The following message is by pastor John Piper. More information from desiring God is available at

W. W.

D. desiring God. O.G.

The scripture text for this morning's message is John, chapter 5, verses 1 through 24.

After this, there was a feast of the Jews,

and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

Now there is in Jerusalem by the sheep gate a pool,

in Aramaic called Bethesda which was which has five roofed

colonnades and these lay a multitude of invalids blind, lame and paralyzed. One man was there who had been an invalid for 38 years. When Jesus

saw him lying there and knew that he had already been there a long time. He said to him,

Do you want to be healed? The sick man answered him, sir, I have no one to put me into the

pool when the water is stirred up.

And while I'm going, another steps down before me.

Jesus said to him, get up, take up your bed and walk.

And at once the man was healed and he took up his bed and walked.

Now that day was the Sabbath.

So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, it is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful

for you to take up your bed.

But he answered them, the man who healed me, that man said to me, take up your bed and walk.

They asked him, who is the man who said to you, take up your bed and walk? Now, the man who said to you take up your bed and walk?

Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was.

For Jesus had withdrawn as there was a crowd in the place.

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