John 5:17-18 — Beside the Pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem lay a man who had been suffering with a debilitating condition for 38 years. One Sabbath day Jesus met this man and healed him of his illness. When the Jewish leaders discovered him carrying his bed in the temple they were outraged. He had broken the Sabbath and so had the man who healed him. This led to an encounter between Jesus and the Jews and this where we discover the purpose of the miracle.
Jesus made a startling claim – a claim that was instantly recognised by His opponents. He used the Sabbath to show the Jews exactly who He was. As we today contemplate this text, we come face-to-face with the Incarnate God.