Therefore, the Jews began persecuting Jesus because He was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus responded to them, “My Father is still working, and I am working also.” John 5:16-17 HCSB
The Jewish leaders tossed aside the miracle Jesus had just performed and began to focus on the rules that had been broken. They should have been rejoicing and praising God for healing the man. Sadly, they were more concerned with catching Jesus breaking one of the rules than they were at exploring the great miracle of healing they had observed.
The Jewish leaders began to ridicule and harass Jesus. They were out to get Him. Jesus was more concerned with doing what was good and right instead of obeying the Law. This was a great indicator of how far away from the original intent of God’s laws the Jewish leaders had strayed. The Bible says that God rested on the Sabbath. It does not say He ignored those in need. If God had taken this approach, the world would have fallen into chaos and would have been destroyed by sin.
Challenge: Take advantage of every opportunity to do good and help others, even if it is on a Sunday. God is more concerned with meeting the needs of His children than He is in following stringent rules. The rules were designed to help us know how to act, not to limit doing what is good and right in God’s sight.