SCRIPTURE: John 9:13-23
“This man is not from God, for he does not keep the Sabbath.” (John 9:16)
Unless it was an emergency, healers were not supposed to work on the rest day.
The original idea of the sabbath was to give workers a break from their work.
It was a gift day, a bonus holiday, every week, so the body be renewed.
Jesus understood the value of personal renewal, He often took sabbath breaks.
But the sabbath is not a day to stop living and loving.
Caring and sharing and loving and serving is a daily task, as normal as breathing.
It’s not a job, for which we slave, so that we can make money.
It should be the default state of every living human being, always.
The religious leaders turned the sabbath into a burden.
‘Don’t do this, don’t do that…’ but they were missing the point.
God blesses us with the gift of rest, but we must never rest from loving God or people.
It is a continuous debt that must always be paid.
“Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law.” (Romans 13:8)
Jesus was not breaking the law, He was fulfilling it!
What do you sense the Lord saying to you?
PRAYER
Lord, thank You for the gift of rest. But with Your help, may I never rest from loving You or people!
Jesus follower
trying to find His way
Thanks for this! I’m at work and even though I’m running on lack of rest because of being sick and I don’t get sick days. It reminds me that it’s important to still love all the children and staff just as if I were to be fully rested! I want to fulfill that law and I want to keep learning to be more like Him in every thought and action!
Observation/Application
Blindness.
Physical – spiritual?
Those who were supposed to be ‘seers’ were blinded by their own man made regulations. The religious leaders of the day had their own blind spots. Jesus not only gave physical seeing but spiritual as well. He is the Light of the World.
The Pharisees equated blindness and sickness with sin and Christ uses all things to work for His purposes. This miracle shows the power and glory of God. He is in charge.
Open my eyes Lord that I may be able to see You in all things.
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat)
The right word to say,
the best move to make
Who’s in need of a helping hand
For Your perfect ways are worthy of praise
I delight just to do Your plan
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
I am looking, I am listening
Open the eyes of my heart, Lord
Help me to know Your will (repeat to beginning)
Help me to know Your will
Help me to know Your will
Hi Norm
I want to thank you for having the courage to do this series of sermons on the God Questions, I can only imagine how difficult it was. For me I found the last sermon very thought provoking and encouraging
Thanks again