of Israel turning from God.
- 2 Chronicles 24:17-22 – King Joash’s turn to idolatry after Jehoiada’s death.
- 2 Timothy 4:10 – Demas forsaking Paul, showing a form of betrayal.
- 2 Timothy 3:5 – A warning about those with a form of godliness but denying its power.
- 2 Corinthians 7:10 – The difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.
- Job 19:13-27 – The parallel drawn between the condition of the healed man and Job’s suffering.
- Hebrews 13:5 – “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” emphasizing God’s faithfulness.
- Matthew 11:28 – “Come unto me, and I will give you rest,” the invitation of Christ.
- Romans 12:1-2 – A call to offer our bodies as living sacrifices and renew our minds in Christ.