Things could get a LOT worse, but then again That’s your Choice

John 5:14

“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.”

The Scene of Desperation

Picture the moment: Jesus steps into the world of a man who had been the object of desperation, but never of pity. A son of Abraham, yet cast aside for thirty-eight years. He was not merely lame—the Bible calls him impotent. Powerless. Hopeless. Forgotten.

For nearly four decades, the same length of time the Israelites wandered in the wilderness, he had no one—no family, no friends, no helping hand. Not a single person cared enough to lift him into the water when the angel stirred it. Instead, time after time, they trampled over him in their own desperation to be healed. No one made way for him. No one paused for him. He was utterly alone—abandoned in the middle of a crowd.

Then, Jesus saw him.

“When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case…” (John 5:6)

Jesus did not step over him. He did not ignore him. He saw him.

I believe Jesus had always seen him—every hair on his head numbered, every sorrow known. Just as He had revealed everything to the woman at the well in the previous chapter (“Come, see a man, which told me all things that ever I did…” John 4:29), so too did He know this man’s entire story before a single word was spoken.

A Question That Was No Question at All

Jesus then asks a question. A simple, direct, and yet deeply probing question:

“Wilt thou be made whole?”

Now, let me ask you: Does Jesus ever ask a question He does not already know the answer to?
Of course not. Every question He asks is intentional—designed to reveal, convict, and instruct.

Consider some of His other questions:
• “Whom do men say that I the Son of Man am?” (Matthew 16:13) — Not for His sake, but to draw out Peter’s confession.
• “What is written in the law? How readest thou?” (Luke 10:26) — A lawyer is forced to examine his own understanding.
• “Why callest thou me good?” (Mark 10:18) — A rich young ruler is challenged to recognize Jesus’ true nature.
• “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me?” (John 21:17) — Peter is confronted three times to match his three denials.

So when Jesus asks, “Wilt thou be made whole?” it is not for His knowledge but for the man’s. Jesus is forcing him to confront his own condition, his desires, and his faith. But notice something remarkable:

The Man Never Answers

He does not say, “Yes, Lord!”
He does not ask, “Who are you?” or “What can you do for me?”
Instead, he immediately shifts blame to others:

“Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pool…” (John 5:7)

He deflects.
He does not confess. He does not express faith. Instead, he offers a complaint, not a cry for help.

How many today do the same? When confronted with their own brokenness, rather than turn to Christ, they shift blame:
• Adam: “The woman whom THOU gavest to be with me, she gave me of the tree…” (Genesis 3:12)
• Cain: “Am I my brother’s keeper?” (Genesis 4:9)
• Saul: “The people spared the best of the sheep and of the oxen…” (1 Samuel 15:15)

Each time, God was offering a chance for confession, an opportunity to exercise faith, but instead, they pointed fingers.

This man does the same.

Did He Even Want to Be Whole?

Jesus did not ask, “Do you want to walk?” or “Do you want to be healed?” He asked, “Do you want to be whole?”
There is a vast difference between the two.

Could it be that after 38 years, his condition had become his identity? That his heart had grown comfortable in his misery? Many today are like this—so bound by their past hurts, their anger, their excuses, that they would rather stay broken than risk the change that comes with repentance.

I have met many “professionally homeless” people—men who would rather live under a bridge than take responsibility for their families. I have seen men who would rather sell their child’s shoes than give up their drinking. It is a hard thing to witness—but it is real, and it is exactly what we see in this man.

Jesus Heals Despite the Man’s Unbelief

And yet—without the man asking, without even knowing who Jesus was—Jesus commands:

“Rise, take up thy bed, and walk.” (John 5:8)

Immediately, the man is made whole. No faith was expressed. No gratitude was given. Yet he obeys, picks up his bed, and walks.

And what does he do next? Does he seek out Jesus? Does he give thanks? No. Instead, he gets caught up in controversy with the Jews:

“The Jews therefore said unto him that was cured, It is the sabbath day: it is not lawful for thee to carry thy bed.” (John 5:10)

And what is his response? Another deflection:
“He that made me whole, the same said unto me, Take up thy bed, and walk.” (John 5:11)

Even here, he avoids responsibility. Rather than testifying, he shifts the focus onto Jesus.

Jesus’ Final Warning: “Sin No More”

Later, when Jesus finds him in the temple, He gives a solemn warning:

“Behold, thou art made whole: sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.” (John 5:14)

This is critical—Jesus links the man’s former condition to sin. His affliction was not merely physical but spiritual. Jesus is warning him: if he continues in his sin, something worse than 38 years of infirmity will come upon him.

What Could Be Worse Than Nearly Four Decades of Suffering?

Eternal separation from God in Hell—and eventually, the lake of fire.

Like the angel at the beginning of this story—the one many wish was not real—hell is real.
Jesus said:

“And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.”

