R.A. Torrey preaches on the healing of a man who had been infirm for thirty-eight years, emphasizing the compassion of Jesus as He seeks out the most desperate cases. The sermon highlights the man's hopeless condition and his encounter with the Great Physician, who not only healed him but also instructed him to take up his bed and walk. Torrey illustrates the importance of recognizing our need for healing and the necessity of confessing Christ after experiencing His transformative power. The message encourages believers to act on their faith and to publicly acknowledge the work of Christ in their lives, despite potential opposition. Ultimately, it underscores that true healing comes from Christ alone, who has the authority to restore and redeem.

DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS 1. In Need of the Great Physician, vv. 1–5 What sort of an occasion was it that took our Lord up to Jerusalem? Was there much joy in it for those whom the opening of the chapter pictures to us? Is there much real joy in any feast without Christ in it? What brought joy into these feasts for at least one miserable man? Why did our Lord go up to the feast? (Ex. 34:23). Was there any other reason for His going up besides the requirements of Jewish law? (Compare John 4:4, 7, etc.) What place in the Holy City especially attracted the suffering? What does “Bethesda” mean? Who had provided this “house of mercy” and fountain of health for the suffering? How was this fountain of health to be set aside? In whom can we today find the true Bethesda for all the woes and miseries of man? (Matt. 11:28.) What sort of a company was found gathered around this pool that divine grace had provided? Of what may we see a picture in this “multitude of them that were sick, blind, halt, withered”? Where did men soon find was the best place to bring these afflicted ones? (Matt. 15:30.) Which seems to have been the most miserable, helpless and hopeless case there? Was it his first day there (v. 7)? What facts made his case seemingly beyond all hope? Why was it not beyond hope? (Gen. 18:14; Jer. 32:17.) 2. Made Whole by the Great Physician, vv. 6–9 Who saw this man in his wretched and hopeless condition? What was His feeling as He looked upon this unhappy man? (Matt. 14:14.) What is always His feeling as He looks upon the sufferings and misfortunes of men? (Heb. 13:8; 4:15, 16; Is. 63:9.) What was it about the man that especially awakened His sympathy? Is the fact that a man has been a long time in his present evil case any reason for supposing He will not take an interest in him, save, help, or heal him? (Mark 9:21; Luke 8:43, 13, 16; Acts 3:2; 4:22; 9:33; 14:8.) Why did He select this man from all the sad cases at the pool as the one He would heal? What kind of cases does He delight in? What question did He put to the man? What did that question imply? Could this man make himself whole, or must he be made whole? Can the unsaved man make himself whole? (Eph. 2:1, 8.) In order to wish to be made whole what must this man first recognize? In order to wish to be saved what must the sinner first recognize? Did this man wish to be made whole? Had that anything to do with his being made whole? Why is it that there are so many whom our Lord does not make whole? (Matt. 23:37.) What was the only way of being made whole of which the man had any thought? What did our Lord do? What was the effect of His word? Who was He in whose word there was so much power? (Ps. 107:20.) Is there power in the word of Christ to save today? (Ro. 1:16.) What is all we have to do? (John 5:24.) How soon was the man made whole? (Mark 1:31, 42.) How did the man show that he was made whole? When our Lord makes us whole how will we show it? 3. Confessing the Great Physician, vv. 10–16 How did the man use his Christ-given strength? Did he find any opposition in doing as our Lord bade him? Will we find any opposition if we do as He bids us? (2 Tim. 3:12.) What was the objection that was raised? What was his answer? Is it a sufficient answer to any objection that any one may raise to our course of action, that “our Lord bids us do so”? (Matt. 23:10; John 2:5; 15:14.) How should strength that He has given be used? Did the man tell them yet who had made him whole? Why not? As soon as he found out what did he do? As soon as we know who it is that has blessed us, what ought we to do? (Ro. 10:10; Matt. 10:32, 33.) Did it take any courage to confess Jesus to these men? Why did he do it? (Matt. 12:34, last half.) What difference is there in the phrase by which the Jews described Jesus (v. 12), and that by which the healed man described Him (v. 15)? What did the Jews see in Jesus? What did the man see in Him? Where did our Lord find the man after He had healed him? Where ought He to find us often after He has blessed us? Why did the man go to the temple? (Ps. 66:13–15; 116:12–19.) Why did our Lord look this man up in the temple? What was His counsel to him? What was evidently the cause of this man’s previous suffering? CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS 1. Jesus (1). What He was: divine, 8, 9; human, 6; Lord of the Sabbath, 11; especially drawn toward the most desperate cases, 6; hated of men, 16. (2). What He had: compassion upon all men’s sorrows, 6; authority over all man’s traditions, absolute right to command all man’s actions, 11; power by His word to banish all man’s diseases, 8, 9. (3). What He did: observed the law of Moses, sought the places where the multitudes gathered, 1; sought the haunts of misery, looked upon, pitied the wretched, friendless, hopeless and sinning, 6; transformed suffering and despair into joy and hope, 7, 9; removed the awful consequences of sin, 9, 14; healed the hopelessly sick, 5–9; followed up, instructed those whom He had healed, 14. 2. The Man (1). His condition: incurably sick, many years in that condition, 5; friendless, helpless, hopeless, 7; a sinner, 14; the most unpromising and miserable man in the crowd, 3–6. (2). What happened to him: Jesus saw him, had compassion on him, spoke to him, made him whole, 6, 8, 9. (3). What he did: wished to be made whole, 6, 7; listened to Jesus, believed, acted upon what Jesus said, 6–9; showed the reality of his salvation by his walk, used the strength received from Christ in obeying Christ, 9; obeyed Christ in the face of bitter opposition, 10, 11; went to the house of God to return thanks, 14; confessed Christ before His enemies, 15.