Breaking the Rules

Scripture: John 5:16-18 (Click link for scripture in Bible Gateway)

16 So the Jewish leaders began harassing Jesus for breaking the Sabbath rules. 17 But Jesus replied, “My Father is always working, and so am I.” 18 So the Jewish leaders tried all the harder to find a way to kill him. For he not only broke the Sabbath, he called God his Father, thereby making himself equal with God. (John 5:16–18 NLT)

Here we go again! Jesus did a good thing for a helpless cripple! He healed a man who had been paralyzed and unable to walk or care for himself for thirty-eight years. The man felt so hopeless that when Jesus asked him if he wanted to get well, he simply said, “I can’t, sir!” So Jesus healed him! The Jewish leaders (Remember them? Matthew usually referred to them as “Pharisees and teachers of religious law.” Same crew!) began harassing Jesus for breaking their religious rules.

God’s rule was, “Remember to observe the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy.” And what could be more holy than healing a man who had been crippled for nearly four decades and giving him his life back!

How they saw it: 1) He healed a man on the Sabbath, so he’s a sinner. 2) He told the man to pick up his mat and carry it on the Sabbath, so he’s a false teacher and heretic. 3) He referred to God as his Father, so he’s a blasphemer. Conclusion: Let’s kill him!

Elsewhere Jesus asks them, “Is it right to do good on the Sabbath, or to do evil?” I think even I know the answer to that one. How about you? The issue here is keeping religious rules versus doing good. This is religion that has become so toxic that its practitioners no longer have actual functioning consciences. This is religion that has become so toxic that its practitioners decide to kill a man who has just healed a helpless cripple, because it’s God’s Day, and healing the man was against their rules!

Being a Christian is not about keeping a set of religious rules. Being a Christian is believing in Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world, and receiving his teachings, and by God’s grace allowing the Holy Spirit who lives in us to transform us as we follow Christ day by day!

Prayer:

Father, Deliver us from Toxic Religion! Please point out to us any trace of toxicity in our selves and our attitudes so we can repent! Wash us with the water of your Word, and heal us with the oil of your Good Spirit. For the Kingdom’s Sake! Amen.