JesusX30 Challenge—Scene 9: THE RISING STORM
1. Key Texts
• John 5:1–47—Healing at the Pool of Bethesda and ensuing controversy
• Mark 2:23–28—Grainfield incident and “Lord of the Sabbath”
• Luke 6:6–11—Healing on the Sabbath in the synagogue
• Exodus 20:8–11; Deuteronomy 5:12–15—Sabbath law background
• Isaiah 58—True worship: justice and mercy over ritual
2. Outline / Notes
Date & Place
• Spring 28 AD—Jesus’ second Passover since going public.
• Jerusalem, packed with tens of thousands of pilgrims, soldiers, and priests.
• Atmosphere: charged, political, volatile—the perfect storm for confrontation.
Main Account
• Jesus heals a man at the Pool of Bethesda (John 5).
– The man had been paralyzed 38 years and didn’t even ask to be healed.
– Jesus commands: “Get up, pick up your mat, and walk.”
– The healing happens on the Sabbath, triggering immediate outrage.
• The religious leaders accuse Jesus of violating Sabbath law.
– Jesus replies: “My Father is always at work, and I too am working.”
– A claim to divine authority—working alongside God Himself.
– They begin plotting to kill him.
• Soon after, disciples pluck grain on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28).
– Jesus defends them with the story of David eating the consecrated bread.
– Declares: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
• Later, he heals a man with a withered hand inside a synagogue (Mark 3:1–6).
– Asks: “Which is lawful on the Sabbath—to do good or evil, to save life or to kill?”
– Heals the man publicly, exposing their hypocrisy.
• This sequence escalates opposition—Pharisees and Herodians begin plotting together.
Meanwhile
• Sabbath = symbol of covenant identity and control.
• By redefining Sabbath, Jesus reclaims divine authority from those misusing it.
• Each act is both compassionate and confrontational—mercy as revolution.
• Jesus’ question, “Who really speaks for God?” now divides the crowds.
• The storm of resistance begins to build; from this point, there’s no going back.
3. Main Point
• Jesus wasn’t careless—he was deliberate.
• He entered the strongholds of power to expose how religion had become a tool of exclusion.
• The Lord of the Sabbath doesn’t abolish God’s law; he restores its heart: compassion, justice, and freedom.
• Following him means confronting systems—religious, political, or personal—that keep others bound.
4. Exegetical Insight
• John 5:17—ho patēr mou heōs arti ergazetai kagō ergazomai—“My Father is working… and I am working.” A claim of divine partnership.
• Mark 2:28—kyrios estin tou sabbatou ho huios tou anthrōpou—“The Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”
• Sabbath in Hebrew (shabbat) = “cease, rest”; Jesus reframes it as restoration and release.
• Each healing acts out Isaiah 58: true worship is liberation, not legalism.
5. Reflection Questions
• Where in your faith or community might “rules” have replaced compassion?
• What systems—church, political, personal—would Jesus challenge if he walked in today?
• Are you clinging to control or open to confrontation for the sake of liberation?
• What might “Sabbath” look like if it centered on restoration instead of regulation?
6. Action Step / Challenge
• Identify one “system” or habit in your life that excludes, limits, or controls others.
• Ask: “If Jesus walked in, would he overturn this—or use it to bring healing?”
• This week, take one step to turn your faith outward—toward freedom, not fear.
7. Share & Join the Movement
• Share your reflections using #JesusX30Challenge, #JX30, or #JesusX30.
• Invite someone into the 30-day journey.
• Subscribe on YouTube or follow the podcast.
Buy the books!
This 30-day challenge is based on my book trilogy entitled Jesus: The Strategic Life and Mission of the Messiah and His Movement, 3 Volumes.
You can buy or borrow the trilogy at:
Hekhal Publishing Co. (look for free samples of each book as well)
Amazon (print or ebook)
Barnes & Noble (print or ebook)
Hoopla (borrow)
Many more booksellers worldwide!
