THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

DARKNESS 2

JOHN 12:44-50

Introduction:

This is the second message entitled “Darkness.” The Lord said that men love darkness because their deed are evil, John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

Darkness gives everyone an eerie feeling. It scares children. There is something about darkness that we just don’t like. Let consider a few things about darkness from the Scriptures.

I. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF IGNORANCE

A. A great darkness, Matthew 6:23, “But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!”

1. Men walk in darkness, Psalm 82:5, “They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.”

a. He leaves the path of uprightness, Proverbs 2:13, “Who leave the paths of uprightness, to walk in the ways of darkness;”

b. He that walks in darkness is a fool, Ecclesiastes 2:14. “The wise man’s eyes are in his head; but the fool walketh in darkness: and I myself perceived also that one event happeneth to them all.”

2. Man sits in darkness, Psalm 107:10, “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;”

a. Sin binds man, Job 36:8, “And if they be bound in fetters, and be holden in cords of affliction;”

b. The Lord shows the need for repentance of sin, Matthew 4:16-17, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 17 From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.”

B. A great light, Isaiah 9:2, “The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined.”

1. The Lord shall arise, Isaiah 60:2, “For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee.”

2. He will bring healing, Malachi 4:2, “But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall.”

3. The Lord brought him out of darkness, Psalm 107:14-16, “He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder. 15 Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! 16 For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.”

II. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF DEATH

A. The shadow of death, Job 10:21, “Before I go whence I shall not return, even to the land of darkness and the shadow of death;”

B. The grave, Job 17:13, “If I wait, the grave is mine house: I have made my bed in the darkness.”

1. In death there is no remembrance of God, Psalm 6:5, “For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?”

2. There is sorrow in death, Psalm 18:4-5, “The sorrows of death compassed me, and the floods of ungodly men made me afraid. 5 The sorrows of hell compassed me about: the snares of death prevented me.”

3. The Lord Jesus was brought to the “dust of death” to save us from hell, Psalm 22:15-18, “My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. 16 For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: they pierced my hands and my feet. 17 I may tell all my bones: they look and stare upon me. 18 They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture.”

III. JESUS CHRIST BROUGHT LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS

A. He opened the blind eyes, Isaiah 42:7, “To open the blind eyes, to bring out the prisoners from the prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.”

1. He brought the blind by a way they knew not, Isaiah 42:16, “And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known: I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight. These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them.”

2. Then their eyes shall be opened, Isaiah 35:5, “Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.”

3. They shall be like blind Bartimaeus, Mark 10:51-52, “And Jesus answered and said unto him, What wilt thou that I should do unto thee? The blind man said unto him, Lord, that I might receive my sight. 52 And Jesus said unto him, Go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole. And immediately he received his sight, and followed Jesus in the way.”

4. Jesus will never forsake His people, Hebrews 13:5, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

a. The righteous will not be forsaken, Psalm 37:25, “I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread.”

b. The Lord preserves the saints, Psalm 37:28, “For the LORD loveth judgment, and forsaketh not his saints; they are preserved for ever: but the seed of the wicked shall be cut off,”

c. There is not need to fear, Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

CONCLUSION:

The darkness is past, 1 John 2:8, “Again, a new commandment I write unto you, which thing is true in him and in you: because the darkness is past, and the true light now shineth.” There is no nee to fear because Jesus Christ has died that we might live. He became sin for us, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” The darkness is past forever.

DARKNESS

JOHN 12:44-50

Introduction:

It was 9:00 AM when Jesus was crucified, Mark 15:25,“And it was the third hour, and they crucified him.” The Lord hung there on the Cross of Calvary for three hours suffering and then God turned out the lights. It was dark from noon until 3:00 PM, Mark 15:33, “And when the sixth hour was come, there was darkness over the whole land until the ninth hour.”

I. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF THE JUDGMENT OF SIN

Matthew 27:45, “Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land unto the ninth hour.”

A. God turned out the lights of heaven, Luke 23:44, “And it was about the sixth hour, and there was a darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour.”

