“Sabbath Rest” (Mark 2:23–3:6)

Mark 2:23–3:6

Listen to Sermon

Pastor Tom Johnson, June 3, 2018

This morning Jesus has an argument with the Pharisees. They are easily offended. Instead of putting their energy into helping people, they put their energy into trying to entrap and find fault in Jesus and his followers. It begins with Jesus’ disciples walking by a field of wheat and picking the grain and feeding themselves. The Pharisees want Jesus to scold and rebuke his disciples because it was Saturday—the Sabbath—the Jewish day of rest. Jesus reminds the Pharisees of how King David and his men at the show bread from the Temple—sacramental bread—because they were hungry. And the priests did not rebuke them but cared for their bodies. The bread was put to good use. Jesus beautifully sums up the spirit of the Law of the Sabbath Day rest. God gave his people a day off during the week as a gift. The Sabbath was made for humankind, not people for the Sabbath.

This commandment, “Remember the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy,” is the third commandment. It is a reminder of God’s preservation and redemption of their lives from slavery and a time to refresh and build community. How many days off do you suppose Pharaoh, the emperor and slave master of Egypt gave to the people of Israel? That’s right. None. Giving them a day to remember how God delivered them from bondage and the house of slavery and to rest from the work week is a gift. It is meant to reinvigorate his people.

Byzantine Mosaic. Cathedral of Monreale.

The Pharisees plot to see if Jesus will heal a man with a disabled hand when he enters a synagogue. And when he does heal him, they accuse Jesus of breaking the Law because it was on a Saturday. Their hardness of heart grieves Jesus. It makes Jesus sad that they twist and pervert the Word of God. Their pettiness and narrowness makes the Sabbath into a burden. You’ll remember that it was Pharaoh who time after time hardened his heart toward Moses and the Lord’s command, “Let my people go!” It is a sad thing when our hearts become calloused. We care more about the letter of the Law than we do the spirit of the Law. We care more about policies, rules, and procedures than the people they are written to serve. The Pharisees make a holiday into a burden—time off into time served. They put more energy into discrediting Jesus than they do loving their neighbor. They lose sight of the fact that the Sabbath Day rest is a gift.

We too can put up obstacles to others seeing the grace and gifts of God. God has not called us to police the world. Our job is not to find fault in other people. If those around us see that we care more about being right than we do about helping our neighbor, they will not be drawn toward Christ through us. Pride and self-righteousness will kill ministry as well as the spirits of those around us. The Sabbath Day was not given so that we would be bound and restricted one day a week. It was given to free us to enjoy life and celebrate God’s gifts and to find our rest in God and in one another. And because of the life and ministry of Jesus, this is the one commandment that went through the greatest change. Because the salvation is no longer defined by the Israelites being emancipated from slavery. Salvation is now for all nations, tribes, tongues, and peoples and our freedom from sin, death, and the devil. That is why the Apostles immediately began to gather on the first day of the week—Sundays (Acts 20:7). Sunday is the day Jesus rose again from the dead. It is the day he triumphed over death, sin, and all evil. It is now our day of emancipation and liberation. It is not a day of rules, policies, and restrictions. It is a celebration of the Gospel—what Christ did for us through his life, death, and resurrection.

“This is the day that the Lord has made! Let us rejoice and be glad in it!” This day was made for you and me. Today we find our rest in all the work God has done for us through his Son, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. This is the day we glean the fruit of the Gospel—we do not live by bread alone but by every Word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. We feed our hungry souls with the bread and wine—the Body and Blood of Jesus. We leave here reinvigorated by forgiveness and the assurance of eternal life. This is the day God heals our withered and wearied souls. We find our peace—our wholeness in Christ. We are here to encourage one another, pray, and serve one another. We do not have to—we get to gather together today and find our strength and joy for the week ahead. Blessed Lord's Day!