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 var kommen for at "løfte loven til højhed og ære". Han skulle ikke formindske dens værdighed, men herliggøre den. Skriften siger: "Han vansmægter, udmattes ikke, før han får sat ret på jorden." Es. 42,21. 4. Han var kommen for at befri sabbatten for disse besværlige krav, der havde gjort den til en forbandelse i stedet for til en velsignelse.