For The Theological One
Why was the Sabbath question the “flash point” of controversy between Jesus and the Pharisees?
We see on a number of occasions that the things Jesus did on the Sabbath bothered the Pharisees greatly. We know that the Pharisees were extremely legalistic but there may be a second reason that Jesus dealings on the Sabbath bothered them. It seems that as Jesus life and ministry continued many of the Pharisees became increasingly threatened by Jesus claim of righteousness and deity. One explanation for this is the Pharisees realized that Jesus’ expectation and claim to righteousness was far different then that which they held to. If we look at the story of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda we see this issue explode.
As the story goes there was this belief that every so often an angel would stir the pool of Bethesda and when that happened the first person that would get into the pool would be healed of whatever ailed them. There was a lame man who had been laying by the pool for38 years and could never make his way into the water first. Jesus shows up...guess what day it was, the Sabbath.
Here we may wonder with all the days that Jesus could have came why did he chose to do so on the Sabbath? Would waiting an extra day really hurt this man? Maybe not, but Jesus may have chosen this opportunity to teach again that he was the Son of God.
But Jesus, with no regard for which day it was, said to the man, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk,” (Jn. 5:8).
The Pharisees seeing this man walking around with his bed roll were quick to remind this man that it was the Sabbath and that he should not be carrying his pallet. But the man who had just previously been lame told them that the one that healed him told him to do so. (It is not known whether or not this man knew the law, though it can be assumed that he did, so in his words we can deduce that what he is saying to the Pharisees is, “If he is powerful enough to heal me after thirty eight years surely he must have some authority.”) Hearing this they inquired of him who it was that instructed him to do so, but the man did not know.
This in all likelihood could have been the end of the story right there, but Jesus searches out the man and tells him to sin no more lest a greater affliction should come upon him. With seeing him again the once lame man is able to go to the Pharisees and point out the one that made him well.
As the Pharisees questioned Jesus we see the “flash point” of controversy in this story - and in fact the issue dealing with all the Sabbath controversy between Jesus and the Pharisees.
In John 5:17 wee see the issue as Jesus says, “My father is working until now, and I myself am working.”
And herein lays the issue, the Pharisees were not only upset that Jesus was breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his father in some sort of special sense thereby making himself equal to God. What can also be read from Jesus words is that he is saying that he which he is doing are the same types of things that God does and can do.
If the breaking of the Sabbath was not the flash point for the Pharisees surely his other statement was.
We see on a number of occasions that the things Jesus did on the Sabbath bothered the Pharisees greatly. We know that the Pharisees were extremely legalistic but there may be a second reason that Jesus dealings on the Sabbath bothered them. It seems that as Jesus life and ministry continued many of the Pharisees became increasingly threatened by Jesus claim of righteousness and deity. One explanation for this is the Pharisees realized that Jesus’ expectation and claim to righteousness was far different then that which they held to. If we look at the story of the lame man by the pool of Bethesda we see this issue explode.
As the story goes there was this belief that every so often an angel would stir the pool of Bethesda and when that happened the first person that would get into the pool would be healed of whatever ailed them. There was a lame man who had been laying by the pool for38 years and could never make his way into the water first. Jesus shows up...guess what day it was, the Sabbath.
Here we may wonder with all the days that Jesus could have came why did he chose to do so on the Sabbath? Would waiting an extra day really hurt this man? Maybe not, but Jesus may have chosen this opportunity to teach again that he was the Son of God.
But Jesus, with no regard for which day it was, said to the man, “Arise, take up your pallet, and walk,” (Jn. 5:8).
The Pharisees seeing this man walking around with his bed roll were quick to remind this man that it was the Sabbath and that he should not be carrying his pallet. But the man who had just previously been lame told them that the one that healed him told him to do so. (It is not known whether or not this man knew the law, though it can be assumed that he did, so in his words we can deduce that what he is saying to the Pharisees is, “If he is powerful enough to heal me after thirty eight years surely he must have some authority.”) Hearing this they inquired of him who it was that instructed him to do so, but the man did not know.
This in all likelihood could have been the end of the story right there, but Jesus searches out the man and tells him to sin no more lest a greater affliction should come upon him. With seeing him again the once lame man is able to go to the Pharisees and point out the one that made him well.
As the Pharisees questioned Jesus we see the “flash point” of controversy in this story - and in fact the issue dealing with all the Sabbath controversy between Jesus and the Pharisees.
In John 5:17 wee see the issue as Jesus says, “My father is working until now, and I myself am working.”
And herein lays the issue, the Pharisees were not only upset that Jesus was breaking the Sabbath but he was also calling God his father in some sort of special sense thereby making himself equal to God. What can also be read from Jesus words is that he is saying that he which he is doing are the same types of things that God does and can do.
If the breaking of the Sabbath was not the flash point for the Pharisees surely his other statement was.