# 90 Remember the Sabbath Day

Joh 5:16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, "My Father has been working until now, and I have been working." 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God.

The word “persecuted” here means “to pursue.” The Jews “pursued” Jesus, harassing Him, constantly trying to trip Him up. If they could just catch Him saying something, or doing something that would warrant the death penalty in the Law, they could rid themselves of this thorn in their side!

They evidently zeroed in on the things Jesus did on the Sabbath. Perhaps they based their pursuit of the death penalty on   Ex 31:14 'You shall keep the Sabbath, therefore, for it is holy to you. Everyone who profanes it shall surely be put to death; for whoever does any work on it, that person shall be cut off from among his people.”

This was an area in which they thought they had Jesus on multiple infractions. (Note the phrase “done these THINGS”)  And now, Jesus makes this claim  of being equal with God! Blasphemy! Now they really have Him!

Why did Jesus have to give them more ammunition? Why did He have to say such a thing? “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” He had to say it because it’s true. I

God does not take Sabbaths off, and since Jesus is God in the flesh, He doesn’t take them off either! Think about it. Where would we be if the Father would take a break on the Sabbath? “I’ll get to those prayer requests tomorrow.” I’ll just let the devil run roughshod today and take care of him tomorrow.” Where would we be in God withheld grace and mercy one day every week?

Taking a break is not an option for God or Jesus. Jesus must be about His Father’s business of delivering people from the effects of their sins. It’s true, God DID take a break on the seventh day of Creation, but that was before sin entered the world. At that point there was no need for healing or deliverance!

God saw His Creation and it was all good and He sanctified this day for man and animal that we might remember and commemorate all that He had done and enter into His rest.

But Adam and Eve sinned. Sin entered the world and so did the 24/7 need for grace and mercy! So, you and I should indeed commemorate the Sabbath, (the Lord’s Day) Resting, as it were, in our deliverance from sin, but then always be ready to roll up our shirtsleeves and extend grace and mercy where needed to others in our surroundings.

Remember the Sabbath Day to keep it holy! (Ex 20:8)