I. SERMON NOTES​

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Introduction: What is grace - 3 miracles

 

During Chinese New Year, someone asked, “What is grace?” Though we sing about it and speak of it often, it is not always easy to explain. Returning to John 5:1–15, we see a vivid picture of grace in action.

This is the third miracle recorded in John’s Gospel:

• John 2 – Water into wine: the power of Jesus’ word.

• John 4 – Healing of the nobleman’s son: faith in Jesus’ words.

• John 5 – Healing at the pool: Grace through the words of Jesus.

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1. Grace Begins with God’s Initiative - Grace seeks us

John describes the setting: near the Sheep Gate, by the pool of Bethesda, surrounded by five colonnades. The Sheep Gate was where sacrificial lambs entered Jerusalem (Nehemiah). John has already declared that Jesus is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. At this very place, the true Lamb extends grace.

Bethesda is often understood as “house of mercy” or “house of grace”. Whether symbolic or descriptive, the encounter clearly reveals God’s grace.

Among many disabled people lying there, Jesus singled out one man who had been an invalid for 38 years. There is nothing in the text to suggest he was more deserving than others. As noted in the sermon, the only explanation is the sovereign pleasure of Christ. That is grace.

The man did not seek Jesus. Jesus saw him, approached him, and asked, “Do you want to get well?” Grace makes the first move before faith responds.

We are reminded of Ephesians 2:8 — “For by grace you have been saved through faith.” Grace comes first; faith receives what grace gives. Faith is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.

Grace is not about fairness. If it were, it would be wages. Grace is unmerited favour. Instead of asking why others were not healed, the question is: how will we respond to Jesus?

Unlike other moments in the Gospels where healing follows teaching and expressed faith (e.g. Matthew 4:23; 9:35; Romans 10:17), here the man did not even know who Jesus was at the point of healing. Grace reached him before understanding or confession. This reflects prevenient grace — grace that goes before — enabling us to respond.

It is not about our worthiness, our spiritual record, or our level of faith. It is about God’s initiative.

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2. Grace Redirects Our Faith to Jesus - turns our faith from false hopes to Christ

The man’s hope was in the pool. He believed that when the water was stirred, healing would come. His faith was misplaced — in a process rather than in a Person.

Jesus did not help him into the pool. Instead, He commanded: “Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.” At once the man was healed. The power was never in the water, the cistern, or superstition. The power was in the word of Jesus.

Today, people may place hope in rituals, sacred objects, money, personalities, or spiritual formulas. Even Christians can focus on processes rather than Christ. Yet grace turns our faith away from false hopes and directs it to Jesus Himself.

We must not get lost in religious activity and forget that Christ is the goal. Grace is given to lead us to Him.

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3. Grace Seeks to transform us completely- leads us to life

The healing took place on the Sabbath. Instead of celebration, there was confrontation. The Jewish leaders said, “It is the Sabbath; the law forbids you to carry your mat.”

A man paralysed for 38 years was walking, yet their focus was on rule-breaking rather than restoration. Religion without grace misses the heart of God.

The law could not heal him. Traditions could not restore him. Only Jesus could.

The 38 years echoes Deuteronomy 2:14, where Israel wandered for 38 years because of unbelief. Just as the man was physically helpless, Israel was spiritually blind. When deliverance came, they did not recognise Him.

Jesus later told the man, “Stop sinning or something worse may happen to you.” This is not a direct link between sin and illness. Rather, Jesus points to a deeper reality: spiritual condition matters more than physical condition. Something worse refers to eternal separation from God.

God loves us as we are but refuses to leave us as we are. Grace is not merely to make life better, but to make life new. Physical healing is wonderful; spiritual transformation is greater.

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The Cross: The Ultimate Grace

Jesus’ death on the cross is the event of grace. As illustrated by Alistair Begg’s account of the thief on the cross: when asked how he entered paradise, the answer was simply, “The man on the middle cross said I can come.” That is grace.

Not because we are good enough. Not because we know enough. But because grace has made a way.

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Final Reflection

Jesus asks us today: “Do you want to be made well?”

What have we been carrying for years — pain, guilt, disappointment, spiritual blindness? Grace has already been given. Jesus has come, died, and risen.

The question is not whether grace is available. The question is: will we receive it?