Pentecost 2
– Proper 4
Mark 223-28
3 June 2018
Eternal God,
Your Son Jesus Christ is our true Sabbath rest. Help us to keep each day holy
by receiving His Word of comfort that we may find our rest in Him, who lives
and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.
The Sabbath was made for humanity. Not humanity for
the Sabbath. The Law of Moses was given
for us. To help us grow us in faith.
They were not given as rock-set, unchanging restrictions to life. You are not defined by rules. But by a connection
with the Divine. Your union with Jesus Christ.
Doctrine and custom are not scripture. They are, however, necessary, helpful and
essential. Doctrines are a summation of Scripture. Practices are how these doctrines are applied to our lives
personally. They are a short hand for powerful and productive ways to live a
life of faith.
Today, many claim to be walking a journey of faith.
They reason, “As long as I am seeking
God. The path I take will be of my own choosing.” This logic is uniquely
American. It’s marketing at its best. When Jesus is advertised as a product.
When everything is done for effect. And
the brand is what’s important.
As we have
become consumers of spirituality in our culture; so the argument goes: “Since I’m on this journey. If I don’t like
what I see. If I desire a different outcome. If I want a different result. I’ll
shop elsewhere. To find a better deal. Because. After all. It’s my journey.”
If we are ever tempted to try on a new path. - We
might just want to slow down. And pause. To take care. It may not be as helpful
as we might think.
Doctrines and practices are well worn paths. On which
we may safely travel. Boundaries protect. They let us feel safe. Well marked
paths are good. Helping us in our life.
To do the opposite is a challenge just as well. Instead
of looking for the new road to travel. Most folk want a safe place to park. This
is where our story begins.
The Pharisees present a contrast to the ministry of
Jesus in the Gospels. They keep the rules. While Jesus discards rules. In favor
of humanity. The Pharisees are the main opposition to Jesus. They were a first
century conservative sect of Jews. (Might we say, The Tea Party movement?) The
Pharisees were popular on a grass roots level. Jesus encountered Pharisees
often. Because His ministry occurred among the people.
Jesus is confronted with resistance. Why don't Jesus'
disciples fast? John's disciples. They fast. The Pharisees’ disciples. They
fast. This is a picky, critical, fearful question. "Why don't you do what we do?"
This happened as Jesus’ disciples were discovered picking
and chewing on grain heads on the Sabbath. Jesus’ answer to this criticism
comes as He takes the serious example of David eating the Bread of the Presence.
Even in Scripture the Law was "broken," He says, because the law is
made for man. Not the other way around.[1]
It is easier to follow the letter of the Law than it
is to exercise the thought required by love. The priest fed David and his men
because he recognized that his moral obligation superseded the ceremonial
regulation.
Today, Jesus takes the opportunity to teach us
regarding God’s rest.
The Sabbath is intended for physical and spiritual
blessing. Certain work is permissible.
Even on the Sabbath. Especially works of mercy. And work which is necessity.
And these Pharisees. They knew the Scriptures well. “If you
go into your neighbor’s standing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand,
but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbor’s standing grain.” (See
Deuteronomy 23:25)
Jesus’ guiding principle is simple. The Sabbath is
made for man. Not the other way around. At issue for us is this question. Do
you rightly keep the Sabbath? Or is the Sabbath keeping you?
1. We can
enslave ourselves to the Sabbath if we regard the letter of the Law as sacred
and sacrosanct at the expense of the Father’s intention.
A.
The Pharisees
tried to hold Jesus’ disciples to an interpretation of the Law that went way
beyond God’s intent. “Look, why are they
doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” Mark 2:24
B.
Sometimes we
concern ourselves more with “right” doctrine or “right” liturgy than with true
worship. “For I desire steadfast love and
not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” (Hosea 6;6)
C.
We can misuse the
Sabbath on weekdays too.
1.
When we are more
concerned with our own needs than with the community or the hurting in our
world. If we do so. We deny Christ.
To
that end. We have been intentional in our outreach into our community. We focus
on two acts of mercy. We partner
with Pack Away Hunger TM distributing 80,000 meals to food banks in
our county the week-end before Holy Week.
We
also reach out to families who have lost children due to stillbirth, early
death or sudden infant death syndrome. We partner with three area hospitals who
serve these families. Does this get butts in the seats? No.But
that’s not the point. Our aim is to serve our neighbor in love as Christ has
served us. Our aim is to be merciful. As Christ has shown mercy.
2.
We can misuse the
Sabbath when we insist on our rights but neglect our responsibilities. If so. We
deny Christ. And that involves your attitude. So wrestle with that.
3.
We can misuse the
Sabbath when we are more interested in being loved than in loving. If so. We
deny Christ. And that involves your
motives. So consider your motives. And if your motives have not been rooted in Christ
- bring it to the mercy seat of Christ!
2. The Father’s
intention is for the Sabbath to keep you.
A.
Jesus reaffirmed
that “the Sabbath was made for man.”
–Mark 2:38
1.
Jesus served His
disciples by defending them. Notice. Jesus does not condemn His disciples as
the wander through the field. He never scolds them. He doesn’t tell them to
knock it off, or to stop.
2.
Instead, He used
David as an example to explain two points.
a.
The Sabbath is
made to serve people.
b.
Certain work is
more important than regulations.
B.
The Sabbath is
intended for our physical and spiritual blessing.
1.
Our bodies need a
period of daily and weekly rest. “By the
seventh day God completed His work which He had done, and He rested on the
seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh
day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had
created and made. “(Genesis 2:2-3)
2.
Weary souls need
rest, too. “Come to me, all who labor and
are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
3.
We remember the
Sabbath day when we do necessary work on the Sabbath. Such as police fire, or
medical work. This work is necessary. As it becomes work in a manner that
glorifies God. Jesus said, “Which one of you who has a sheep, if it
falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will not take hold of it and lift it out?”
(Matthew 12:11)
4.
We also remember
the Sabbath when we do works motivated by love. Even if it is done on the
Sabbath itself. “Of how much more value
is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath. “
(Matthew 12:12)
C.
The Sabbath
serves us when we celebrate sins forgiven. We “rest” in the forgiveness that is
ours for the sake of the “Son of Man, who came not to be served but to serve
and to give His life as a ransom for many.”[2]
Words-1,345
Passive Sentences – 9%
Readability-79%
Reading Level -4.4
[2]
Lectionary Preaching Resources Series B Edited by Francis Rossow and Gerhard
Aho © 1987 Concordia Publishing, St. Louis
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