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Bethesda and the Sanhedrin
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answer the charge of breaking the Sabbath. His judges looked on
Him with astonishment and rage, but His words were unanswerable.
He denied the right of priests and rabbis to interfere with His work.
He refused to plead guilty to their charges or be taught by them.
Instead of apologizing, Jesus rebuked the rulers for their igno-
rance of the Scriptures. He declared that they had rejected the Word
of God because they had rejected Him whom God had sent. “You
search the Scriptures, for in them you think you have eternal life;
and these are they which testify of Me.”
The Old Testament Scriptures radiate with the glory of the Son of
God. The entire divine system of Judaism was a compact prophecy
of the gospel. Through the patriarchal line and the legal system,
heaven’s glorious light made plain the footsteps of the Redeemer.
Every sacrifice showed Christ’s death. In every cloud of incense,
His righteousness ascended. In the awefilled mystery of the Holy of
Holies, His glory dwelt.
The Council Fails to Intimidate Jesus
The Jews supposed that in their mere outward knowledge of the
Scriptures they had eternal life. But having rejected Christ in His
Word, they rejected Him in person. “You are not willing to come to
Me,” He said, “that you may have life.”
The Jewish leaders had studied the teachings of the prophets,
not with a sincere desire to know the truth, but with the purpose
of finding evidence to support their ambitious hopes. When Christ
came in a manner different from what they expected, they would
not accept Him and tried to prove that He was a deceiver. The more
directly the Savior spoke to them in His works of mercy, the more
determined they were in resisting the light.
Jesus said, “I do not receive honor from men.” It was not the
Sanhedrin’s approval He desired. He was clothed with the honor
and authority of Heaven. If He had wanted it, angels would have
come to worship Him. But for their own sake and for the sake of
the nation whose leaders they were, He wanted the Jewish rulers to
recognize His character.
“I have come in My Father’s name, and you do not receive Me; if
another comes in his own name, him you will receive.” When others