—Luke 12:4-5

There is a place the rich man in Luke 16 wished did not exist—a place of fire and torment.
There is a place in Mark where the same Bible correctors who would erase the angel would also remove:
• The worm that dieth not and the fire that is not quenched (Mark 9:42-48), even though Jesus repeats it three times.
• A hell that enlarges itself (Isaiah 5:14-15).
• A place that is never full (Proverbs 27:20).

They would ignore that, ultimately, many will be bound hand and foot and cast into outer darkness, into a lake of fire—where even death and hell are thrown.

They think it’s a fable.
They think the smoke of their torment ascending forever and ever is a fable.
They think eternal separation from God is a fable.
They think hellfire is a fable.

But Jesus said hell is real—just as real as:
• The whale that swallowed Jonah.
• The locusts of Revelation.
• The unicorns of the Old Testament.
• Leviathan.
• The resurrection of Jesus Christ.
• The cross itself.

A Warning and a Choice

Jesus finds this man, now sitting alone in the temple, and tells him plainly:

“Sin no more, lest a worse thing come unto thee.”

—John 5:14

There is something worse than being crippled for 38 years.
Jesus always puts people in impossible situations so they have no choice but to confess Him as their only hope.

For by grace ye are saved… but if you want to go it alone, you will die the enemy of God, aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and without hope—
Begging.
Begging in the darkness for a Lazarus who is no longer on the other side of the gulf.
Begging for just a drop of water to cool your tongue.

This man had a choice. Instead of being grateful and repentant, like others Jesus healed, he goaded and blamed others. When he found out Jesus had healed him, rather than worshiping Christ, he informed on Him like a Judas.

We don’t know what happened to him after that.
But if the text is any clue, he found out that there are far worse things than being crippled—
because he died in his sins.

“If ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.”

—John 8:24

This man received physical healing—but there is no evidence of a transformed heart.

Contrast him with others Jesus healed:
• The ten lepers—one of whom returned to give thanks.
• The blind man of John 9—who responded with faith and worship.

But this man?
He fades into the background.
His story becomes a tale of ingratitude, blame-shifting, and missed opportunity.

What About You?

When Jesus asks, Wilt thou be made whole?—how will you respond?
• Will you cling to your past wounds and shift blame? And eventually things will get a LOT worse.
• Or will you confess Christ, believe in faith, and call upon His name to be saved?

You might think things couldn’t get worse…
I’m telling you now—you’re wrong.

“Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”

—Luke 13:3

Jesus is still asking that question today.
Not under the Mosaic Law.
Not working through angels.
But in these last days—through the preaching of His Word.

This is a sovereign calling and a generous offer:
His life for your sin and death.

How you answer determines everything. And you my friends have a lot more revelation than this man did. You know that Jesus was eventually crucified and that he was buried and that he rose again. You can read the rest of the gospels and listen to the cries from the cross and witness the stone rolled away. You my friends have the entire cannon of scripture and the words of eternal life.

Things can and will get a lot better… in fact they will be perfect … For those who trust him and are Born Again. There will be a new heaven and a new earth one day and in the mean time Jesus said he is preparing, for those who come unto him by Faith A Mansion in Heaven, that he will wipe away all tears and establish a kingdom where sin and death are no more.. but that’s for another sermon …

But that’s not for you if you reject his Call

The Sovereign Call: Will You Answer?

Today, the invitation is open, and the call goes forth: repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ. Salvation is not an accident, nor is it left to chance—it is the sovereign work of God drawing men to Himself.

Jesus said:

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.”

—John 6:44

Yet, in His great mercy, He extends this call to all:

“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

—Romans 10:13

The truth is, you are not here by accident. God, in His love and grace, has brought you to this moment—to hear the gospel, to understand your lost condition, and to know that there is a way of escape.

You are a sinner in need of salvation.

“For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.”

—Romans 3:23

Your sin has earned you eternal death in hell.

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

—Romans 6:23

Yet, before the foundation of the world, God had a plan of redemption. Christ came, lived the sinless life you could not live, died the death you deserved, and rose again for your justification.

“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”

—Romans 5:8

This is not about your effort, your merit, or your righteousness—it is about God’s grace alone.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”

—Ephesians 2:8-9

God is calling you to repent and believe the gospel. He is sovereign over salvation, yet He commands all men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30).

So what must you do? Come to Christ. Believe and receive Him.

“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.”

—Romans 10:9

The decision is before you. Will you remain in your sin and perish, or will you turn to Christ and live?

“Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

—2 Corinthians 6:2

If God is dealing with your heart and you know you need to be saved, call upon Him in faith:

“Lord, I know that I am a sinner. I believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins, was buried, and rose again. I repent and trust in Him alone for my salvation. Please save me and give me eternal life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”

If you have trusted Christ today, know that it is God who has drawn you, saved you, and secured you in His hand. Now, follow Him read His Word, and grow in your walk with the Lord.

Heaven is real, Hell is real, and eternity is forever. Do not reject this call. Come to Christ today.