LORD OF THE SABBATH

MARK 2:23-3:6

LORD OF THE SABBATH

“Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28.

The Pharisees made many things unlawful on the Sabbath, yet Jesus violated those laws.  He plucked heads of grain; he healed the sick.  I imagine there were other things that were equally egregious that brought the community eye to turn his way. 

“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.” Mark 3:4. Jesus proceeded to heal a man in direct violation of the laws of his time.

My grandmother did not believe in violating the Sabbath.  She cooked on Saturday and ate cold food on Sunday so that her day could be centered on her bible.  But, she still had work to do: walk to church, feed the chickens, milk the cow and pick the butterbeans.  These actions made her feel guilty; she’d been taught that all things on the Sabbath had to be done to benefit her relationship with God.  I wish she and I could talk about Jesus in the book of Mark; the Sabbath was created for us, not the other way around, and yes!

Taking care of one’s responsibilities is what Jesus wants us to do. That is what he did, despite the displeasure of the Pharisees.  And, he took time for worship, as we all should do.

Dear Lord, thank you for sending your son Jesus to teach us and guide us in what is truly important.  Your word is a light into our collective darkness.

~Elizabeth Matthews Jones