SCRIPTURE: Mark 2:23-3:6
OBSERVATION:
Both stories deal with the Sabbath traditions, and the purpose of the law – the law was not put in place to restrict people but to serve them for good, to remind them of God’s grace, to protect laborers from overwork and to do good to others.
Jesus is challenging the religious system added to God’s law, not the heart of the law itself.
Jesus was distressed by the stubborn, uncaring hearts of the religious leaders, and He chose to do what was good and right, despite upsetting them.
This shows the twisted hearts of the ‘religious’, willing to break God’s Law (by plotting to kill) to protect their system of laws.
APPLICATION:
I need to see the heart and purpose of God’s laws, and follow their spirit and purpose.
The purpose of the Sabbath law was to liberate, release and protect people from overwork, stress, slavery, to give them a taste of the eternal rest (Hebrews 4:1-11).
So much energy is expended today building up complicated systems that attempt to prop up God’s message of grace and truth – and fighting over which system is true, to the end that we totally miss the point of God’s grace and truth.
I can relate to Jesus, being plotted against because I did not follow the ‘religious rules’.
PRAYER:
Lord, help me not to get distracted by my “church systems” so that I lose the point of it all. I confess that we are often so wrapped up in church stuff that we fail to do what You have saved and called us to do, to show and share Your love with others. Forgive me and help me. Amen.
This is an important issue that I struggle with alot. I am constantly aware of Christians, including myself, that get so hung up by “legalities, and miniscule guidelines” that we either throw away a chance to witness, walk away from an opportunity, etc, and for what? So that we make sure we cover all the bases legaly, so we or the church don’t look crazy or radical? I can see how sometimes, it’s very important to sit down, think about possible ways of going about a problem or issue, and then implement that solution. However, what about a situation that arises where it’s either we look bad but show God’s love, or we save face but potentially lose a soul to the kingdom of Heaven? The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Are we actually willing to let somebody die so that we don’t have to “work” on the Sabbath?