3 Sinners, 3of3

~ A Man Full of Misery ~

NOTE:  Be sure to see the chart at the bottom of this post!

In the Gospel of John chapters 3-4-5 we find three distinct types of sinners. 

Passage  ~  John 5:1-15

Person  ~  An unnamed man beside the Pool of Bethsaida.  A man of low rank.  Low social standing.

Contact  ~  Was transformed as the Lord touched him.  Contact during the day.

Problem  ~  A physical wreck

The question is not, “Are you a wreck?”

but rather, “What kind of wreck are you?”

Location  ~  A lame man beside a healing pool—with no one to help.

Key Teaching / Lesson  ~  Obedience is critical.  The man witnessed to others about his personal experience with The Messiah.  Relationship with God is the critical thing—not religious rules or ritual.

Miscellaneous  ~  Water was involved.

SUMMARY CHART 

	A Man Full of Religion	A Woman Full of Sin	A Man Full of Misery
Passage	John 3:1-21	John 4:1-26	John 5:1-15
Person	A man named Nicodemus.  A man of high rank.  A favored Jew.  High social standing.	An unnamed woman of Samaria.  A woman of low rank.  A despised Samaritan.  Low social standing—with bad habits.	An unnamed man beside the Pool of Bethsaida.  A man of low rank.  Low social standing.
Contact	Came to the Savior.  He sought out Christ by night.	Met the Son of God.  Christ speaks to her at mid-day.	Was transformed as the Lord touched him.  Contact during the day.
Problem	Full of religion	A moral wreck	A physical wreck
Occupation / Location	A Jewish religious leader.	The town of Sychar beside the town well.	A lame man beside a healing pool—with no one to help.
Key Teaching / Lesson	You must be born again (spiritual—“born of the spirit” birth added to physical—“born of water” birth).	The woman witnessed to others about her experience with The Messiah.  The result was more coming to know The Messiah.	Obedience is critical.  The man witnessed to others about his personal experience with The Messiah.  Relationship with God is the critical thing—not religious rules or ritual.
Miscellaneous	Water is mentioned. Baptism is mentioned. (Physical and spiritual birth discussed.)	Water was involved. Baptism is mentioned. (Physical and spiritual water discussed.)	Water was involved.

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

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