Lord of the Sabbath

Context: Jesus and the sick man (John 5:1-4, Deuteronomy 16:16)

• Jesus went to Jerusalem for a feast of the Jews
• The pool named Bethesda:
  • Which could mean either “house of mercy” or “house of grace”
  • This pool apparently had some kind of healing powers –
    • Whoever stepped in first, as soon as the waters moved, was healed
• Many who were sick, blind, lame or paralyzed were waiting near a pool called Bethesda
  • Among them was a man who was sick for 38 years

How did the sick man’s life change after meeting Jesus? (John 5:5-9)

• He was waiting at the pool for a long time – 38 years?
  • Not clear whether it’s just the day time or 24/7
• Looks like he was unable to get to the pool fast enough
  • He had no one to help him
    • No family or friends after 38 years? Or right from the start?
  • He was perhaps able to move, but just not fast enough to be the first one
• After being healed by Jesus, the sick man was able to raise up, take his mat and walk

How did the man respond to the Jews and to Jesus? (John 5:10-15)

• To the Jews:
  • When questioned why he was carrying the mat:
    • He didn’t know it was Jesus so he says the One who made him well
• To Jesus:
  • When Jesus told him not to sin any more, to not got into more trouble
    • He went and told the Jews that it was Jesus who healed him
      • As praise or to complain? Not documented.
• Jews were focussed on the man carrying the mat and missed the miraculous healing?

Why did the Jews want to kill Jesus? (John 5:16, Exodus 35:2-3, Luke 13:14, John 9:16)

• Jesus healed the sick man on a Sabbath day
  • How come the guy who carried the mat didn’t get into any more trouble?
• According to the law, seventh day is a holy day and a day of rest to the Lord
  • Whoever does any work, shall be put to death
• Apparently Jews made up many rules of dos and don’ts  that revolve around Sabbath
  • Healing was not permitted on the Sabbath day, according to their rules
    • Rules that they had setup, but taught as doctrine?
      • Rules that they now want to apply to Jesus!

Why didn’t Jesus follow Sabbath rules? (John 5:17, Matthew 12:11-13, Luke 6:5, Micah 6:8)

• Jesus says, His father, God, is still working. So, He (Jesus) is working too!
• God ordained Sabbath for us men. Jesus is the Lord of Sabbath.
  • As Lord, He makes the rules. Not the Jews.
• It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day
  • God has shown us what is good. What does God require of us?
    • To act justly. To love mercy. To walk humbly with God!

Conclusion / Application:

• What man made rules am I focussed on that’s getting in the way of doing good?
• John 5:24 “… he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life …”

Main Passage John 5:5-16 – World English Bible (WEB)

5 A certain man was there who had been sick for thirty-eight years. 6 When Jesus saw him lying there, and knew that he had been sick for a long time, he asked him, “Do you want to be made well?” 7 The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up, but while I’m coming, another steps down before me.” 8 Jesus said to him, “Arise, take up your mat, and walk.” 9 Immediately, the man was made well, and took up his mat and walked. Now it was the Sabbath on that day. 10 So the Jews said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath. It is not lawful for you to carry the mat.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your mat and walk’?”

13 But he who was healed didn’t know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a crowd being in the place.

14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “Behold, you are made well. Sin no more, so that nothing worse happens to you.” 15 The man went away, and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this cause the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill him, because he did these things on the Sabbath.

Notes / Cross References

John 5:1-4 1 After these things, there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now in Jerusalem by the sheep gate, there is a pool, which is called in Hebrew, “Bethesda”, having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of those who were sick, blind, lame, or paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water; 4 for an angel went down at certain times into the pool and stirred up the water. Whoever stepped in first after the stirring of the water was healed of whatever disease he had.

Deuteronomy 16:16 Three times in a year all of your males shall appear before Yahweh your God in the place which he chooses: in the feast of unleavened bread, in the feast of weeks, and in the feast of booths. They shall not appear before Yahweh empty.

John 5:17-24 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, so I am working, too.” 18 For this cause therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the Sabbath, but also called God his own Father, making himself equal with God. 19 Jesus therefore answered them, “Most certainly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing of himself, but what he sees the Father doing. For whatever things he does, these the Son also does likewise. 20 For the Father has affection for the Son, and shows him all things that he himself does. He will show him greater works than these, that you may marvel. 21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom he desires. 22 For the Father judges no one, but he has given all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He who doesn’t honor the Son doesn’t honor the Father who sent him. 24 “Most certainly I tell you, he who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and doesn’t come into judgment, but has passed out of death into life.

Luke 13:14 The ruler of the synagogue, being indignant because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath, said to the multitude, “There are six days in which men ought to work. Therefore come on those days and be healed, and not on the Sabbath day!”

Matthew 15:7-9 7 You hypocrites! Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying, 8 ‘These people draw near to me with their mouth, and honor me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 And in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrine rules made by men.’”

Exodus 35:2-3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of solemn rest to Yahweh: whoever does any work in it shall be put to death. You shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations on the Sabbath day.’”

John 9:16 Some therefore of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, because he doesn’t keep the Sabbath.” Others said, “How can a man who is a sinner do such signs?” So there was division among them.

Matthew 12:11-13 11 He said to them, “What man is there among you who has one sheep, and if this one falls into a pit on the Sabbath day, won’t he grab on to it and lift it out? 12 Of how much more value then is a man than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath day.”

Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good. What does Yahweh require of you, but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?