March 12, 2023

Miracles Trump Tradition

“So, the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet. But he answered them, He who made me well was the one who said to me, Pick up your pallet and walk. They asked him, Who is the man who said to you, Pick up your pallet and walk? But the man who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had slipped away while there was a crowd in that place.” John 5:10-13 (NASB)

I worked part-time in an auto body shop in high school. My boss was a perfectionist and OCD. Granted it was his business, but he would sometimes drive me crazy. When I would do something, he would tell me, “that’s not right, do it this way.” I wasn’t incorrect, he had his own preference, it had to be followed or I would bear the wrath. Some days, he suddenly added things, and demand I conform to the new change immediately. I felt some days I just couldn’t conform to the changes fast enough. Later, I quit. This is probably the way the Jews felt with their religious leaders. They had the Law of Moses. It was hard enough to follow, but the religious leaders added more. They probably felt they were treading in shark infested waters.

“So, the Jews were saying to the man who was cured, It is the Sabbath, and it is not permissible for you to carry your pallet.” It is not “permissible” to carry your pallet. Imagine the rebuke from Jewish leaders. They were more concerned finding fault. The Old Testament said it was not permissible to carry burdens on the Sabbath. In addition to this law, the Jews added another 39 Shabbat Laws (not scriptural) to these laws concerning the Shabbat (or Sabbath day). These forbade a number of things, including the carrying of goods. It was unlawful, and stoning was punishment. Teachings of this 39 Shabbat Laws were interpreted from several passages. One is from Jeremiah 17:21, “Thus says the Lord, “Take heed for yourselves, and do not carry any load on the sabbath day or bring anything in through the gates of Jerusalem.” “The Old Testament might have prohibited working on the Sabbath, but it did not specify what kind of work was forbidden. It seems, however that one’s customary employment was in view. The Israelites were not to participate in their normal, week-long occupation on the Sabbath day.”[1] In view of the Shabbat Law, the man was not operating in any capacity of work. He was lame and therefore never employed. He carried his pallet (or mat), which was all he had. He only obeyed the One who called to “pick up his mat and walk.” These regulations enacted by Jewish leaders only added to the externalism of Jewish faith. They also added more legal burdens to those in Israel. The Law itself was enough. It pointed out their shortcomings before God. When Jesus came, He lifted the burden of the man, and set him free. Free to walk again. Free to share his story. No Jewish leader could free him from his illness. All they could do was to critique his actions while missing the miracle. When Jesus healed the man, He came with a greater mission, to set all free.

Sometimes we get so caught up in the way we organize houses, workstations, or other areas. There is no rule or operating procedure for things, it’s just how we operate. Imagine one day that you make something more of a general practice and make it a procedure Is it lawful at that point? Or is it preference? Probably. It causes us to get so caught up in the small things, that we miss miracles that happen every day. Today, don’t look to major in the minors…

[1] (John MacArthur, 2006), 176.