~ 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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