We continue our study in Mark and Jesus continues to teach his disciples and those around Him.
(A) Submit to Jesus the Lord of the Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28)
The disciples were travelling and as they went through the grainfields, they began to pluck heads of grain (Mark 2:23). In Deuteronomy 23:25, the law made provisions for sojourners who are in need. Thus, the disciples were doing what was permissible by plucking the heads of grain. The Pharisees’ underlying statement is that they were not doing a lawful action on the Sabbath. They accused the disciples of working on the Sabbath (Mark 2:24). There was no specific Scripture forbidding this particular action on the Sabbath but the Pharisees had deemed this action of plucking as work. This was an extrabiblical requirement. This had changed the heart of the law. It became a measuring stick to judge the people with.
This also seems to say that the law is not enough and needs to be supplemented. When they treat God’s word as malleable, they are casting doubt, and putting themselves above the law when they judge and modify it.
It is often easier to debate boundaries instead of focussing on our heart and our spiritual coldness. We can be fixated on the actions and be blind to our own sinful state. Let us not focus on the things above and apart from God’s law.
Jesus points their attention to Scripture when He mentioned David in 1 Samuel 21. He uses Scripture to explain the situation and as students of the law, they should know it (Mark 2:25). The Bread of the Presence is exclusively set apart from the priest and yet, David and his men ate of it (Mark 2:26). Jesus was showing that David and his men were not judged because they were in need.
If David and his men were not judged, why would Jesus and His disciples be when they were not breaking any law? It is also important to note that there were other instances when the people were judged for breaking the law when they presumed on the law. Also, the showbread was meant to be eaten. But Jesus was also clear that it was not lawful for David to eat and it was not presumption on David’s part.
Jesus was also equating or placing Himself above David, the great king in Israel’s history.
How does Jesus redefine the Sabbath? The Sabbath was made for man to rest, as Exodus 20:11 states. The law was given to help the people to follow the rhythms of the Creator. We are to rest because God rested! He did not need to rest, but created this law and rhythm for man. And as we do so, we are reminded of our limits. Yet, our God is limitless. Similarly, Deuteronomy 5:14-15 reiterates the Sinai commands and added this reminder that they were to also remember the Exodus and how God delivered them from slavery. Once they did not have rest, but now they can rest under His rule and in His presence. They are free to rest.
The Sabbath was a holy gift, not a crushing burden. Rest is to cease from labour because they are no longer slaves.
Jesus also declares that the Son of Man is lord, even of the Sabbath (Mark 2:27). This is not the first mention of the Son of Man, as Jesus had earlier declared that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins (Mark 2:10). Now, rest is also wrapped around the Son of Man.
We can rest in the finished work of Christ on the cross. Nothing we do and all our strivings cannot and will not save us. If you are stuck in your slavery to sin today, feeling like it has a hold on you and you keep falling into it again, remember the your Saviour is the Lord of the Sabbath who does not bind you more tightly to the law, but to Him! Sin may still tempt and grieve you but it is not your final master. Do not look at your failure. Look to the one who declares that the Sabbath was made for man. Your sin may be stubborn, but your Saviour is Lord. Look to His Lordship. Fight sin not as a slave trying to earn freedom, but as a freed soldier.
(B) Do not harden your heart against life-giving mercy (Mark 3:1-6)
“Again, he entered the Synagogue” (Mark 3:1). There are some similarities and differences compared to the last mentioned instance of being in the synagogue in Mark 1:21-28.
In the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 1:21), Jesus encounters a man with an unclean spirit (Mark 1:23). This was something spiritual and this man was also shouting at Jesus. Jesus rebuked and exorcised the demon (Mark 1:25).
Here in the synagogue on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1), Jesus sees a man with a withered hand (Mark 3:1). This is a physical defect, but also a quiet, personal brokenness that would have affected his ability to work, resulting in long-term hardship and suffering. Jesus calls out to the man and invites him to approach before everyone (Mark 3:3). Then, he asks a question to everyone present (Mark 3:4), and it was a question that showed the heart of God’s law. He called the man to stretch out the hand to restore it, and the man had to respond in faith (Mark 3:5). The quiet suffering of this man was not insignificant to Jesus and he had a public restoration. Jesus’ life-giving word can restore what is withered.
In Mark 1, we saw that Jesus had authority over unclean spirits and also had authority over the timely revealing of His mission. He was not reactive to unauthorised revelation by demons. The people were amazed and astonished (Mark 1:27). This King of the Kingdom overthrows evil one step at a time.
Mark 3 showed how Jesus had authority over the Sabbath and human brokenness. He is redefining what the Sabbath is in front of the Pharisees and demonstrating His lordship, which was declared in Mark 2:27. The people were silent at His question, which provoked a strong reaction. Jesus was angered and grieved at their hardness of heart (Mark 3:5). They would much rather him continue in his brokenness than to recognise that Jesus’ teachings were good. He was angry at their pride and hardened hearts. Jesus comes to restore, do good and give life.
What has changed from Mark 1 to Mark 3? Jesus overcame demonic bondage in Mark 1 and in Mark 3, He confronts physical brokenness and also the hard hearts of the Pharisees, who do not accept His definition of the Sabbath. The Pharisees remain unchanged. Hardened religion is more alarming that demonic possession.
What is your heart like? Our hearts are hard when we see Christ in His word but our hearts remained unmoved. We may be in church or at Bible studies as observers, but are not ready to repent. We may be more interested in assessing the message and how others should change, rather than what Christ is exposing in us. We are more keen to protect our pride instead of repenting, harbouring familiar sins instead of costly obedience. We may admire grace in theory and resist it in practice, because grace humbles us and we are unwilling to be humbled. Sometimes hardness of heart can also look religious — we can talk about holiness but be impatient, quick to notice the uncompromise in others but slow to see our own hard hearts, love being right more than being transformed.
What we need is softer hearts. Believer, you already have a new heart (c.f. Eze 36:26). Our heart can be softened because we have a new heart. This is a heart of rested trust that knows that the Lord of the Sabbath grants rest and intends for the Sabbath to be for our good, to keep our hearts soft towards Him.
The Sabbath is for mercy and good. What are we to do with it now? The picture of Jesus teaching in the synagogue is a picture of rest for us! Be a part of a local church too, that you might know those with withered hands, see needs and live out the mercy that you have received from the Lord of the Sabbath.
Jesus is also reminding us of the true rest that is to come! One day, all of our struggles with sin will be made right and we can rest in a truly, sinless state, enjoying God for who He is and resting in His glory and to be with Him. Look forward to the true rest that is in Christ. Do not be distracted and sidetracked by the false promises of this day.
The Sabbath reminds us that we are people that have been freed from slavery. It also shows God’s mercy and restoration and we are not to place extra burdens. How will we respond today?