The Sacred Cow

Introduction:

In the story today we will see how the leaders of the church demanded that this man who was healed explain himself. It’s sad that the Jews didn’t rejoice over this mans healing but instead rebuked him.

The Jews were referring to the old testament law that no work be done on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2

Exodus 35:2 NKJV

2 Work shall be done for six days, but the seventh day shall be a holy day for you, a Sabbath of rest to the Lord. Whoever does any work on it shall be put to death.

The Old Testament prohibited work on the Sabbath, but it did not specify the kind of work.

The idea was that they were not to perform their daily employment on the Sabbath. Judaism went far beyond the specification of the Bible. It created many laws and rules of the Sabbath that the Word of God did not specify. These rules brought great burden on the people of Israel.

While some traditions of the church are good, it’s easy to over step what God requires and replace it with what we want to deem as Holy.

Be careful not to hang onto those Scared Cows!!

Scared Cows Block The View

John 5:10–11 NKJV

10 The Jews therefore said to him who was cured, “It is the Sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your bed.” 11 He answered them, “He who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your bed and walk.’ ”

The Miracle was over shadowed. “10a”

The Jews couldn’t celebrate this mans healing for fear of breaking a tradition they deemed as law.

Their interpretation of the law developed a chain in their lives.

The law didn’t forbid this action, it was a man made rule.

Extra Biblical mandates control churches. “10b-11”

Church structure has to be a certain way.

You have to meet at these times to be right with God.

You have to dress a certain way.

Music can only be hymns, or a certain genre.

The preacher has to minister in a traditional manner, He can not think outside the box.

Those setting these extra Biblical standards believe that If the standards set forth are not meet, then the church “people” are not right with God.

Scared Cows Get In The Way

John 5:12 NKJV

12 Then they asked him, “Who is the Man who said to you, ‘Take up your bed and walk’?”

The focus was not on Jesus.

Cows create limitations in our relationship.

The Jews spent more time crossing the “T” and dotting the “I” than they did understanding who Jesus really was.

Sacred cows will lead you to a slow rejection of Holiness.

Not having your focus on the one that matters, “Jesus,” will cause pain in your relationship with God. “The Jews were mad!!”

A lack of Biblical understanding causes the cow to grow.

Altho they had studied the Law and the Prophets, they became num to his coming.

Cows make the scripture dull.

Cows misrepresent who Christ wants to be in the life of a person.

Scared Cows Reject Christ

John 5:13–16 NKJV

13 But the one who was healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had withdrawn, a multitude being in that place. 14 Afterward Jesus found him in the temple, and said to him, “See, you have been made well. Sin no more, lest a worse thing come upon you.” 15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

His truth shines even in a cow pasture.

Surrounded by religious Jews, the power of God still over shadows the cows.

This mans healing was real no matter what the Jews though about it.

Never let the keeper of the cows diminish what Jesus has done for you.

Your miracle is a gift from God, rejoice in it.

The keeper of the cows will not see Jesus the way they should.

The Jews persecuted Jesus.

They really had no idea who He was.

When the object of your affection takes the place of Jesus, You will begin to hate the things of God.

It’s displayed by many different patterns.

Wrong attitude

Poor mouthing everything related to church and God’s people.

Focus on traditions and not God.

No real desire for a oneness relationship with Jesus.

It’s time we kill the cows and have a bbq!!

Conclusion:

Without a proper view of Christ, the church will act like the Israelites when they wanted a golden image to worship.

Anything that takes the place of Jesus is a Cow that needs to be taken to the slaughter house.

What cows are you holding onto?