CHAPTER 11 :: Lord of the Sabbath
Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-3:6)
Introduction
The Jewish leaders again challenge how Jesus observed the Sabbath Day. God’s original command to Moses was to remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy. Over the centuries, leaders established Jewish traditions they believed would help people keep that command. However, some of these traditions caused more harm than good, steering people away from God’s true intent: the Sabbath was meant for doing good.
Mark used the conflicts about Sabbath observance to represent how the leader’s traditions reject God’s intent in other areas, too:
“And He (Jesus) said to them, “You full well reject the commandment of God so that you may keep your own tradition” (Mark 7:9).
The Question: Is It Lawful to Heal? (Mark 2:23-28)
Storybook
The leaders continued spying on Jesus, grumbling, “Jesus’ disciples pluck grain and eat it–and on the Sabbath. Lawbreakers! Just as fasting has well-established rituals, so does observing the Sabbath. Their Rabbi, Jesus, is responsible for them working on this holy day. Brothers, we’ve seen enough; it’s time to end his charade.
But before they confronted Him, a Pharisee interjected, asking Jesus, “Look, why do your disciples break the Sabbath Law?”
Jesus linked His actions to those of King David. While hungry on a crucial mission, David took the showbread, which God reserved for the priests. David broke the Law, yet they didn’t condemn him (1 Samuel 21:1-6).
The leaders wheezed and gasped while throwing sand into the air and saying, “How bold He is! To compare himself with our forefather and icon, David, and accuse him of sin! He calls himself ‘Lord of the Sabbath.’ God alone established the Sabbath and told us how to observe it.”
They met and nodded, determined to stop Jesus’ defiance and perceived blasphemy. But how? One of them stepped forward, a finger in the air as he suggested, “We can set a trap. Jesus is scheduled to speak at the synagogue this Sabbath. I know a man—yes, a sinner—who has a withered hand. I’ll bring him with me. When Jesus heals him on the Sabbath, it will be obvious that he is working, which violates the Sabbath laws.”
Accusing Jesus of Blaspheme
The leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy for claiming the authority to forgive sins because they only saw Him as a man, not as God. However, Jesus demonstrated His authority when the crippled man picked up his mat and walked.
Accusing Jesus of Lawbreaking
Initially, they accused Jesus of breaking the Law because He didn’t follow their traditions. The first example they gave was that He didn’t follow their fasting traditions. Next, they accused Him of breaking their traditions for observing the Sabbath. Jesus countered both charges, explaining the ways of the Kingdom of God.
David’s Example
By referencing David, Jesus showed there are times when God’s children have a higher priority than robotically keeping the Law’s technicalities. When technicalities hinder a believer from fulfilling God’s mission, the mature believer should see the bigger picture and understand God’s intent, making a better decision that advances God’s cause.
Summary
God established the Sabbath, which was THE sign of the Mosaic Covenant. The leaders had established their own traditions for observing it. These traditions nullified God’s intent.
Jesus said David was on a mission from God, so his need to sustain himself overruled his disobedience.
The Answer: It Is Lawful to Heal (Mark 3:1-6)
But Jesus saw their trap, so on that next Sabbath, in the synagogue, Jesus didn’t approach this healing from His enemies’ perspective. Instead, He posed a rhetorical question, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?”
An awkward silence followed as His enemies avoided any eye contact. The leaders had sneered at Him, but now Jesus had a gaze that cut deep, piercing their souls. Jesus was both grieved and angry (anger isn’t always a sin), but His anger didn’t last long. Softening His stare, Jesus turned to the crippled man and instructed, “Stretch out your hand.” Immediately, his hand was fully restored.
Disregarding the good that Jesus did by healing the man, one of the perpetrators gloated, “Our trap worked, and He fell right into it.”
The Jews’ plot to kill Jesus had found an ally: The Herodians. (Now, no loyal Jew would normally partner with them.) They supported Roman occupation, which was anathema to Jews. However, Jesus provoked the Herodians by disrupting their relationship with Rome. So, the leaders knew they could counsel with them on how to kill Jesus.
Summary
Jesus used the Sabbath as a day for doing good, but the leaders’ traditions prevented this. In this case, following technicalities allowed these devils to call Jesus’ good work evil.
