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Humble Hero
Jesus stated that the work of relieving the afflicted was in har-
mony with the Sabbath law. God’s angels are always ministering to
suffering humanity. “My Father has been working until now, and I
have been working.” All the days are God’s, in which to carry out
His plans for the human race. If the Jews’ interpretation of the law
was correct, then the One who instituted the Sabbath must bring a
temporary close to His labor and stop the never-ending routine of
the universe.
Should God forbid the sun to perform its function on the Sab-
bath? Must He command the brooks to pause in their watering of
fields and forests? Must wheat and corn stop growing? Must trees
and flowers put forth no bud nor blossom on the Sabbath?
God could not for a moment remove His hand, or mankind would
faint and die. We also have work to perform on this day. The sick
must be cared for and the wants of the needy be supplied. God’s
holy rest day was made for us. God does not want His creatures to
suffer an hour’s pain that can be relieved on the Sabbath.
The Sabbath law forbids secular labor on the rest day of the
Lord. The work that earns our livelihood must stop. No labor for
worldly pleasure or profit is lawful on that day. But as God ended His
labor of creating and rested on the Sabbath, so we are to leave the
occupations of daily life and devote those sacred hours to healthful
rest, worship, and holy deeds. Christ’s healing the sick honored the
Sabbath.
But the Pharisees were still more upset. Jesus had not only
broken the law, according to their understanding, but in calling God
His Father, He had declared Himself equal with God. They accused
Him of blasphemy. These opponents of Christ could only refer
to their customs and traditions, and these seemed weak and stale
when compared to the arguments Jesus had drawn from the Word
of God and the unending round of nature. But the rabbis evaded the
points He made and tried to stir up anger against Him because He
claimed to be equal with God. If they had not feared the people, the
priests and rabbis would have killed Jesus on the spot. But popular
sentiment in His favor was strong. Many justified His healing of the
lame man at Bethesda.