One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. John 5:5 NABRE
Jesus heals a man who is waiting by a pool of water believed to heal. The man is disabled for thirty eight years and is unable to get to the water for healing. Jesus asks him about healing and heals Him. The healing creates a stir as it violates Sabbath rules. When the religious leaders see the man carrying his mat on the Sabbath they question him, it is not legal to carry you mat on the Sabbath. They inquire about who healed him, but he does not know Jesus’ name. However, Jesus meets him later and instructs him not to sin so no other bad happens to him. Discovering Jesus name the man is able to tell the religious leaders and they begin to plot against Jesus for breaking Sabbath law. The rules about Sabbath became so strict in the law it is impossible to do anything and of course breaking the law is quite easy. Jesus speaks about the Sabbath being made for humanity, not for God. But in the temple system the Sabbath became the day when people are to worship God, serve God and sacrifice for God. It is a corrupting of the intention of the Sabbath day. Jesus seems to know this and so makes Himself available to the healed man a second time so the religious leaders may discover who He is and what he has done on the Sabbath.
Jesus challenges the temple system and it leads to His persecution by the temple leadership and it points at a system needing an overhaul. In time the temple system ends with the destruction of the temple by the Romans. But today we seem to have a recreated version of the temple system. We worship Jesus rather than follow him, it has led to a version of Christianity that seems rather anesthetized. We are called to follow Jesus, not worship Him; following is harder than worshiping.
Do you follow or worship Jesus? Do you take a sabbath day for yourself?
Today we seem to have a recreated version of the Hebrew temple system. We worship Jesus rather than follow him, and it has led to a version of Christianity that seems rather anesthetized. We are called to follow Jesus, not worship Him. Click To Tweet#bible #godisgreat #jesus #christianity #dailybibleverse @youversion #BeAnEncourager #sabbath #follow #John #everybodyalways #god #jesuschrist #jesussaves #godisgood #dailydevotion #biblestudy #scripture #bibleverse #verseoftheday #cross #last #gospels #loveeachother #godisgreat #thisVineyard #youversion #everythingalways