Sabbath Work

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John 5:1-18

After this there was a feast of the Jews; and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.…

Christ healed men on all sorts of days: but Sabbaths were high days of grace. Six special cases are recorded.

1. The evil spirit cast out (Luke 4:31-35).

2. The withered hand restored (Luke 6:6-10).

3. The crooked woman made straight Luke 13:10-17).

4. The man with the dropsy cured (Luke 14:1-6).

5. The impotent man made whole (text).

6. The blind man's eyes opened (John 9:1-14). As God rested on the Sabbath and hallowed it; so as God it was rest for Jesus to heal, and thus He hallowed the day. As Man also He rested His heart, exercised a holy ministry, glorified God, and hallowed the day.

I. THESE CURES MET MANY CASES.

1. Those under satanic influence. Many are in this case.

2. Those conscious of spiritual inability.

3. Those bowed down with great distress, despondency and despair. This poor woman had been infirm for eighteen years.

4. Those smitten with mortal disease, which typifies the deadly character of sin.

5. Those altogether paralyzed. This man was impotent for thirty-eight years.

6. Those in total darkness as to all spiritual truth.

II. THESE CURES REPRESENT USUAL PROCESSES.

1. A word addressed to the devil. Satan feels the power of the Word of God, but cares for nothing else.

2. A word personal to the sufferer. He was unable, and yet he was commanded; and he obeyed. This is the gospel method.

3. A word accepted as done. Faith turns promise into fact, gospel-teaching into actual salvation.

4. Power without a word.

5. A word arousing and commanding. Many are saved by being stirred up from long inactivity and lethargy.

6. A word associated with other means. The whole miracle is deeply instructive on this point. In these varied forms and fashions, Jesus works on the Sabbath.

III. THESE CURES WERE BOTH IN AND OUT OF THE SYNAGOGUE.

1. There, and misbehaving.

2. There and singled out from the crowd.

3. There and called to Jesus.

4. After the synagogue service.

5. Too feeble to get there.

6. Too poor to be there.

IV. THESE CURES WERE ALL UNSOUGHT. This is one special feature about them all.

1. The possessed man entreated Christ to leave him alone.

2. The man with the withered hand did not think of cure.

3. The infirm woman did not hope for healing.

4. The man with the dropsy did not ask for the blessing.

5. The infirm man was too paralyzed to seek Christ.

6. It was an unheard-of thing that the eyes of a man born blind should be opened, and therefore he did not expect it.This also is the Sabbath; let us look to the Lord of the Sabbath. Will He not this day bless those who are seekers? Will He not bless those whom we bring to Him? Will He not bless those for whom we pray?

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