John 7:21-24 Jesus answered them, “I did one deed, and you all marvel. For this reason Moses has given you circumcision (not because it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and on the Sabbath, you circumcise a man. If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.”
Jesus knew why this crowd was offended. Remember? He healed the lame man on the Sabbath at the pool of Bethesda. His explanation for the healing was that His Father was working, so He worked. He lived to love with His Father, and when His Father put the lame man in His path, He saw that the purpose was to reveal He and the Father’s united love for him. It was an act of God revealing that He was the Son of God. That one deed caused them to marvel, but it also made them angry with Him. Jesus admonished them not to judge according to appearances, but to judge righteously.
Jesus’ reasoning went something like this. In order to keep the Law of Moses, a deed is done on the Sabbath, a procedure upon a small part of the body. That deed is celebrated because it is a small, hidden sign of God’s blessing. In contrast, Jesus performed one marvelous public deed on the Sabbath that resulted in the healing of an entire man as a testimony or sign of the blessing of God. That deed entirely changed his life, and you condemn it and Me because it was on the Sabbath day. Obviously, that is not a righteous judgment, because righteousness is primarily about doing good deeds for people that makes them whole.
As we live to love with Jesus, I hope to encourage you to look for ways to do good deeds for others that makes them whole. Let’s not love just for appearance’ sake, but love for righteousness’ sake. We have the privilege of showing the blessing of God in our lives for God’s glory. What a marvelous way to live!
I invite you to become a partner in our ministry. Would you pray about becoming a regular supporter of Elijah Ministries and the Live to Love with Jesus ministry? I hope you will receive the joy and benefit of "giving it forward," so others may receive encouragement to turn their hearts to God and to live to love with Jesus. You may give online or send a check to the address listed at www.spiritofelijah.com/donate.
