MY FATHER IS ALWAYS WORKING
Jesus was, once again, engaged in a tussle with His opponents. His weapon was always truth versus error, lies, and deception. His enemies thrived on their dogged determination to catch Jesus out and prove Him wrong. However, they had chosen to tangle with one far superior to them in knowledge, understanding, and truth.
On this occasion, the issue raged around the healing of a blind man on the Sabbath. All the efforts of Jesus’ opponents to disprove that the man healed had been blind, including interrogating his parents, failed to change the obvious… Jesus had restored a blind man’s sight.
So, the conflict shifted to the inevitable, never-to-be-resolved debate on the Sabbath. The religious leaders attacked Jesus for “working” on the Sabbath while Jesus questioned their definition of “work”.
To the Jewish exponents of the law, work was lifting a finger to do anything they pronounced forbidden according to their interpretation of the law. To Jesus, any “work” that alleviated human suffering was in keeping with the compassionate, merciful nature of the Father.
Luke 6:8-9 NLT
[8] But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So, the man came forward. [9] Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”
The Sabbath was akin to the race issue in my country and in many others. If a situation cannot be resolved amicably, up comes the racist accusation. Even on the rugby field (aka RWC final), the race issue stuck its tongue out!
Jesus had the perfect answer to the Pharisees, which by the way, enraged them even more. “My Father is always, working and so am I.” For Jesus, the Sabbath had its place for God’s people, but for Him and His Father, the Sabbath was irrelevant.
God’s rest is one of ceasing from the “work” that the religious leaders were so eager to force others to do. The very purpose that Jesus made His appearance on earth was to do away with the work that wearied His people, and to offer them the permanent work of faith in His work of dying on the cross for their sin.
Matthew 11:28-30 NLT
[28] Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. [29] Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. [30] For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.”
John 17:4 NLT
[4] “I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.”
John 19:30 NLT
[30] “When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”
The debate is forever settled. The work of eternal salvation is complete. There is a rest we may enter by faith in Jesus’ finished work. How, then are the Father and the Son still working? Through the Holy Spirit on earth and in His people, He is convicting and calling unbelievers to Jesus, and He is perfecting the saints for glory.
John 6:29 NLT
[29] Jesus told them, “This is the only work God wants from you: Believe in the one he has sent.”
So, we can celebrate Jesus’ victory over sin and death by entering His rest and by working with the Holy Spirit to reach that goal for which He has destined us.
Romans 8:28-29 NLT
[28] “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. [29] For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.”