seekeroftruth
Well-Known Member
John 5:16 So, because Jesus was doing these things on the Sabbath, the Jewish leaders began to persecute him. 17 In his defense Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I too am working.” 18 For this reason they tried all the more to kill him; not only was he breaking the Sabbath, but he was even calling God his own Father, making himself equal with God.
19 Jesus gave them this answer: “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. 20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, and he will show him even greater works than these, so that you will be amazed. 21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. 22 Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, 23 that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him.
24 “Very truly I tell you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be judged but has crossed over from death to life. 25 Very truly I tell you, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.
28 “Do not be amazed at this, for a time is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29 and come out—those who have done what is good will rise to live, and those who have done what is evil will rise to be condemned. 30 By myself I can do nothing; I judge only as I hear, and my judgment is just, for I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.
Eventually.... all those in their graves will hear His voice and come out...... Jesus is going to call.... and humans will jump out of those locked caskets. It doesn't matter if they were rich or poor, Christian or Non-Believer..... everyone will get up.... and then they will be sorted. The Irish girl in me wants to say.... just like potatoes.
Let's face it... this is another one of those hefty sections of the Bible that leaves Sunday School teachers scratching their head and calling in sick. It's not easy to explain..... but of course.... I'm going to stop scratching my head and go for it.
God said the Sabbath should be Holy. Humans have to rest. Gods.... well not so much.... Gods are God so they don't need anything.
Jesus was a carpenter so maybe I can use a bookshelf as an example. If I want to make a new bookshelf... I have to devise a plan, gather the wood, nails, and tools.... and then build the shelf, dust it off.... and place it. When planning it... I have to figure out what I want it to do [what size books will it eventually hold] and how it will work. When gathering the wood..... well God created His own wood but I would have to know what "look" I was going for.... and some wood just is too tough for the job.... my router doesn't like ebony wood and my wallet is more a pine board than a slice of ebony. Building the shelf itself.... well that's just pure muscle power..... I generally have to "hold it like this... yeah right there.... don't pinch the blade" while hubby does the "ripping" [like a woman can't use a table saw]. When it's all put together.... all the biscuits glued and all the joints cured.... I can dust off the residue dust.... put it where it belongs and then sit and enjoy. God started the sitting and enjoying on the Sabbath. God takes time to enjoy His work.
My mom once told me that she would spank me to make me cry. She figured out that if she could get me to cry... I would go to sleep. Then she could get a break. Now I don't think all moms are gods. We are far from it.... at least I know I am. But a mom is mom even when the kids are taking a nap. God is still God on the Sabbath. A bookshelf is still a book shelf on the Sabbath.
The leaders in the Temple..... had rules they made up to make sure everyone knew the leaders were doing their job. It was like passing laws that said grass couldn't grow over 4 inches high. Stuff comes up that has to be dealt with seven days a week. Children fall and scrap their knees.... so mom's have to kiss it and make it better. It doesn't matter if they fall on Sunday or Wednesday.... the knee still has to be kissed.
Humans don't even take an hour off for God anymore. There are no more "blue laws" in the good old USA. Jesus didn't carry a weekly planner in His pocket.
Then Jesus told them that the humans they had in the tombs were going to walk out. That must have blown their minds. It makes me think of Zombies.
I've always wondered.... how in the world will my dad get out of that casket? The casket is sealed against water and critters. The casket is sealed against humans who would steal the gold out of dead man's teeth. I've always wondered.... how are the dead going to rise. Will it look like fog? Will some souls burst out like a geyser? But now I know.... even if the physical body [not just the wispy dissipation of the soul] had to pop up.... God has a plan. An earthquake would push up the casket and break it open.... if that's what God has in mind. Somehow.... anyone who is in the grave or tomb or hole or catacomb will rise and they will be sorted out.... By Jesus...... Jesus.... because He has been a human and we would have no reason or excuse He could not judge.
God has a plan.... it includes judging everyone. Some will get a ticket to Heaven.... some will just continue to live a rotten horrible life forever and ever and ever.
Jesus will judge who gets which ticket. Anyone who has that much responsibility doesn't really carry a weekly planner in their pocket..... they are on duty constantly.... in case they are needed..... but they do take the time to sit back and look at the bookshelf and think.... what a great job.
Jesus said Sunday is just a day on a calendar.... and calendars are useless to God. God created time.... and He controls it.
I think it would be poetic justice for that earthquake that will move mountains and raise islands started on a Sabbath.... right?
One thing for sure... there will be zombies... I do wonder... will they be solid and stinky..... or airy and wispy.
The Pharisees were hunting for Jesus of Nazareth. That carpenter was working on Sunday.... and causing others to work on Sunday... and on top of that He was claiming to be the Son of God.... claiming to be as good as God.
If God was going to send His Son to earth.... surely, those Pharisees and Sadducees thought.... He would have told His priests..... but they weren't God's priests... they were Rome's imitation of priests.
God wants us to take a break.... and enjoy our lives.... enjoy our bookshelves..... and thank God for the pine boards.
