Who Is Replacing Sabbath Rules?

In Jesus Holy Name May 25, 2019

Text: John 5:16-18 Redeemer

“Who’s Replacing Sabbath Rules?”

Several years ago we replaced our wooden shake shingles on the roof of our home. We used better quality shingles. The old wooden shakes really looked nice but were not very fire resistant. Our new replacement shingles look nice, and they come with a 50 year warranty. I don’t think we will be there that long.

We all know that things we own need to be “replaced” from time to time. A new toaster, newer television, cell phone, car. This “replacement” idea is exactly why John tells us that Jesus healed people on the Sabbath. Jesus was replacing Jewish rules that they thought earned them entrance into heaven with Himself. Jesus said: “I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes into the Father’s presence except through me.”

At first reading There’s a wonderful story in John 5 that brings this issue to the surface. Jesus had come to Jerusalem during one of the yearly feasts. Thousands of pilgrims were there from throughout Israel. While he was there, he paid a visit to a place called Bethesda, “the house of mercy.”

It was a pool near the Sheep Gate in the northeastern section of the city. Five colonnades (or porches) were built by the pool. As one writer put it, it was the Jewish Lourdes of that day. The Jews believed that an angel would come and periodically stir the waters. The first person to enter the water after it had been stirred would be healed of his diseases.

So hundreds of sick and infirm people gathered around the pool, waiting and hoping for the water to be stirred. On the day that Jesus passed by, he met a man who had been an invalid for 38 years. When he found out how long the man had been paralyzed, he asked only one question, “Do you want to be well?”

On the surface it seems to be a bizarre question. Why else would the man be there? Of course he wanted to be well. Was Jesus insulting his intelligence? No, not at all. He was asking a very serious question. He was asking because it was entirely possible that the man did not want to get well.

The man answers this way: “Do I want to be healed? That’s a crazy question. Why do you think I’m here? You must be new here. You don’t understand the problem. Every time the water is stirred, somebody else beats me to the water. I’m never able to get in the pool first…It isn’t my fault, I don’t have any one to put me in the pool. Jesus “Do you really want to be healed….because your life will change.”

Jesus is saying, “Do you really want to be changed?” If the answer is yes, then miracles can take place. If the answer is no, then even Jesus cannot help you.

Change is scary. It takes a lot of faith to truly want Jesus to change you.

Sometimes it’s easier to stay the way we are than change. Just ask anyone who attends AA. Here at Redeemer there are ten AA groups that met every week. It is scary to change. Ask anyone who attends “Celebrate Recovery”.

Jesus said: “If I make you well, you can’t be a beggar anymore. If I make you well, you can’t use your illness to get special treatment at home. If I make you well, you won’t get all that sympathy anymore. There’s a price to be paid for being well. Do you want to change?

“You’re right. It is hard to change. It’s scary because you get comfortable with the way you are—even if you know that the way you live is not good.

Ahh! But there must be more to this story. So I asked myself… Why is John telling me about this particular paralyzed man at a pool in Jerusalem? John only three healings by Jesus in his entire Gospel. (read Matthew 4:23-25) Jesus heals hundreds, thousands. So why is John only telling three? The Royal official in Capernaum’s son is healed. (chapter 4) This man at the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, (chapter 5) and finally the man born blind in John chapter 9. Two of the three happen on a Sabbath.

By now, either because of your attendance at Bible Classes or from hearing other sermons you know that the Jews were deeply serious about keeping the 10 commandments. So much so they developed another 613 other rules that helped them keep the 10 commandments. They believed, like many Americans, that keeping the rules earned you points with God. This is why at so many funerals you hear these words: “He was a good man”. Which translated means “he kept the commandments better than most or as best he could.” And that should be enough to get one into heaven.