Scripture: And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.” This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God. John 5:16-18 ESV
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Observation: Recapping Yesterday’s Daily Focus, John tells us about a pool near the Sheep Gate with a five-colonnade cover that let the wind blow through. Many invalids congregated at this pool, waiting for a gust to stir the water, believing whoever entered the water first would find healing. Jesus approaches a particular paralytic and asks him, “Do you want to be healed?” The man explains that when the waters stir, other invalids with better mobility make it to the pool first. Unwilling to entertain more excuses, Jesus commands him to get up, take his bedroll, and walk. Without hesitation, the man gathers his belongings and walks away.
Meanwhile, some spying Jews admonish the man for laboring on the Sabbath (carrying his bedroll). He then deflects blame on the miracle worker who commanded him to pick up his bedroll. So the Jews inquire about the identity of this man who gave the command, but the former invalid could not oblige since Jesus did not reveal his identity. But Jesus later spotted the healed man in the temple and cautioned him to sin no more lest something worse would happen to him. Still, the foolish man sought to gain favor with the elders and reported to them that Jesus had healed him.
Today’s devotion reviews three verses that bridge the story of Jesus commanding a healed paraplegic to rise, take his bedroll, and walk with an ensuing confrontation with the religious leaders regarding Jesus’ supposed flouting of the Mosaic law concerning the observance of the Sabbath (the fourth commandment, Exodus 20:8-11). John also notes that these self-appointed guardians of the faith further charged Jesus with blasphemy by ostensibly making himself equal to God when claiming authority over the Sabbath. Thus, they sought to kill him.
Takeaway: The synoptic Gospels cite other instances where Jesus either claims authority as Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28), questions whether it is unlawful to do good on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-16), or calls out the religious leaders for their hypocrisy regarding their observance of work on the Sabbath (Luke 13:10-6). These examples bring perspective to the real issue driving the religious leaders’ scheme to rid Jesus from the face of the earth: fear of losing their humanly constructed traditions that far exceeded the law’s original intent. Conversely, Jesus contended that addressing human needs on the Sabbath would not constitute a violation any more than rescuing a farm animal on the Sabbath, as these religious leaders sometimes would do (Luke 14:1-6).
Jesus’ second counterpoint pertained to following the example of his Father, who continues to do creative work without interruption. Thus, being one with his Father (i.e., in unity with his Father), he must do likewise. It is a slight nuance but an important one: Jesus is the second person of the Godhead. He does not claim to be God the Father (the first person of the Godhead). Nevertheless, the religious leaders understood that such a claim of unity with the Father was tantamount to equality. Still, as theologian Gerald Brochert argues, “What Jesus, as the One and Only Son of God, claimed was to be sent by God, on a mission for God, doing the works of God, obedient to God, and bringing glory to God. That is not the role of one who displaces God but one who is a representative or emissary of God” (The New American Commentary: John, vol.25, p.236). In other words, Jesus is God’s divine agent, empowered and commissioned to do what his Father does.
Our takeaway? Outside of developing a clearer understanding of the first two persons of the Trinity, it is helpful to understand our human agency as ambassadors of the Father and Son. We come under Christ’s authority to go and make disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:19). And we come under the Father’s authority to minister reconciliation to fellow humans, given that the Father reconciled us to him through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18-19). In Chapter 6, Paul draws his conclusion to our agency: like Jesus, we endure hardship to aid others in receiving the Gospel. Yet, for all we may sacrifice, we possess everything (6:1-10). What do we gain? Jesus, our “Everything.” And he will always be with us to the end of the age (Matthew 28:20). So with this in mind, we need to continue doing the good works that God has prepared for us in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:10), which may flex with our Sabbath rest.
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your Son who gave his all to ensure we would reconcile with you. And we thank you that he rose above humanly contrived traditions to faithfully do good works, even in moderation on the Sabbath. So would you please help us to discern your will through the guidance of the Holy Spirit to labor where you are working without minimizing or taking control of your fourth commandment but instead flexing with our Sabbath as your Holy Spirit leads? Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling