As we continue our study of the Gospel of John, we pick up at verse 16 of Chapter 5. Writing under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, the Apostle said:
“So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute Him. In His defense Jesus said to them , ‘My Father is always at His work to this very day, and I too am working.’ For this reason they tried all the more to kill Him, not only was He breaking the Sabbath, but He was even calling God His own Father, making Himself equal with God.” (John 5: 16-18)
Jesus had just healed a man that had been an invalid for 38 years. He did that miracle on a Sabbath to be able to use it for the lesson He wanted to teach the Jewish Leaders.
As He knew they would, the Jewish Leaders were all over the fact that healing was counted as work, and thus forbidden on the Sabbath. This was still the time of the old Covenant, and Jesus acknowledged it was work, but as He pointed out, it was work of His Father. That is Good Work. Always. God wants good things for us. Always. There is never a time when Good Work is set aside – period. Jesus was saying in essence, “What I did is God’s work, for that is what I do, for that is who I am.” So it is for each of us.
They all called God ‘Heavenly Father’, but were separated from Him by the Law, and the Priests. But Here was a man standing before them saying to them, “My Father and I do the same work,” making Himself equal with God. They had to either believe, and rejoice that God was with them, or to not believe, and call Him a blasphemer. They chose the latter.
If we put ourselves in that picture and ask ourselves what would we do; what would our answer be? Would we believe that God actually came to us in the form of a man to walk with us, and show us His love by doing good work every day? We would certainly hope so. But the fact remains, that question applies today. Do we believe that Jesus is God? The Word clearly says, “The one and only Son is Himself God.” (John 1:18) Some think He was just a great Teacher, and Prophet. And so He was and is. So was Moses, and Elijah, and John the Baptist, and many many more. But Jesus was and is the one and only Savior sent by His Father – our Father. Believing and receiving that fact, and coming to a knowledge of who He is, and what He has done for each of us brings us to a place that opens our minds and hearts to miracles every day. He is always at His work for us, in us and through us. Let us walk in expectation of good things because that is who He is. He is Good. Let us expect Him to work miracles for us and for others through us for we are one with Him.
May you have a wonderful day, God’s Beloveds. May we look to the One who came to make it so and allow Him full access to every part of the day, and of ourselves. He will do good work for us and in us as we do. May you walk in perfect health, and the divine wealth of favor from God, and man. May you prosper in all good things, and let it flow through you.
You are greatly loved.
Poppa B.