Jesus has healed the man from his infirmity and commanded him to pick up his bed on the Sabbath day. The Jews are enraged that Jesus would break the Sabbath by healing the man and telling him to carry his bed. Jesus responds by saying that His Father is still working so He will keep working. From this we see:
The Sabbath is an illustration of salvation
God did not rest on the seventh day because He was tired. He rested from His work of creation; however, His work of sustaining His creation continues to this day. God did not institutes the Sabbath because for His own rest. The Sabbath was made for man’s rest and to serve as an illustration of salvation by grace through faith. We are not saved by our works. We are saved by resting by faith in Jesus’ work on our behalf.
Jesus is God
By declaring that God was His Father Jesus was saying that He was equal with God. As His Son, Jesus had the same nature as His Father. He is here declaring to be God in the flesh. As God the Father works on the Sabbath day so Jesus works on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath was made for man; Jesus is not merely a man. He is God, so He can work while we rest in His work.
It is Jesus’ work that saves us
Just as it was God’s work in the Old Covenant that provided for His people while they rested on the Sabbath, so it is Jesus’ work in the New Covenant that provides salvation for His people while they rest in Him by faith.
Saving faith results in obedience
If I believe that Jesus is God and I trust in His works not my own, I will obey Him. Just as the man who was healed obeyed Jesus by picking up his bed and walking, so all those who have been saved will walk in repentance and obedience to Jesus Christ’s commands. Faith will produce works. If I believe that Jesus is God I will obey Him.
Application
Are you resting in the finished work of Jesus Christ? Is this faith being seen by your obedience? If not, what does this say about your faith? Do you believe that Jesus is God? If He is God, what does this mean for your life?
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