Religious leaders persecuted Jesus for healing a man on the Sabbath.  But why did Jesus do it?  Every Jew knew the Ten Commandments, and 'remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy' has the longest explanation of all the commandments (Exodus 20:8-11).  'Doing work' was forbidden because God had finished His creation-work on the sixth day.  Therefore, the seventh day was a day for worship and rest: working to earn more money was prohibited.  However, the Pharisees said that carrying anything (the poor made a living like that) or healing (the doctors were well paid too) was wrong.  So, the law, designed for people to rest in God’s finished work (Hebrews 4:1-11), and to protect people from the spiritual distraction of their own greed, had been twisted to obstruct God acting in grace.

But Jesus never charged anybody.  The healed man paid nothing.  He was only too glad to be released from his physical bondage, taking his bed-roll on his shoulder.  When Jesus healed it was not for profit but out of compassion.  But the Pharisees could not see beyond their interpretation of the commandment.  So, Jesus explained that God had not stopped working (He continues to sustain creation and act in grace towards His people).  And He added that His job was to work with God, who was His Father ... which everyone knew was claiming to be equal with God.  So, they tried to kill Him, assuming that He was being blasphemous (John 10:33) … because blasphemy carried the death penalty.

This was not the only time that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.  On seven Sabbath days Jesus healed: the man with the unclean spirit (Mark 1:21-28); Simon Peter’s mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31); the man with the withered hand (Mark 3:1-6); the man born blind (John 9:1-12); the crippled woman (Luke 13:10-17); the man with oedematous swelling (Luke 14:1-6); and the disabled man in this chapter (John 5:1-15).  Seven times, God the Son redefined the Sabbath as a day to remember God’s finished work of the first creation, and prepare to celebrate God’s finished work of the new creation when there will be no more death or crying or pain for those who trust in Jesus (Revelation 21:4).

Well, while the religious experts claimed to know the mind of God, Jesus announced that He is God (John 8:58)!  That claim sets Christ apart from everybody else.  To some, it sounds arrogant and offensive; others mock the idea.  But those who have been 'born again' know it is true.  That is why Jesus came - to work with Father God to bring salvation to all who submit their lives to Him.  That is why, "... God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,  and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11).  However religious you may be, it is your view on the identity of Jesus that will determine your eternal destiny.  The same is true for family, friends and colleagues at work.  If you care about those around you and love Jesus, tell them who He is ... that He loves them and has completed the work, and done everything necessary to bring them into His kingdom.