John 5:1 After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ²Now there is at Jerusalem by the sheep market a pool, which is called in the Hebrew tongue Bethesda, having five porches. ³In these lay a great multitude of impotent folk, of blind, halt, withered, waiting for the moving of the water. ⁴For 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. ⁵And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. ⁶When 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? ⁷The 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. ⁸Jesus 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. ¹⁰The 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. ¹²Then asked they him, What man is that which said unto thee, Take up thy bed, and walk? ¹³And he that was healed wist not who it was: for Jesus had conveyed himself away, a multitude being in that place. ¹⁴Afterward 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. ¹⁵The man departed, and told the Jews that it was Jesus, which had made him whole. ¹⁶And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.

The word Bethesda means house of kindness and all that is involved

The first porch I want to examine is the…
Porch of KINDNESS

³²And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. - Ephesians 4:32

 Kindness can soothe nerves, make your day, cause you to forget, help you smile, cause then to remember you, make their day, lead to better things.
 
 

Next let us see the…
Porch of MERCY

⁵Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Titus 3:5

We deal with mercy, not justice here.

There are times in our lives when we want to receive mercy - right?

Would we not want to have mercy (warning ticket) instead of justice (speeding ticket) if we were caught speeding.

There are times in our lives when we should want to give mercy - right?

I shudder to think if we could never obtain mercy -

Rom. 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
 
 

Another we need to see is the…
Porch of PITY

The daughter of Pharoah had compassion and pity upon Moses. She knew the sentence of death.

Do we see the plight of the children of Satan?

Do we place ourselves in their position?

Do we have pity for those that need it?

Ex. 2:6 And when she had opened it, she saw the child: and, behold, the babe wept. And she had compassion on him, and said, This is one of the Hebrews’ children.

¹⁵For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

- Hebrews 4:15
 
 

Of course we must also mention the…
Porch of LOVE

What is love? God is love!!!!

Do we share God? Do we share love?

Does God permeate our being? Does love permeate us?

De. 10:19 Love ye therefore the stranger: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt.

 Mt. 22:36-40
³⁶Master, which is the great commandment in the law? ³⁷Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. ³⁸This is the first and great commandment. ³⁹And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. ⁴⁰On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

1 Cor. 13:13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

Gal. 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, ²³Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
 
 

Last I want to examine the…
Porch of ACTION

What good does it do to have these things if we never put them to use or let them remain dormant?

The poor man was at the pool, yet he was powerless to receive the blessings he needed.

People are at our porch, and we let them lie lame and halt.

We must have action to accomplish what God needs from us.

In the parable of the good Samaritan, Christ asked the question…

Luke 10:36 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? ³⁷And he said, He that showed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.

Galatians 6:2,10
²Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.

¹⁰As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

Matthew 10:42
⁴²And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward.

 Jesus points to our hearts for the proper attitude, but He also expects actions form us to convey His love and caring for others!
 
 

Do we have the right porches for those around us? Do we have the action we need?
 
 

Gary Marcum - East 38th Street Free Will Baptist - 020401pm