Where Do You Keep the Sabbath?

Mark 2:27-28 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.”
 
FIRST, let’s understand Jesus’ teaching, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”  We’ll begin at the beginning. Genesis 2:2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. God was not tired. He rested in the completion of his work.
   He had created man to be his representative on earth. Genesis 2:15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. As God’s ambassador, man would do as God. God created the Sabbath, so mankind would rest from his work in honor of his Creator.
   God also created the Sabbath for mankind to know God is sovereign over his creation. The Sabbath reminds us God is creator. He is the authority over our lives. We can rest from our work, trusting the LORD will provide all our needs.
   In contrast, consider those who ignore the Sabbath. They ignore God, too, don’t they? Neglecting Sabbath observance rejects God’s gift. To disobey the Sabbath rest is a starting point to refuse all commands. Remember the Sabbath and remember God’s good laws for your benefit.  
   Who, then, decides what is Sabbath rest? Jesus does. He is the Sabbath’s authority. “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” That settles it. When debating what is right on the Sabbath, we go to Jesus. The Son of Man is God’s authority on earth. He represents God’s grace to create the Sabbath. He extends God’s love to honor the Sabbath as a day of restoration. That included both rest from our labor and a response to do good works to aid those in distress. Mark gives us an example of Jesus’ Sabbath lordship:
 
Mark 3:1-6 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
 
The Pharisees didn’t accept healing as good work. Their laws permitted caring for animals but not healing a man. Btu Jesus is Lord. Jesus healed. The Pharisees wanted to be the lords of the Sabbath. So they looked for ways to kill the Lord.
   Does the church today find ways to reject Jesus’ Sabbath example? Some criticize church groups who work on Sunday to help some people in need. “It’s the Sabbath. You don’t do those things on a Sunday!”
   Why not? Do you see the God, who healed on the Sabbath? He was angry and deeply distressed over the stubborn, traditional hearts around him. Would Jesus want you to help heal people’s needs on the Sabbath?
     What do you think? Is keeping the Sabbath keeping God in the church building? Or is keeping the Sabbath extending God’s love into the world to love others?