Opening Prayer
As I come to your Word now, Father, help me to lay aside those things that would distract me and help me to rest in your goodness as I focus on you.
Read MARK 2:23–28
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath
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?”
25 He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? 26 In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
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.”
New International Version (NIV)Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Meditate
‘Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.’1
Think Further
The Pharisees continue to be antagonistic toward Jesus. Today we see them object to the disciples’ plucking ears of grain and rubbing them between their fingers.2 In their view this broke the commandment not to work on the Sabbath, for they counted this activity as reaping and threshing grain. Jesus countered their argument by reminding them that when David fled from Saul he broke religious law too, the law which forbade anyone other than a priest from eating the loaves of bread.3 Scripture records this incident but does not criticize David for his actions, the implication being that appeasing his hunger and that of his men was more important than adhering to the rules.
Jesus argues that in a similar way people’s needs take priority over the Sabbath regulations of the Pharisees: he argues that the Sabbath was created to benefit us, not weigh us down with laws that prevent us from helping others. Indeed, we read elsewhere of how frustrated Jesus got when the Pharisees condemned him for healing on the Sabbath.4
The principle Jesus presents has relevance for more than how we keep the Sabbath. Jesus prioritized the needs of people and refused to let rules, regulations, and traditions get in the way of that. What would Jesus say, for instance, about objections to a food bank in church because it spoils the aesthetics; or opposition to a crèche because it creates noise in the service; or reluctance to create a disabled access because changes will need to be made to much-loved parts of a church building? Can you think of any ways this principle may apply to any decisions in which you are involved? Let’s pray that Jesus’ love for those in need may be the dominating principle in our lives.
Apply
Are there any situations known to you where there is conflict or disagreement over a way forward in church? Pray that God’s love and his priorities will prevail.
Closing prayer
Thank you, Father, for your gift of the Sabbath. Whatever I choose to do in my Sabbaths, help me to use them to rest in you and to remind me of your great goodness and love. As I remember, help me to be an instrument of your peace.
Last Updated on September 18, 2024 by kingstar