"The Jesus said to him, 'Get up! Pick up your mat and walk.' At once the man was cured; he picked up his mat and walked...so, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jews persecuted him." -- John 5:8: & John 5:16

Here we see again, how skewed religion had become and the headwinds Jesus was facing in his ministry. In this scene, Jesus heals a paralyzed man who lives his life sitting on a mat.  Upon healing him, he instructs the man to get up and carry his mat.  The response of the righteous ones wasn't "Praise God!  Our friend is healed!"  Instead, it's "Hey, it's illegal to carry your mat on the Sabbath."  Does anyone see the problem here?  Instead of celebrating what Jesus has done, they persecute him.   It's this misunderstood spirit of the Law that leads them to further detest Jesus.  These things ultimately lead to his being hung on a cross.  When I read this, I can't help but wonder what it is we modern day believers are missing.  Would we also persecute Jesus if he came and disturbed our religious sensibilities?

Readings:  1 Samuel 1:1-2:21; John 5:1-23; Psalm 105:37-45; Proverbs 14:28-29