16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day (John 5:16).
This verse sounds ridiculous at first glance, as at think about it, at all glances. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because he healed people on the Sabbath day, and as this was classified as work on the Sabbath it was therefore worthy of death. Talk about losing ones’ perspective, or missing the forest because the trees are in the way. But this is precisely what happened. As Jesus would later say, Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath. When the rules themselves become more important than the purpose they protect or represent we should be skeptical. God is not capricious or arbitrary and therefore all rules that are from God are ultimately for our good and His glory. So, as we examine God’s actual rules, we should look for the purpose and in the purpose find true understanding and peace.
This verse sounds ridiculous at first glance, as at think about it, at all glances. The religious leaders wanted to kill Jesus because he healed people on the Sabbath day, and as this was classified as work on the Sabbath it was therefore worthy of death. Talk about losing ones’ perspective, or missing the forest because the trees are in the way. But this is precisely what happened. As Jesus would later say, Sabbath was made for Man, not Man for the Sabbath. When the rules themselves become more important than the purpose they protect or represent we should be skeptical. God is not capricious or arbitrary and therefore all rules that are from God are ultimately for our good and His glory. So, as we examine God’s actual rules, we should look for the purpose and in the purpose find true understanding and peace.
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