Reflections on Mark 3 and the sabbath

I recently began going through the book of Mark. Today I'm going through the 3rd chapter. The part I wanted to pull out specifically is the beginning verses of the chapter. They read...

1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus,[a] to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." 4And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (ESV)

Jesus came for people. He came to save people who could not be saved to Himself so that those people would reflect His mercy, love, and kindness. This explains how we can know what Jesus is going to do for this man with the withered hand.

Now to another subject - the sabbath. In God's law the Jews were commanded to keep the Lord's day holy by rest from their everyday labor. But the Pharisees had taken this law to the extreme of extreme. Not only should you take a day off from your job, but any physical exertion could be considered in direct violation of this command. This idea had so much twisted their hearts that they would not serve another person if it involved any physical activity.

Shocking? Yes. And, no.

You and I are Pharisees. Though we have been saved through the blood of our precious Savior, our selfish lusts still creep at our doors. When I think about this passage in light of the Sundays. I usually take them off from work but in my rest all I think about is me, me, me and I'm tired, how can I feel better.

What is so radical about what Christ did is not only did He do work (in the eyes of the Pharisees), but He served someone else! He did a GREAT favor for someone. Someone who did not deserve it. And He didn't do it because He thought he deserved it, He did it for Himself! For His glory!

As we continue in future "days" of worship (as to Sundays, the days when we meet as a people) I pray we would go with a heart overflowing with God's love and we would seek to serve one another for Christ's glory as He demonstrated for us.


Much love to all,
Dan