Meditation
A PROFOUND TEACHING
Text: John 5
8 January 2023
THE PERSECUTION OF THE LORD JESUS
The religious leaders in the days of the Lord Jesus persecuted Him. They took offense at His teaching of God as His Father! They did not fathom this profound teaching.
16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.
17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.”
18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. John 5:16-18
1. The Sabbath
a) This was fiercely guarded by the religious leaders
b) They took offense at all Sabbath breakers
2. The performance of a Miracle on the Sabbath law?
a) He healed a man who was suffering for 38 years
b) This miracle took place on a Sabbath day
c) Was the Lord Jesus a Sabbath law breaker?
3. The profound statement of the Lord Jesus
a) “My Father has been working until now”
b) “And I have been working”
c) The Lord Jesus was doing the bidding of God the Father!
THE OFFENDED RELIGIOUS LEADERS
They were offended on two counts:
- They insisted that the Lord Jesus should not have healed on the Sabbath
- They were angry that the Lord Jesus spoke of God as Father in such familiar terms
a) They were upset that the Lord Jesus was making Himself equal to God
b) The Fatherhood of God was a doctrine that was beyond them
- Their understanding of God:
a) He is the LORD to be revered
b) He is to be obeyed fearfully
c) But to speak of close proximity was offensive to their ears!
OUR UNDERSTANDING OF GOD
It was the Lord Jesus who made it possible for us to become “children of God!” This is a doctrine to be fathomed prayerfully and humbly. Thank God for this wonderful Biblical truth!