Mark 2 : 23-28 (Daily Bread of 22/10/2017)

JESUS, LORD OF THE SABBATH

Key verse 2 : 28

Today, Jesus speaks about the Sabbath. The Sabbath day is one in which we give God a service in Spirit and in truth. Our goal in doing this is to please Him. However, this meaning was readically changed by the religious leaders. 

1.     Jesus defends his disciples (23-26) 
The ever hungry disciples saw the ripe ears in the fields and they almost automatically went towards them. They ripped them off the stems, beat them together in their palms and eat that which they contained. The leaders heard this noise and started critising them for having worked on the Sabbath inspite of the prescribed prohibition. What did Jesus do ? Jesus protected his disciples against this accusation. A look at Israel's history shows that when David and his band fled from their enemies, they found a safe place of refuge in God's house. There, the priest Abiatar gave them the food that was normally conserved for the priests. Likewise, Jésus who was full of compassion and understanding for his disciples, especially because of the weaknesses in their bodies, defended them willingly.

2. Jesus est the Lord of the Sabbath day (27-28)    

Jesus was in a terrible impasse because of the religious leaders' critical remarks on his disciples. Jésus is God. It was he who created the Sabbath day. He is therefore the divine legislator who promulgates commandements. However, every law has a spirit. Jesus understand the spirit behind the Sabbath day. It was to allow man to come closer to God and to rest in His presence. Moreover, the goal of this day was to save mankind from his sins, he who constantly ran towards his doom. Keeping the Sabbath day with acknowledging the spirit behind it is like feeling around blindly in the darkness. God dislikes this kind of blind and carnal adoration. In order to give God a true service, we need to do it with His Spirit in us. Jesus made things clear for us believers by saying « the Son of Man is the Lord of the Sabbath ». Jesus is God the Creator who created the Earth. The seventh day is the day in which He purifies us of our sins.