“Peaceful Sabbath”
A painting by Charles Summey.
[This is Part 3 of the series Did Jesus Christ Abolish the Law?]
Is this a correct view? What did John really say? What is the Bible truth?
Let’s take close look at the passage in question. John 5:18 says:
Who was it in John 5 that said Christ broke the Sabbath?
Was it John? Or the Jews?
Clearly not John because the same John wrote:
…
1Jn 3:8 He that committeth sin is of the devil; for the devil sinneth from the beginning. For this purpose the Son of God was manifested, that he might destroy the works of the devil.
1Jn 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God.
If Christ “broke the Sabbath”, then He sinned. If Christ sinned then He is of the devil. And if Christ sinned then we do not have a Savior!
That is what this claim amounts to!
On the other hand if the Sabbath [and the law for that matter] was no longer in force when Christ “broke” it – then there is no sin to speak of. In other words, there is no need for a savior – which would make Christ’s suffering, crucifixion and death useless.
The simple fact is, it is the Jewish sect [probably Pharisees] who were accusing Christ of breaking the Sabbath [v.10]. And the basis of their accusation was their own man-made idea of “Sabbath” keeping, where they classify healing as “work”. If you searched the entire “law of Moses” [Genesis to Deuteronomy] you will not find any prohibition against healing during Sabbath.
Carrying bed during Sabbath
Now the issue of “carrying bed” during Sabbath had likewise been grossly misunderstood. Christ told the sick to “Rise, take up thy bed, and walk”. Was Christ telling the sick to carry heavy burden, such as bed, during Sabbath?
According to Smith’s Bible Dictionary the Jewish “bed” during Jesus’ time were nothing like the heavy beds that we know of today. They were not even cots!
Notice:
Bed. The Jewish bed consisted of the mattress, a mere mat, or one or more quilts; the covering, a finer quilt, or sometimes, the outer garment worn by day, 1Sa_19:13, which, the law provided, should not be kept in pledge after sunset, that the poor man might not lack his needful covering, Deu_24:13, the pillow, 1Sa_19:13, probably formed of sheep’s fleece or goat’s skin with a stuffing of cotton, etc.; the bedstead, a divan or bench along the side or end of the room, sufficing as a support for the bedding.- Smith’s Bible Dictionary
Those “beds” were mere “mats” or “quilts” that is hardly a “burden” even for a small child!
So much for the “Jesus broke the Sabbath” misunderstanding.
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