But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.
I recently noted that Leviticus 23 (and again in Numbers 28 and 29), when addressing the subject of the Sabbath, emphasizes that they should do no servile work. That was in contrast to the Day of Atonement, when they were to do no work at all.
Leviticus 23:31 (KJV)
Ye shall do no manner of work: it shall be a statute for ever throughout your generations in all your dwellings.
Servile work was that of ministry, service—like that of a bondman or an employee—working on behalf of another. Only on one of their holy days, the yearly Day of Atonement, were they to observe absolute rest from any type of work.
By the time of Christ, the Jews had completely forgotten this distinction. And what about us? I think we often assume those Jews knew more about their law than we do or can know.
The issue of the Sabbath comes up repeatedly in the life of Christ—almost like He chose to do most of His healing miracles on a Sabbath day. He said, “My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.” What? I thought the whole point was that God rested on the Sabbath? Apparently, He only did that once. (And that once was enough.)
Gill writes of this:
"Though he ended all his work on the seventh day, and rested from what he had done, yet he did not cease from working at all, but has continued to work ever since, on sabbath days as well as on other days; in upholding and governing the world, in continuing the species of beings, and all creatures in their being; in providing for them, and in dispensing the bounties of his providence to them; in causing his sun to shine and showers of rain to descend on the earth; and in taking care of, and protecting even the meanest of his creatures: and much more men; and still more his own people.”
Of course, there is work to do even on Sabbath days. Every one of them would have pulled their ox or sheep out of the pit on the Sabbath—it would have been unreasonable to do otherwise.
It could even be argued that the Jews who persecuted Jesus for healing on the Sabbath were doing their own work on the Sabbath—especially if they were religious leaders—because their work was to lead.
I’m happy to know God doesn’t take weekends off.
• The sun still rises.
• The rains still fall.
• The heart of man still beats.
• And God’s plan of redemption still works.
#GodNeverRests #SabbathTruth #ChristAtWork #GraceNotLegalism #RedemptionContinues
God Doesn’t Take Weekends Off (And That’s a Good Thing)
Why do you think Jesus chose to heal on the Sabbath? Share your thoughts in the comments! Read John 5:17, then tell someone today how God is still at work in the world.
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