TKO - Antagonistic Teaching of Jesus from the book of John

John 5 begins what is known as the beginning of the greatest moments of hostility in the life of Jesus. Today’s text takes us to the Pool at Bethsaida, inside one of 8 gates known as the Sheep Gate (Herod’s Gate). It is a Sabbath day – possibly a regular Sabbath, Passover, Feast of Tabernacles or Hanukkah (Dedication) - 1 Afterward Jesus returned to Jerusalem for one of the Jewish holy days. 2 Inside the city, near the Sheep Gate, was the pool of Bethesda, with five covered porches. 3 Crowds of sick people—blind, lame, or paralyzed—lay on the porches -- John 5:1-3 (NLT)

The confrontation begins because Jesus heals a man on the Sabbath. This man, for 38-years waited by the pool for a chance to be healed and was always denied the chance because of his ailment. Many of Jesus miracles were meant to confront human regulations that had gone against the flow of God’s design. This particular miracle points at breaking the regulations of the Sabbath, specifically the 4th Commandment. 

The Religious Leaders made the Sabbath day a day of regulation, which was never the intention. All Jewish Sabbaths were to be “God-targeted.” It was meant to be a reunion. Sometimes a reunion of joy, sometimes irritation. The Sabbaths are days of reverence and devotion because God deserves it. Be careful that you don’t regulate your Sabbaths to become “ME” centered.  The Sabbaths were meant to center on a completely different subject -- rediscovering grace.

Grace is defined as "an undeserved blessing bestowed on man by God." The Sabbath in Jesus day had become consumed with legalistic demands instead of promoting a new life of joy. What Jesus wanted his listeners to understand was that the Sabbaths were made to target a grace transformation, a blessing bestowed on us by God undeservedly, and in turn that grace transmitted into the lives of others.

The Sabbath had turned into a day of performance and expectation. What Jesus wanted us to understand through this miracle was that the Sabbath was "for" man not "about" man. There was nothing we could bring nor any performance we could offer that God needed. What He desired from us was quite simple - 16 You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it; you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings. 17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise - Psalm 51:16-17 (NIV).

No gift you can give will suffice God's expectation, except the gift honor with a heart laid bare before the Creator with awe, reverence and love. 

Randy