March 1, 2025
The Lord of the Sabbath!
Read: Numbers 3, 4; Psalm 60; Mark 2:18-28
Scripture: Mark 2:23 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, "Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?"..27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath."
Observation: The Pharisees considered themselves as the guardians of the Law of Moses. They emphasized observing the Law given to Moses. So, they followed strict traditions and urged every Jew to follow them. Those Jewish traditions made the Law difficult to follow because the Pharisees demanded people observe many rules and regulations that burdened them. Here, the Pharisees questioned Jesus about his disciples' behavior during the Sabbath. According to the Gospel, Pharisees repeatedly questioned Jesus concerning violating the Sabbath. In those days, following the Law according to tradition became more important than following the very purpose of the Law. In this case, Jesus was speaking about the Law of the Sabbath, which was given through Moses so that the Israelites get some rest in a day to restore their physical, spiritual, and mental strength. Jesus reminded the Pharisees, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath." He informed them that he is Lord even of the Sabbath. Jesus objected to their interpretations of the law and their customs and regulations to observe it. He reinforced the original purpose of the Sabbath. It is a day of rest and worship.
Application: I need to be watchful not to fall into the pitfalls of commonly recognized customs and traditions. Sometimes, instead of helping us, customs and traditions may become burdens and may create a guilty feeling among the people. Further, it could lead us away from God. The purpose of the Sabbath was to emphasize the needed rest to refresh a man, not to emphasize a particular day. The purpose of a man is to rest in the LORD. Because, our God is the Lord of the Sabbath!
Prayer: Father God, thank you for your concern for my well-being and spiritual freshness. While I wholeheartedly spend my time making the end needs of my worldly life, Lord, help me relax myself, and take the needed rest for my spirit, soul, and body. As St. Augustine prayed, "You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You." Amen.
✍️: Arputharaj Samuel
📕: Quiet Time Companion
🗓️ Day – 60