My Father is working still

Whether you like it or not, when you come to any place, any country and if you want to stay, you must keep the customs and laws of that particular place. Therefore, Jews kept the Torah so that they might live in the land God had promised to Abraham. This theme is repeated throughout the book of Deuteronomy (e.g. 4:1, 12:1, 18:9, 25:15 etc.) Among these statues and commandments, circumcision and keeping the Sabbath distinguish Jews among the nations. Therefore, when Jesus healed the sick on Sabbath, the Jews were very much offended.
John 5 records the cure of a man who had been ill for 38 years. Some scholars see the man as a symbol of Israel who had wandered in the wilderness for 38 years before entering the Promised Land (40 years minus one to leave Egypt and another one to enter the Promised Land). Therefore, Jesus had symbolically healed Israel in this miracle. Instead of thanking Jesus for healing this man (Israel), the Jews wanted to persecute Jesus because he did it on Sabbath. How ungrateful!
But Jesus answered them, "My Father is working still, and I am working." (John 5:17)
Jesus told them that God had never rested on Sabbath which He consecrated. He continuously sustains the Creation without rest. Indeed, God does not need any rest.
This verse reminds me of the first oracle in I-Ching 乾. In a philosophical reflection on this oracle, Confucius concluded that 天行健，君子以自強不息。As an ideal man, a 君子, we should follow the characteristics of heaven (God), tirelessly perfecting ourselves without rest. Of course, Confucius did not harbour the desire to become God. He advised us to lead a life as an ideal, a perfect man. Jesus is more 'ambitious'.
In defending his action, Jesus offended the Jews even more because he called God his Father.
This was why the Jews sought all the more to kill him, because he not only broke the sabbath but also called God his Father, making himself equal with God (John 5:18).
Jesus declared his own divinity and awakened the spark of divinity God has deposited in us. When we work tirelessly towards perfection, we partake in the divinity of God.
You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matthew 5:48).

Our Heavenly Father, You unceasingly sustain Your wonderful Creation. You made us in Your image and likeness so that one day, we may be fully infused in Your divinity. May we work, unceasingly like You, towards perfection, loving You and our neighbours ever more. Amen.