NOTE: “Darkness sometimes precedes earthquakes and one came at this time or dense masses of clouds may have obscured the sun’s light.” — A. T. Robertson

A. The darkness manifested the fact that the Lord COULD NOT LOOK ON as His Son bore our sins.

1. The Lord’s question, Matthew 27:46, “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?”

2. The Father’s answer, 2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.”

3. God CANNOT LOOK upon our sin, Habakkuk 1:13a, “Thou art of purer eyes than to behold evil, and canst not look on iniquity:”

a. God does not take pleasure in wickedness, Psalm 5:4, “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”

b. God is a holy God, 1 Peter 1:15-16, “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

II. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF THE JUDGMENTS THAT ATTEND ON THE COMING OF THE LORD

A. The Day of the Lord cometh, Isaiah 13:9-10, “Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it. 10 For the stars of heaven and the constellations thereof shall not give their light: the sun shall be darkened in his going forth, and the moon shall not cause her light to shine.”

1. This will be the beginning of sorrow, Matthew 24:8, “All these are the beginning of sorrows.”

2. It will be a time of darkness and sorrow, Isaiah 5:30, “And in that day they shall roar against them like the roaring of the sea: and if one look unto the land, behold darkness and sorrow, and the light is darkened in the heavens thereof.”

3. It will be a day of punishment, Isaiah 24:21, “And it shall come to pass in that day, that the LORD shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high, and the kings of the earth upon the earth. 23 Then the moon shall be confounded, and the sun ashamed, when the LORD of hosts shall reign in mount Zion, and in Jerusalem, and before his ancients gloriously.”

B. After the tribulation of those days, Matthew 24:29, “Immediately after the tribulation of those days shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:”

III. DARKNESS IS A SYMBOL OF MISERY AND ADVERSITY

A. The UNBELIEVER sits in darkness as a prisoner in a dungeon, Psalm 107:10, “Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;”

1. These saw a great light, Matthew 4:16, “The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.”

2. It is the LIGHT that GUIDES the feet into the WAY of peace, Luke 1:79, “To give light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace.”

B. Sin DRIVES men to TROUBLE and darkness, Isaiah 8:22, “And they shall look unto the earth; and behold trouble and darkness, dimness of anguish; and they shall be driven to darkness.”

1. Men LOVE darkness, John 3:19, “And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.”

2. “Works of darkness” are impure actions, Ephesians 5:11, “And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.”

a. The Believer is admonished not to be involved in them, Ephesians 5:7-8, “Be not ye therefore partakers with them. 8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of light:”

b. Believers are to AVOID the wicked, Proverbs 4:14-15, “Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the way of evil men. 15 Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it, and pass away.”

3. The darkness of sin shuts out our prayers from the Lord, Lamentations 3:6-8, “He hath set me in dark places, as they that be dead of old. 7 He hath hedged me about, that I cannot get out: he hath made my chain heavy. 8 Also when I cry and shout, he shutteth out my prayer.”

C. Rejection of Christ as Savior sends men to Hell or “outer darkness,” Matthew 8:12, “But the children of the kingdom shall be cast out into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

CONCLUSION:

“Outer darkness” refers to the darkness of the streets in the East, which are never lighted up by any public or private lamps after nightfall, in contrast with the blaze of cheerful light in the house. It is a darkness you can feel.

Christ is the way of escape if you will only trust Him.

CONFUSED AND UNSURE OF THE FUTURE

JOHN 21:1-14

Introduction:

The disciples were badly confused after the crucifixion of the Lord. They were scattered as the Lord said they would be, Matthew 26:31, “Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.” They had gone through some difficult things.

After the resurrection of the Lord and he began to show Himself to the disciples at different times things got better. However, soon after the resurrection some were still at a loss as to what to do.

I. THE DISCIPLES HAD EXPERIENCED A TUMULTUOUS SERIES OF EVENTS

A. The Triumphal Entry, John 12:9-19.

B. The expectation of a New Kingdom.

1. The Jews expected it, John 6:15, When Jesus therefore perceived that they would come and take him by force, to make him a king, he departed again into a mountain himself alone.”

2. The disciples expected it, Acts 1:6-7, “When they therefore were come together, they asked of him, saying, Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom to Israel? 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.”

C. A betrayal by a trusted friend.

1. The Lord knew who it would be, John 13:11, “For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean.”

2. The disciples did not know that it was Judas Iscariot, Matthew 26:21-22, “And as they did eat, he said, Verily I say unto you, that one of you shall betray me . 22 And they were exceeding sorrowful, and began every one of them to say unto him, Lord, is it I? 25 Then Judas, which betrayed him, answered and said, Master, is it I ? He said unto him, Thou hast said.”

D. Their near arrest, John 18:8-9, “Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way: 9 -That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.”

