Keeping the Sabbath
Opening Prayer
Lord, help me to find my satisfaction in You and to seek to please You alone.
Read LUKE 6:1-11
[1] One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. [2] Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” [3] Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? [4] He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” [5] Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” [6] On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. [7] The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. [8] But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. [9] Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” [10] He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. [11] But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What is the value of Sabbath?The Pharisees believed that there were 613 laws, and that if all Israel kept all the laws for one day God’s kingdom would come. This explains their commitment to ensuring the Law was enforced. However, on these two occasions, they discover Jesus breaking the Law himself (6-11), or allowing his disciples to do so (1-5).Within their interpretation of the Law the Pharisees’ anger is understandable, but Jesus challenges them to see things differently. For him the Sabbath may be a day of rest, but it is a day of rest in order that we might celebrate the completion of creation (Genesis 2:2). Within this celebration there is no need for petty rules and regulations; the disciples can enjoy the life which has been given to them, and the man is restored to wholeness as his arm is healed. For the Christian this call into a deeper meaning continues. While the Sabbath is now seen as Sunday–the day of resurrection–Jesus, as Lord of the Sabbath, calls us to celebrate every day as a Sabbath. With him we are to proclaim constantly the promise of the coming new creation when all will be at peace and experience a God-given rest.
Apply
Set aside a day of Sabbath as a time to celebrate the completion of God’s creation and redemption in Christ.
Closing prayer
Jesus, reveal the heart of the Father so I know more and more that You are altogether for me.
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