Rise, take up thy bed, and walk

This command from Jesus to the impotent man on the bed at Bethesda, who was too weak to get to the moving waters, who was last that he might become first, was made on the Sabbath Day. So the true meaning of the Sabbath becomes clear: Christ is himself our rest, who does the work of our salvation wi​thout any help from us. But then, having been healed, he tells us--as he tells  this healed man--take up  thy bed and walk.  Let us work while it is day, before the night cometh when no man can work. For our Sabbath is Christ himself, and  therefore we have no work to do to gain a gracious God, but now that we do have a gracious God, let us take up our beds and walk. Sermon for Trinity XIV Midweek, on St. John 5:1-15