Jesus Kept His Father's Schedule

What Did Jesus Do?

“My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
John 5.17

It probably sounds like a rather odd question to us, asking a man who has been an invalid for thirty-eight years if he wants to be healed (John 5.6). The answer would clearly be an unequivocal “Yes!” But, rather than answer the question. the man offers up an excuse as to why he has never been healed—apparently it was a transportation issue (John 5.7).

Actually, Jesus might well have wondered about the man's motivation, thirty-eight years is an awfully long time to lay inches from healing and not do anything about it. I mean, the man had managed to survive all those years, to secure food and shelter and clothing, but he couldn't arrange for getting himself into the pool of Bethesda? Perhaps, for some reason, he really didn't want to be healed, and his friends and family had been enabling him in his invalid state all that time. In any event, Jesus acted without the man in fact saying that he wanted to be healed, and commanded him to stand up and pick up his bedroll and walk, a command the man instantly obeyed (John 5.8-9). Sadly, this story did not end here with people glorifying God, as in Mark 2.12.

No, this time was different because the action took place in Jerusalem and not in Capernaum, and on the Sabbath as well (John 5.9b). It seems that the poor man who could now walk after all those years, had broken a Pharisaical rule against doing unnecessary work, for carrying one's bedroll was forbidden! The piety police were right on it, and immediately commenced an investigation (John 5.10-16). The “cops'” argument was that since there were six other days to perform works of healing and ordering invalids to carry their bedrolls, that sort of thing was simply inappropriate on the Sabbath. Surely, Jesus should keep to the schedule like everyone else.

The thing was, Jesus was not like everyone else, the Son had to keep the Father's schedule (John 5.17). When the Father was working the Son needed to be working (the kingdom was a family “business,” after all). Jesus could hardly take a day off while the Father had a schedule to keep, people to save, cripples to heal. Unfortunately, those in charge of Sabbath security could not grasp this concept. Even worse, they just about went ballistic when Jesus had the chutzpah to call God his Father (John 5.18). Though there would be a very special “Sabbath” when the Son finished all the work the Father had given him (John 19.30), Jesus knew there was much Sabbath work that yet needed to be done if the Father's schedule was going to be met.

Days and seasons and Sabbaths are all alike subject to the Father's schedule, for God alone sovereignly rules over all time itself. After thirty-eight years, the time had arrived for the wretched man to finally be healed, though the Jews would have had him wait, but God waits for no man. The work of the Father's kingdom still progresses according to the schedule he has set. And Jesus, the Son, still keeps his Father's schedule. I know it is Sunday, but I am sure the Father is working, and if he is working so is the Son. We who claim to be the Son's disciples would do well today and every day to keep their schedule.

S.D.G.

Jim
www.jimwilkenministries.org
Marion, NC
PS 37.4