Jesus at Bethesda
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have been convinced that Jesus spoke the truth. But they evaded the
points he made concerning the Sabbath, and sought to stir up anger
against him because he had made himself equal with God. The fury of
the rulers knew no bounds, and it was with difficulty that they were
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prevented from seizing upon Jesus to him to death.
But the people were not excited to violence, and the rulers to shame
by the candor with which they listened to the words of Jesus. They
justified him in healing the poor sufferer who had been afflicted for
thirty-eight years. So the priests and elders were obliged to restrain
their hatred for the time, and wait for a more favorable opportunity to
carry out their evil designs.
Jesus declared that he could do nothing of himself “but what he
seeth the Father do.” His relationship with God forbade him from
working independent of him, and he could do nothing against his will.
What a rebuke were these words to men, and especially to those who
were calling the Son of God to task for the very work that he was sent
upon earth to do. They had separated themselves from God by wicked
acts, and, in their pride and vanity, were moving independent of him,
feeling sufficient in themselves for all things, and realizing no need of
a higher wisdom than their own, to aid them in the direction of their
acts.
Few realize the full force of Christ’s words in regard to his connec-
tion with the Father. They teach man that he should consider himself
inseparably bound to his Heavenly Parent, that, whatever position he
may occupy, he is responsible to God, who holds all destinies in his
hands. He has appointed man to do his work, he has endowed him with
faculties and means for that purpose, and so long as man is faithful to
his high stewardship, he may feel warranted in claiming the blessings
and promises of his Master. But if, when raised to a position of sacred
trust, he becomes exalted in his own estimation,—depending upon
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his own wisdom and power, taking affairs into his own hands, and
separating himself from Him whom he professes to serve,—God will
call him to an account for his unauthorized acts; he has not worked in
unison with his Commander.
Jesus now stood before the Jews in his true character. He declared
that whatsoever things the Father did, those did also the Son in like
manner, by the exercise of a like power, and with like results. He
also promised those who heard him that they should witness greater