: F.F. Bruce
: What the Bible Says About the Work of Christ Jesus Past, Present, And Future
: Kingsley Books
: 9781912149131
: 1
: CHF 8.30
:
: Religion/Theologie
: English
: 200
: DRM
: PC/MAC/eReader/Tablet
: ePUB
Who was Jesus? What did He do? What is He doing now? And what is He going to do? F.F. Bruce lets the Bible speak for itself in this illuminating introduction to the past, present, and future work of Jesus. The book is a perfect starting point for both individual and group study. Each page exhibits Bruce's spiritual maturity and his intimacy with Christ. 'By his present work,' says the author, 'Christ gives his people the grace to endure; his future work will bring them final salvation and victory.'

CHAPTER 2

THE WAY OF THE CROSS

AT QUITE AN EARLY STAGE IN HIS MINISTRY Jesus began to find himself at odds with the religious and political authorities.

Conflict with the religious authorities

CONFLICT WITH THE RELIGIOUS AUTHORITIES arose first of all from Jesus’ insistence on healing people on the Sabbath day, even during synagogue services. The law of the Sabbath was laid down in the fourth of the ten commandments. The fourth commandment directed the Israelites not to do any work on the Sabbath day. At one time everyone had a fairly clear idea of what was meant by “work” in this sense, but with changes in conditions of life, it became necessary to define “work” more precisely. In some Jewish teaching there were set forth thirty-nine forms of activity which were to be regarded as “work” forbidden on the Sabbath day. For example, reaping grain and grinding it were two of these activities. When fault was found with Jesus’ disciples for plucking ears of grain as they walked through the fields on the Sabbath and rubbing them between their hands to extract the kernel, it was because plucking was reckoned to be a form of reaping, and rubbing a form of grinding.

As for healing people on the Sabbath, the exponents of the law were not unreasonable. If it was a matter of life or death, if delay would be dangerous, then by all means, they agreed, the saving of life should take precedence over the Sabbath law. But if sick or disabled persons could easily wait until sunset, when the new day officially started, then let them wait.

But Jesus said, “Why should they wait?” A law of God could best be obeyed by the fulfillment of the purpose for which it was given. Now the Sabbath was given for the rest and relief of human beings, and anything which promoted that end was a proper thing to do on the Sabbath. By curing people he gave them rest and relief from disease and pain, and the Sabbath was the most fitting day for such activity.

This reasoning was persuasive and attractive, but many of the religious leaders found it subversive. Jesus, in their eyes, had no authority to act or teach as he did; he was undermining established authority and was a dangerous influence.

In Galilee and Jerusalem alik