Connect: What is one area where you might be tempted to demand Jesus “come down”, and what might it look like to “Go” trusting in Jesus himself this week?
Warm-Up
- What are the ‘too-good-to-be-true’ offers that we commonly receive? Why are we rightly wary?
- What gives you confidence about the reliability—and the claims—of the New Testament?
Read John 5:1-8
- What are we told about the Pool of Bethesda? What power did people believe it held?
- In our world today, what are the empty powers in which we can be tempted to place our hope?
- What was the condition of the man in focus? How helpless and desperate would he have been?
- When you hear of the man’s helplessness, how do you feel? How do you feel when you see people in similar situations today?
- What does Jesus first ask the man? How would you respond if someone asked you that?
- How does the man respond? What does he think Jesus can do for him?
- Do you ever look to Jesus as merely a “means to an end” rather than him being our ultimate end?
- When Jesus asks the man if he wants to be healed, how does this give insight into Jesus’ heart?
- How are we like the man? Do you think we’re ever blind to how desperate our situation is (without Jesus)?
- What is surprising about Jesus’ command in v.8? What does it show about the grace (gift) of Jesus?
- Did the man recognise who Jesus is after being healed? What does this tell us about the relationship between receiving God’s gifts and knowing the grace of God?
- Why does obedience follow belief? Why is this such good news? Do you ask God to help you live this out?
Read John 5:9-18
- How do the leaders respond to the healing? How is it evident that they are interested more in rule-breaking rather than restoration? What really incites them to persecute and seek to kill Jesus?
- When it comes to Jesus’ response regarding the Sabbath, why is his claim so significant?
- When did Jesus finish his work that opened the door to new creation for us?
- What is the greatest healing that Jesus offers to every person? What does it require?
- In what ways is Jesus’ invitation to us the best offer imaginable?
Apply In what parts of your life do you need to continue to change in response to the grace you have received? How could you ask God to help you in his strength?
