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s of love and benevolence in preference to the rigid ceremonies required by the priests。 If the priests and rabbis had not interposed； His teaching would have wrought such a reformation as this world has never witnessed。 But in order to maintain their own power； these leaders determined to break down the influence of Jesus。 His arraignment before the Sanhedrin； and an open condemnation of His teachings； would aid in effecting this； for the people still had great reverence for their religious leaders。 Whoever dared to condemn the rabbinical requirements； or attempt to lighten the burdens they had brought upon the people； was regarded as guilty； not only of blasphemy； but of treason。 On this ground the rabbis hoped to excite suspicion of Christ。 They represented Him as trying to overthrow the established customs； thus causing division among the people； and preparing the way for complete subjugation by the Romans。
But the plans which these rabbis were working so zealously to fulfill originated in another council than that of the Sanhedrin。 After Satan had failed to overcome Christ in the wilderness； he combined his forces to oppose Him in His ministry； and if possible to thwart His work。 What he could not accomplish by direct； personal effort； he determined to effect by strategy。 No sooner had he withdrawn from the conflict in the wilderness than in council with his confederate angels he matured his plans for still further blinding the minds of the Jewish people； that
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they might not recognize their Redeemer。 He planned to work through his human agencies in the religious world； by imbuing them with his own enmity against the champion of truth。 He would lead them to reject Christ and to make His life as bitter as possible； hoping to discourage Him in His mission。 And the leaders in Israel became instruments of Satan in warring against the Saviour。
Jesus had come to 〃magnify the law； and make it honorable。〃 He was not to lessen its dignity； but to exalt it。 The scripture says； 〃He shall not fail nor be discouraged； till He have set judgment in the earth。〃 Isa。 42：21； 4。 He had come to free the Sabbath from those burdensome requirements that had made it a curse instead of a blessing。
For this reason He had chosen the Sabbath upon which to perform the act of healing at Bethesda。 He could have healed the sick man as well on any other day of the week； or He might simply have cured him； without bidding him bear away his bed。 But this would not have given Him the opportunity He desired。 A wise purpose underlay every act of Christ's life on earth。 Everything He did was important in itself and in its teaching。 Among the afflicted ones at the pool He selected the worst case upon whom to exercise His healing power； and bade the man carry his bed through the city in order to publish the great work that had been wrought upon him。 This would raise the question of what it was lawful to do on the Sabbath； and would open the way for Him to denounce the restrictions of the Jews in regard to the Lord's day； and to declare their traditions void。
Jesus stated to them that the work of relieving the afflicted was in harmony with the Sabbath law。 It was in harmony with the work of God's angels； who are ever descending and ascending between heaven and earth to minister to suffering humanity。 Jesus declared； 〃My Father worketh hitherto； and I work。〃 All days are God's； in which to carry out His plans for the human race。 If the Jews' interpretation of the law was correct； then Jehovah was at fault； whose work has quickened and upheld every living thing since first He laid the foundations of the earth； then He who pronounced His work good； and instituted the Sabbath to commemorate its completion； must put a period to His labor； and stop the never…ending routine of the universe。
Should God forbid the sun to perform its office upon the Sabbath； cut off its genial rays from warming the earth and nourishing vegetation？ Must the system of worlds stand still through that holy day？ Should He
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command the brooks to stay from watering the fields and forests； and bid the waves of the sea still their ceaseless ebbing and flowing？ Must the wheat and corn stop growing； and the ripening cluster defer its purple bloom？ Must the trees and flowers put forth no bud nor blossom on the Sabbath？
In such a case； men would miss the fruits of the earth； and the blessings that make life desirable。 Nature must continue her unvarying course。 God could not for a moment stay His hand； or man would faint and die。 And man also has a work to perform on this day。 The necessities of life must be attended to； the sick must be cared for； the wants of the needy must be supplied。 He will not be held guiltless who neglects to relieve suffering on the Sabbath。 God's holy rest day was made for man； and acts of mercy are in perfect harmony with its intent。 God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour's pain that may be relieved upon the Sabbath or any other day。
The demands upon God are even greater upon the Sabbath than upon other days。 His people then leave their usual employment； and spend the time in meditation and worship。 They ask more favors of Him on the Sabbath than upon other days。 They demand His special attention。 They crave His choicest blessings。 God does not wait for the Sabbath to pass before He grants these requests。 Heaven's work never ceases； and men should never rest from doing good。 The Sabbath is not intended to be a period of useless inactivity。 The law forbids secular labor on the rest day of the Lord； the toil that gains a livelihood must cease； no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon that day； but as God ceased His labor of creating； and rested upon the Sabbath and blessed it； so man is to leave the occupations of his daily life； and devote those sacred hours to healthful rest； to worship； and to holy deeds。 The work of Christ in healing the sick was in perfect accord with the law。 It honored the Sabbath。
Jesus claimed equal rights with God in doing a work equally sacred； and of the same character with that which engaged the Father in heaven。 But the Pharisees were still more incensed。 He had not only broken the law； according to their understanding； but in calling God 〃His own Father〃 had declared Himself equal with God。 John 5：18； R。 V。
The whole nation of the Jews called God their Father； therefore they would not have been so enraged if Christ had represented Himself as standing in the same relation to God。 But they accused Him of
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blasphemy； showing that they understood Him as making this claim in the highest sense。
These adversaries of Christ had no arguments with which to meet the truths He brought home to their consciences。 They could only cite their customs and traditions； and these seemed weak and vapid when compared with the arguments Jesus had drawn from the word of God and the unceasing round of nature。 Had the rabbis felt any desire to receive light； they would have been convinced that Jesus spoke the truth。 But they evaded the points He made concerning the Sabbath； and sought to stir up anger against Him because He cl