Wednesday 17 March 2010

Background

These verses are apparently Jesus' own commentary on his part inthe dramatic acts of healing carried out on the Sabbath day of rest. They make it apparentthat the offence given by his actions, in the eyes of the religiousleaders of the day, was less about the healing than it was aboutunacceptable actions on the Sabbath, and daring to call God hisfather. The words of Jesus, offered by John as commentary, make itclear that he sees these dramatic events as signs of God'sactivity, rather than an opportunity to bask in his ownglory.

This passage was written with the benefit of hindsight with regardto the fuller picture of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, andthe emerging communities of Christian believers. The theologicaland poetic statement of the shared life and experience of God theFather and God the Son point to the revelation of unique truths inthe actions and person of Jesus. These verses in turn point ustowards the later, more developed theological understanding ofTrinity: God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

This theological reflection makes it clear that hearing, believingand acting are indivisible - both in the person of God and in thelife of faith for Christian believers. Just as Jesus' own actionspoint to God's life working within him, the challenge is for ourown words and actions similarly to be a testimony to God's lovingnature working in and through us.

To Ponder

How do the words and actions of Jesus, asportrayed in the Gospel stories of about healing, illumine yourunderstanding of 'God the Father'?

Many contemporary thinkers, from religious andfrom no faith backgrounds, recognise the value of a weekly rhythmof life that includes times of rest and recreation (eg Sabbath).How might we cherish that ideal for ourselves, yet guard against itbecoming a day bound by prohibitions?