E. The denial of Jesus by their leader Peter, John 18:17, 25. 27, “Then saith the damsel that kept the door unto Peter, Art not thou also one of this man’s disciples? He saith, I am not…25 And Simon Peter stood and warmed himself. They said therefore unto him, Art not thou also one of his disciples? He denied it , and said, I am not…27- Peter then denied again: and immediately the cock crew.”

F. The agonizing crucifixion of Jesus.

1. The various trials of Jesus, John 18:12-13, “Then the band and the captain and officers of the Jews took Jesus, and bound him, 13- And led him away to Annas first; for he was father in law to Caiaphas, which was the high priest that same year.”

2. Finally His death on the cross, John 19:16-18, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away. 17 And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha: 18 Where they crucified him, and two other with him, on either side one, and Jesus in the midst.”

G. The Resurrection.

1. The promise that the disciples did not understand, Mark 8:31-33, “And he began to teach them, that the Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected of the elders, and of the chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he spake that saying openly. And Peter took him, and began to rebuke him. 33 But when he had turned about and looked on his disciples, he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but the things that be of men.”

2. The Joy of the disciples upon seeing the Resurrected Christ, John 20:20, “And when he had so said, he shewed unto them his hands and his side. Then were the disciples glad, when they saw the Lord.”

II. SIGNIFICANT EVIDENCE OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

A. Jesus had promised to meet His disciples in Galilee, Matthew 28:7, “And go quickly, and tell his disciples that he is risen from the dead; and, behold, he goeth before you into Galilee; there shall ye see him: lo, I have told you.”

B. Peter and the disciples went to Galilee and went fishing not knowing what else to do, vs. 2-3.

1. Some were partners in fishing before, Luke 5:10, “And so was also James, and John, the sons of Zebedee, which were partners with Simon. And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not; from henceforth thou shalt catch men.”

2. So they returned to their trade, but without success, vs. 3-5.

CHRIST LIVES TODAY

JOHN 20:19-31

Introduction:

The resurrection had taken place and Jesus had been seen by Mary Magdalene who had told the disciples. Peter and another disciple (probably John) had run to the tomb to find Jesus gone. They were perplexed and did not fully believe what Mary Magdalene said, Mark 16:10-13, “And she went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept. 11 And they, when they had heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, believed not. 12 After that he appeared in another form unto two of them, as they walked, and went into the country. 13 And they went and told it unto the residue: neither believed they them.”

Now the Lord shows Himself to the other disciples establishing the testimony of the resurrection which the Apostle Paul speaks of in 1 Corinthians 15:1-8.

I. THE INFALLIBLE PROOF OF CHRIST’S RESURRECTION

A. Christ shows Himself ALIVE, v. 19; Acts 1:3, “To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God:”

1. Mary Magdalene had seen Jesus at the tomb, vs. 15-16, “Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away. 16 Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master.”

2. Now the Lord reveals Himself to the other disciples, v. 19; Mark 16:14, “Afterward he appeared unto the eleven as they sat at meat, and upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them which had seen him after he was risen.”

3. Thomas was not present at that first meeting, v. 24, “But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came.”

a. Thomas did not believe the report of his brethren, vs. 25, “he other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the Lord. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

b. Later the Lord deals with his unbelief, vs. 26-27, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith he to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing.”

c. Thomas is assured by the Lord, v. 28, “And Thomas answered and said unto him, My Lord and my God.”

B. Shalom = “Peace be with you,” John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

1. This is NOT the peace of the WORLD, but the peace of God, Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”

2. This peace was because their sins were forgiven and the “peace of God” would guard their lives, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

3. The world is unable to give this kind of peace.

a. Fear of death and fear of the future are removed as Jesus’ followers trust in Him, Hebrews 2:14-15, “Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; 15 And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.”

b. Thus they need not be troubled, John 14:1, “Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”

II. THE FIRST DAY OF THE WEEK

A. It was the same day that he rose, being the first day of the week, v. 19.

1. It was a PRIVATE MEETING of the Apostles, eleven of them, and some more of their friends with them, Luke 24:33, “And they rose up the same hour, and returned to Jerusalem, and found the eleven gathered together, and them that were with them,”

2. According to John the Lord ESTABLISHED THAT DAY as the day of Worship by appearing on that day to His worshippers, Revelation 1:10, “I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,”

B. The Lord’s churches have met on the first day of the week since then, Acts 20:7, “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.”

