Our scripture reading for the morning is Psalm 146, verses 1 through 10. And Elder Brian will do that for us. This is the word of the only true and living God, living, reading from the book of Psalm, Psalm and Psalm 146 in verses one through 10. And I'm reading from the NASB 1995. And it is headed there as the Lord and abundant help helper. Praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. Oh, my soul. I will praise the Lord while I live. I will sing praises to my God while I have my being. Do not trust in princes and mortal man in whom there is no salvation. His spirit departs. He returns to the earth. In that very day, his thoughts perish. How blessed is he whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord, his God, who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, who keeps faith forever, who executes justice for the oppressed, who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord raises up those who are bowed down. The Lord loves the righteous. The Lord protects the strangers. He supports the fatherless and the widow, but he thwarts the way of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever. Your God, O Zion, to all generations. Praise the Lord. It's the word of God. Amen. Amen. Well, we see that the Lord is really exalted here in Psalm 146, and there's There's just one verse in here that I want to point out where he says what the Lord gives freedom. We're going to talk about freedom today in our text and we'll go there now. On Palm Sunday, if you recall, we learned more about Jesus' entry into Jerusalem along with the disciples on the first day of the week. And he was greeted with shouts of joy as the crowds welcomed him and spread their coats and their palm fronds on the ground as he came in riding on that young colt of the donkey. And they were excited. They were shouting, you know, hallelujah, recognizing or thinking they were recognizing their Messiah. But during the next few days, Jesus cleansed the temple of the money changers. First thing he did when he got there, as he went to the temple, they're selling animals in the temple, not with the permission of the Sadducees. They're exchanging money in the temple, so it's become a place of business. And he was very upset over that, and he said, One of the times when we've seen another side of Jesus, where he just doesn't tolerate a violation of his father's will. So he performed, along the way, he performed signs and various healings. He confronted the Pharisees about their hypocrisy. Remember, that really upset them. And they planned to kill him. Then came Thursday evening, And Jesus ate his last Passover supper with his disciples. If you recall that, during which time the one disciple, Judas, left to betray him. Jesus knew that. He said, go, do what you have to do. So during that supper, Jesus instituted the new covenant. The new covenant, he said, in his blood. That's the covenant of grace. Coming away from the old covenant and the, living under the law to that covenant of grace, which we live under today. His betrayal was carried out in the Garden of Gethsemane, you recall that, as Jesus was praying and he was finished praying and his guards showed up and he was arrested. A lot of things happened there, but he was arrested and then falsely accused by the high priest, the religious crowd, then sent to Pontius Pilate, who sent him to Herod. Pilate found nothing wrong with him, sent him to Herod. King Herod didn't find anything wrong, sent him back to Pilate. And at the demand of the Jewish religious people, the Sadducees, the Pharisees, the high priests, that he insisted that he be crucified. So Pontius Pilate bent to their will, and he was under a lot of pressure. And so he finally had him scourged and then ultimately crucified. But that wasn't the end of Jesus. On the third day after his death, what the greatest event in our history of the world took place, and God's power was demonstrated when Jesus rose from the dead and he's alive, what, forevermore. He's alive forevermore. Resurrection Day, God's promise of eternal life for everyone who believes that promise has been fulfilled. Another of God's promises is going to happen, perhaps sooner than we might think, the return of the living Christ to defeat all evil in this world. That time is coming quickly. We don't know when, but by the looks of the world today, it's not going to be a whole lot longer. We don't know whether this is going to be a year or 10 years or 20 years, we don't know, but it's coming. So we're going to return to our study now of the Gospel of John. We have completed the first four chapters of the Gospel of John. and we're going to start in John chapter five and read verses one through nine. But if you recall, going back for a moment to chapter four, the last, very last part of chapter four was still early in the ministry of Jesus. And he had just, if you remember this, he had just healed a nobleman's son. That's that servant of the king, right? And when the nobleman was told by his slaves that his son was healed, he returned home and he and his entire household believed in Jesus. So that was a great act that he did. This nobleman didn't really seek Jesus out to be saved. He sought him out because he thought he could heal his son. But he ended up, he and his entire household being saved. Okay, so let's read our text for today. Beginning in John chapter five, verse one. After these things, There was a