Christ As Equal

GETTING STARTED

Jesus found himself pretty active on the seventh day, the Sabbath. He was about doing the work of the Father, whatever the day or time. However it went down, certain Jews didn’t like it. They couldn’t grasp the identity of Christ, and therefore, they underestimated the power and motive of Christ, too. Today’s passage is an encouragement to hold firmly to both facets of Christ as well as to leave our small boxes we tend to put God in at home.   

  • What do you think motivated Jesus during his earthly life?

READ THE WORD: JOHN 5:10-18 (ESV) 

10 So the Jews said to the man who had been healed, “It is the Sabbath, and it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.” 11 But he answered them, “The man who healed me, that man said to me, ‘Take up your bed, and walk.’” 12 They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?” 13 Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, as there was a crowd in the place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you are well! Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you.” 15 The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had healed him. 16 And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”

18 This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. For what two reasons did the Jews persecute Jesus (vss. 16, 18)?
  2. How did Jesus connect himself to God the Father (vs. 17)?
  3. What do you think Jesus meant by, “Sin no more, that nothing worse may happen to you”?
  4. Some Jews added to the Sabbath law given in the Old Testament. Do you ever find yourself adding human law to the gospel? If so, how?
  5. How does this passage inform your belief in Christ and your view of the Sabbath?

RESPOND TO GOD

Jesus is God’s face turned toward people, so when we disconnect him from the holy Trinity, the gospel becomes distorted. This passage of John shows that Jesus is not concerned with pleasing us, but with restoring humankind, an overarching theme in God’s narrative. This loving pursuit of humanity is not limited to our weekly schedules. Mark 2:27 shows us that Sabbath was made for us. This passage not only connects Jesus as Lord but also points us to true Sabbath and true Godly work. Sabbath can be something that promotes intimacy and connection with God when it points to Christ as Lord and provides space for us to see, savor, and celebrate the work of the Father.

  • Confess to God your belief that Jesus is fully God.
  • Thank Jesus for being about the work of God the Father and ask him to make doing this your focus, too.