1. The second meeting of the Lord after His resurrection was on the first day of the week, John 20:26, “And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you.”

2. Paul reinforced this precedent during his ministry, 1 Corinthians 16:2, “Upon the first day of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as God hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.”

CONCLUSION:

“This is the clearest verse in the New Testament which indicates that Sunday was the normal meeting day of the apostolic church. Paul stayed in Troas for seven days (v. 6) and the church met on the first day of the week. Luke’s method of counting days here was not Jewish, which measures from sundown to sundown, but Roman, which counted from midnight to midnight. This can be stated dogmatically because “daylight” (v. 11) was the next day (v. 7).” The Bible Knowledge Commentary.

BETHESDA, THE HOUSE OF MERCY

JOHN 5:1-9

Introduction:

Bethesada was a pool (a pond or bath) of water in Jerusalem where appeared the sick and diseased to be healed. “Dr. Lightfoot’s conjecture is that this was the upper pool (Isaiah 7:3), and the old pool, Isaiah 22:11; that it had been used for washing from ceremonial pollutions, for convenience of which the porches were built to dress and undress in, but it was lately become medicinal.” —Matthew Henry.

I. IT WAS IN JERUSALEM

A. The Pool, Bethesda – “house of mercy,” near the Temple.

B. The great number of disabled people pictures the sad spiritual plight of the world, v. 3, “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water.”

II. THE LORD AT WORK ON THE SABBATH

A. The paralyzed man had lived with death for 38 years, v. 5, “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years.”

1. The Lord knew about him, v. 6, “When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?”

a. The Lord knows everything about us, John 21:17, “He saith unto him the third time, Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me? Peter was grieved because he said unto him the third time, Lovest thou me? And he said unto him, Lord, thou knowest all things; thou knowest that I love thee. Jesus saith unto him, Feed my sheep.”

b. There is nothing hid from Him, Hebrews 4:13, “Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.”

2. “Wilt thou be made whole?”

a. God offers SPIRITUAL HEALING to a rebellious people, Isaiah 65:2, “I have spread out my hands all the day unto a rebellious people, which walketh in a way that was not good, after their own thoughts;”

b. This question was put to a blind man, Luke 18:41-42, “Saying, What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee? And he said, Lord, that I may receive my sight. 42And Jesus said unto him, Receive thy sight: thy faith hath saved thee.”

B. This man was so EMPTY OF HOPE that he had to be asked, “Do you want to get well?”

1. The pool of Bethesda was a healing pool, vs. 3-4, “In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain season into the pool, and troubled the water: whosoever then first after the troubling of the water stepped in was made whole of whatsoever disease he had.”

2. This man had A REAL PROBLEM besides his disease, v. 7, “The impotent man answered him, Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool: but while I am coming, another steppeth down before me.”

a. He had NO HELPER, Psalm 72:12, “For he shall deliver the needy when he crieth; the poor also, and him that hath no helper.”

b. NO ONE CARED for his soul, Psalm 142:4, “I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul.”

c. No one that is, BUT JESUS, Romans 5:6-8, “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. 8But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

C. The LORD heals the impotent man, vs. 8-9, “Jesus saith unto him, Rise, take up thy bed, and walk. 9And immediately the man was made whole, and took up his bed, and walked: and on the same day was the sabbath.”

1. No mention of faith until later.

2. The man responds immediately, v. 9.

a. The Lord does some things in reverse order, Matthew 9:6-7, “But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. 7And he arose, and departed to his house.”

b. The man’s problem was related to sin, v. 14, “Afterward Jesus findeth him in the temple, and said unto him, Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

c. The woman with the issue of blood found immediate healing, Mark 5:29, “And straightway the fountain of her blood was dried up; and she felt in her body that she was healed of that plague.”

3. It was done on the Sabbath, vs. 10-11, “The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed. 11He answered them, He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.”

a. He was to do no work on the Sabbath, Exodus 20:10, ” But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:”

b. Jesus was always at odds with the Jews over the Sabbath.

1) The case of eating grain in the field on the Sabbath, Mark 2:23, “And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful?”

2) The case “to do good on the Sabbath,” Mark 3:4-5, “And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. 5And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched it out: and his hand was restored whole as the other.”

CONCLUSION:

The Lord did a great work in the life of this impotent man not only by healing him, but by saving his soul also. Next week we will see what is involved in the conflict over the Sabbath.