feast of the Jews and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. That's after he had healed that noble man. Now there was in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate, a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethsaida, sorry about that tongue tied here, Bethsaida, having five porticoes. In these lay a multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, and withered, waiting for the moving of the waters. For an angel of the Lord went down at certain seasons into the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever then first, after the stirring up of the water, stepped in was made well from whatever disease with which he was afflicted. A man was there who had been ill for 38 years. And when Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had already been ill a long time in that condition, he said to him, Do you wish to get well? The sick man answered, sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming, another steps down before me. And Jesus, this is, he doesn't respond to this. Jesus said one thing, get up, pick up your pallet, and walk. Immediately, the man became well, picked up his, his palate, and began to walk. Isn't that amazing? What's going on? Well, as we read John's account of Jesus healing the lame man by the pool, we might wonder, why did he heal only one man when there's a whole multitude out there? Well, the answer to that is we don't know. Don't know why he did that. Perhaps he did heal others. You know, back in John, later on in John, in John 20, 30, John wrote, therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book. So, whether or not he healed others, we really don't know. But in reading through this passage several times, it became apparent that this account goes deeper than just another miraculous healing that Jesus performed. It's really a study in human nature. It's a study in human nature. It's a story about how Jesus wants to transform our lives. It's a story about healing. It's a story about being set free. Let's consider it for a moment. After healing the king's servants and noblemen, Jesus returns to Jerusalem for the feast. He probably entered Jerusalem through that sheep gate. All the sheep to be sacrificed entered through this gate during that time. And the first thing they do is they take all these sheep to the same pool, but the pool is divided into two parts. The sheep are washed before they're sacrificed. The other part of the pool, And by the way, I don't know how large this pool is, but I hope it's pretty large. The other part of that pool is for these people to come down and wait around and get healed, people to bathe in, be cleansed. So this pool is fed by underground springs, and it was divided in these two parts. And the name Beseda is a Hebrew name. meaning house of mercy or house of kindness. That's the name of the pool. House is Hebrew, named Bethsaida, but it's house of mercy or house of kindness. And this is where the lame man was laying, along with many others, and suffering all these various kinds of afflictions, all waiting for the water to stir, and one of them would get up and head for the water, and the first one in was healed. Well, when Jesus approached him, when Jesus came up to this lame man, he already knew that the man had been lame for a long time, 38 years, all the while laying in the shelter of his porticoes, these colonnades and cupboard, waiting to be the first into the water so that he could be healed. But let's think about that for a moment. The sick man had been there for 38 years. Always watching and waiting, but could not get to the pool on his own. Always watching and waiting, could never get there. Year after year, he watches while others are being healed, and yet he's still laying there. You think about that for a moment, how that's going to affect someone. Jesus saw this man not only with a physical problem, But this man also has emotional problems as well. He's emotionally wounded, feeling helpless, abandoned, perhaps with some kind of sense of shame. He had the emotional scars of the past, seeing others healed time after time after time, and here he is still there, can't get into the pool. Somebody always beats him to it. No doubt he has experienced frustration. Would you feel frustrated if that happened? Yes. Even anger? Bitterness? Why am I this way? Why can't I get healed? He said he has no friends, no man to help him into the pool. And notice his reply to Jesus' question. Jesus asked him, do you wish to get well? Now rather than answering, yes sir, will you help me into the pool? He didn't do that. He replies with an excuse. He replies with an excuse. Verse 7, the sick man answered him, Sir, I have no man to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I am coming another steps down. Can you see his frustration here? Here's a man who is surrounded by hurting people, all with some type of affliction, but no one to help. After waiting and doing the same thing over and over again for 38 years, this man could not come to the conclusion that something else had to be tried. He needed that divine healing power of Jesus because he was helpless in his own power. He was helpless to help himself. Notice Jesus did not say to the man, hey, you need therapy. He didn't say, get a grip on yourself. He didn't say, crawl down to the pool and get in. Verse eight, Jesus just gave the man one short command, get up, pick up your pallet and walk. And immediately the man became well. Isn't that amazing? Picked up his pallet and walked. By the way, next week we'll get into the Sabbath, and he shouldn't have done that. Okay, he's in trouble. Jesus got in trouble. Anyway, the Apostle John recorded the truth about what happened to that lame man at the pulpit of Bethsaida 2,000 years ago, and it's the very same truth that we have today. The world is full of hurting people. people with emotional scars of all kinds, from wounds and illnesses, tragedies and deaths, friends, family members, experiences of being lied to and cheated and all kinds of things, false accusations and bad decisions. You ever made a bad decision? You suffered the consequences of it, right? Did it leave a scar? A bad decision, bleeding, difficult times, betrayed by a friend, being rejected by family members for various reasons, divorces, all kinds of things that create emotional scars, all kinds. None of us are exempt. This is a human problem, and there is none of us exempt. The person next to you, the person in front of you, the person behind you, all have scars. What, me? I don't have any scars. Yes, you do. The scars may be covered up because they are uncomfortable to reveal, but they are there nevertheless. They're there. If you happen to be one of those who suffer, know that you're not alone. Not alone. They're just saying, you've heard this saying, time heals all wounds. I don't believe that. No. Time only allows the wounds to scab over. They may hurt a little less, but they're still there. They're still there. Then one day, just one innocent comment, some small incident, someone's behavior rips the scab off and we bleed all over again. What did Jesus do when he came to the pool of Bethsaida? He saw that man lying there. He saw that man lying there and he sees you. He sees all of us. There's nothing hidden He is not oblivious to your pain and scars. He knows them all and he has the power to heal them. You ever think about that? That Jesus has the power to heal the scars, the emotional scars that we carry. Has the power to heal them. During my years of operating halfway houses in Reno, we had We housed addicts, both drug and alcohol addicts, all kinds, all kinds. And they're there because they tried to cover up their pain. And they get a little relief for a while, for a couple of hours. And then when they woke up out of that stupor, it was all over again. It didn't go away. Found a relief for a few hours and suffering again. Comments would be offered by other residents. You've probably heard some of these. If you were truly spiritual, okay, if you were truly spiritual, you wouldn't feel so bad. You need more faith. Just let go and let God. You need to pray more. You've heard all these things. Did Jesus say anything like that? He asked the man one question and it's the same question that he asked each one of us. Do you wish to get well? Do you wish to get well? Do you wish to get well? He asked that man a question because some people, he asked, here's the reason he asked that question. Some people don't want to get well. They feel good about all this somehow. He asked the man that question, do you want to get well? Why? One major reason why we don't want to get well is that our pride dictates. We hold onto our hurts and we nurse them and aggravate over them. There's something that, you know. You ever get mad and then you grind up over being mad at somebody? Okay. If we say yes to Jesus, it means we must admit our wounds and hurts to ourselves. Uh-oh. If we say yes to Jesus, we have to admit to ourselves that we have emotional scars, wounds. Hmm. Perhaps we may even have to admit to a trusted friend. It's hard to do. It means we are willing to make a choice, choosing healing over our continuing to hurt. It means that we are willing to forsake our pride. If we say yes to Jesus, we're willing to forsake our pride. Pride is the worst enemy that we have besides Satan. And he works on that pride. We have to forsake nursing our anger and bitterness and our misfortunes and truly believe that Jesus can heal us. The land man at the pool believed Jesus when he said, get up. He simply believed him. Get up, take up your pallet and walk. The question is, do you believe that Jesus can heal you of emotional scars? Amen. Carry emotional, and we all do this, okay? Carry emotional scars when we can be healed hinders our ministry. It hinders us from going out into this world and presenting the gospel. It requires a decision and an action on our part. Two things. It requires a decision and an action. It's a decision that we are to employ frequently in our daily lives. This doesn't happen like the men Gadab and Powell, you're gonna have to do this, okay? Daily. It's responsibility that we are each accountable to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ and a decision that, and here's the key, the decision to do this and to allow Jesus Christ to heal us is a decision that sets us free. brings freedom and peace within our souls and with God. Jesus' teaching is found first in Matthew 9, 12. And this is fundamental to healing the emotional scars. What does he say? Matthew 9, 12. And forgive us our trespasses. This is the Lord's prayer. Forgive us our trespasses as what? Oh, as we forgive the trespasses of others. Another version will say, forgive us our debts, or forgive us our sins, or we forgive those who sin against us. It's all the same. The Apostle