John 5:16-23 – The Greatness of Christ
There are some works which are lawful to do on the Sabbath. The Jews find fault because Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. They accuse Him of breaking the fourth commandment. In Jesus’ reply it is as if He is saying, “Though my Father rested on the seventh day from His work of creation, He has never rested for a moment from taking care of the world and supplying the needs of His creatures.” Jesus doesn’t break the fourth commandment when He heals the sick anymore than God the Father breaks it when He causes the sun to rise and the grass to grow on the Sabbath. Jesus is not throwing out the fourth commandment, He is just showing us that works of necessity and mercy are permitted. But today we are in far more danger of not keeping the Sabbath at all than in keeping it too strictly. We must be on guard against this tendency in us and in our world.
Jesus also teaches about His dignity and greatness. He claims that He is one with God the Father. In action, in knowledge, in heart, in will, the Father and the Son are One, – two Persons, but one God. Truths like these are beyond our power to explain fully, but we need to believe and rest upon them. Jesus claims as well that He can give life. Life is precisely that thing that man, with all his cleverness, can neither create or restore when taken away. But life is in the hands of the Lord Jesus. Dead bodies and dead souls are under His dominion. He has the keys of death and hell. In Him is life. He is the life. Christ also claims here that He has the authority to judge the world. All power and authority is given to Him. He is the King and Judge of all mankind. Before Him every knee shall bow, and every tongue confess that He is Lord
Questions
- What does Jesus teach about the Sabbath?
- What does Jesus teach about Himself?
Prayer Points
- Pray that we would keep the Sabbath holy.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.