2/21/14- Healing and Circumcision

21Jesus said to them, “I did one miracle, and you are all amazed. 22Yet, because Moses gave you circumcision (though actually it did not come from Moses, but from the patriarchs), you circumcise a boy on the Sabbath. 23Now if a boy can be circumcised on the Sabbath so that the law of Moses may not be broken, why are you angry with me for healing a man’s whole body on the Sabbath? 24Stop judging by mere appearances, but instead judge correctly.” (John 7:21-24)

Thoughts: For many of us this passage seems foreign.  Jesus did not blow them off about the Sabbath.  He wrestled with the idea of Sabbath, and we should not blow the idea of Sabbath off either.  God wants us to rest, and to not be slaves to work or to entertainment/play.  The ancients used to speak of Sabbath as "re-creation."  We are re-created when we take time off to rest.  But Jesus fine tuned the definition of the Sabbath to allow for helping and healing people.  Emergencies, exceptions, helping others and grace was allowed.
    Jesus compared his healing on the Sabbath to circumcision- which also involved some effort.  Circumcision was a cleansing, a rolling back of reproach, a physical permanent signing of our covenant with God.  Circumcision represented a restoring of a right relationship with God.  Healing represented a restoring of health and strength.  Circumcision (today baptism) and healing are both signs of God's love and grace.  All are appropriate, even important for the Sabbath. 

Prayer: Lord, on your day, Lord, heal me and draw me closer to you.  Re-create me with rest, peace, and worship as I renew my covenant with you.