Paul wrote to the churches about this very same thing. He wrote to the church of Corinth, of Colossians. Colossians 3, 12 and 13. He said, so as those who have been, listen to this, so as those who have been chosen by God, holy and believed, beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord forgave you, so, what? also should you, right? There would be no reason for Paul to write this unless he knew that there would be times when we do and say things that offend others. In every body, in every church, every body of Christ, sooner or later, somebody is gonna say something that offends somebody else. And what are we to do? What are we to do? The first thing, the first thing, if somebody offends me, I feel insulted, I feel hurt. And the first thing I do is what? Run off and sulk? No. The first thing I have to do is go to that person and say, I'm sorry. Jack, or I'm sorry, Mary, or whatever her name is. But you said this, and that really hurt, and can we reconcile here a little bit? That's our obligation. We forgive them. We struggle with forgiving others because, well, again, our pride, it's our pride. But consider the humility of Jesus. Consider the humility of Jesus. They nailed him to a cross, didn't they? And they mocked and they taunted him. And from his cross, well, first of all, he was scourged. And they shoved a crown of thorns on his head. They spat on him. Anybody ever spit on you? What's it feel like? Not very good, is it? And here he is, nailed to the cross, mocked and taunted, and from the cross he looks down and he says what? Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing. If anybody, if anybody should have a grudge against somebody, it would be Jesus Christ. and how he was treated on the cross. Have any of us, have any of us received an offense equal to or greater than Jesus Christ received? Then what's the obligation? It says what? Father, forgive them. They know not what they do. The scripture reminds us, Psalm 147.3, this is going way back, okay? He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. Talking about God here, right? The pre-incarnate Christ. The prophet Isaiah, inspired by the same pre-incarnate Christ, reminds us that our most holy God and Savior dwells with us for the purpose of reviving our hearts. Isaiah 57, 15. It says, for thus says the high and the exalted one who lives forever, whose name is holy. I dwell on a high and holy place and also with the, and get this, and also with the contrite and the lowly of spirit in order, what? To revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite. He's there to revive us. So let's come to a conclusion. While studying the scripture this week in preparation for this message, I was really strongly convicted by John's account. Jesus' encounter with the label man at the pool. That mercy and kindness, the pool of mercy and kindness. I pray that God is saying to this assembly, all of us here, And to all those listening and watching today, that it's time to leave our wounds behind. It's time to answer Jesus' question. Do you wish to get well? Do you wish to get well? It's your choice. That's where you come at. That's where I come at. It's our choice. If so, what does Christ say? Get up, pick up your pallet of water. That's it. Put the problems in his lap. He will take the burden. It's time to believe with your whole heart that Jesus can heal whatever wound, whatever offense, whatever pain is hidden in the heart, even the pains that have lingered for many years. Let them set you free. In doing so, there's a consequence, or a result. There's a result of this. In doing so, the health of our assembly will blossom in this valley, in this community. And our love for one another will be a bright light, the light of Christ. In this valley, in this community. Can we say amen? Amen. Amen. And let us pray. I'm going to read a prayer that I wrote during the week rather than verbalize it here, but anyway. Our Father in heaven, our one true living God, God of love, mercy, and grace, we approach your throne in awe of your majesty. We acknowledge, Father, your absolute sovereignty over all things, both spiritual and physical. We come to celebrate your perfection, your holiness, your righteousness. We come to thank you for our salvation through your only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and for your guidance and provision through your Holy Spirit. We come to you this morning to thank you for all the blessings you have poured out upon us, your mercy and grace in our salvation. We thank you, Father, for your discipline when we stray from your path of righteousness. Our Father, many in our nation have turned away from you. We follow false gods, idols of all kinds, and we've pursued, even unaware at times, the lusts and temptations and the lusts of the world dominated by Satan and his demons. Please forgive us, Father, and revive our hearts. Compel our nation's leaders to repent of their deceptions and lust for personal gain and to honor our Constitution. Close the mouths of those who lie to us and replace those who refuse to follow you, those who refuse to honor the Lord Jesus Christ and those who follow false religions, all those who hate truth with those who are dedicated to follow replace them with those who are dedicated to follow and obey your word. And we pray, Father, you will heal our land and heal its people. And finally, Father, we pray your will to protect the church