Walla Walla Bible Center

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Pastor David Reed
For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. This persecution was due to the Healing that took place on the Sabbath at the pool of Bethesda. Jesus told a paralytic of thirty-seven years “Rise, take up your bed and walk”. The Jewish leaders were blind to the wonder of the miracle Jesus performed. The good that He did bore witness to who He was. This was the beginning of the storm winds of opposition against Jesus from the Jewish leadership. “For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.”(v16).
In John 5:19 “ Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner”.
When we look behind the English word “answered”, we find a hidden meaning. The verb translated “answered” is exceedingly rare. It is found only in the context of trials and courtrooms, when there is a need for formal defense. Jesus is being aggressively and legally challenged, for more than the miracle. The miracle was a witness to who “He” was, the breaking of their man made Sabbath was telling them who “He” was.
His defense is not only brilliant but simple. Permit me to paraphrase it must of sounded something like this; I cannot and will not be fragmented from My Father I can do nothing independently from my Father. What I see Him do I do. Jesus was reminding the Jewish leaders that Sabbath was built into creation because God created all things in six days, then rested on the seventh day. When Jesus said, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” He was saying, your thinking is wrong; God does not get the ball rolling and walk off.
British writer George MacDonald pointed out that John 5:17 gives us a profound insight into our Lord’s miracles. Jesus did instantly what the Father is always doing slowly. For example, in nature, as mentioned earlier, the Father is slowly turning water into wine; but Jesus did it instantly. Through the powers in nature, the Father is healing broken bodies; but Jesus healed them immediately. Nature is repeatedly multiplying bread, from sowing to harvest; but Jesus multiplied it instantly in His own hands.

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