Our scripture this morning is Mark 2:23-28.
One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?” Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
How do you define Sabbath? Is it going to church on Sunday? I have heard it said that God rested on the seventh day in order to spend time with what was important to Him – His creation, which includes us. Sabbath should mean that for us as well, being together in Christian community with God and those we love.
During the Exodus God had given some rules for living to protect His people and teach them to be a community. Sabbath was a time for them to remember who and whose they were. The Pharisees of Jesus’ time had attempted to come up with a rule to answer every question and were watchful that others followed their instructions.
When they accused the disciples of breaking Sabbath, Jesus beat them at their own game. He asks “Haven’t you ever read” referring to 1 Sam. 21:1–6 when David and his men ate the Bread of Presence from the Tabernacle. The lesson He teaches is that Sabbath was made for us, not the other way around.
Loving Lord, help us not to focus on trivial things that distract us from the joy of our relationship with You. May our Sabbath celebrations honor You and bring us all together in Your kingdom. Amen.
