LORD OF THE SABBATH by jon neufeld

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

1One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. 2Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”3Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? 4He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” 5Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”6On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there.9Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?”10He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus. (Luke 6:1-11)

The Law & Grace

I love how hard of a time Jesus gives the Pharisees. Almost as if he relished the opportunity to be a rebel and defy their authority—or more like their perceived authority. They were so blinded by their spiritual pride, that they couldn’t hear or understand what Jesus was saying or teaching.  

All they saw was the wrong, the unlawful, the sacrilegious. It makes me think about how often I am judgmental of others' actions. I'm sure there are moments in each day I find a way to tear someone else down in order to build myself up. 

At least I didn’t do what THEY did...
I can’t believe they would do that...

Not exactly a response rooted in grace, mercy, or compassion.

Jesus was so seldom outwardly angry, but his interactions with the pharisees seem to show us glimpses of where Jesus was most passionate. 

He found companionship with the honest, the broken, the meek, and the downtrodden. 

The regular people. 

The people that weren’t patting themselves on the back every day. The people who were aware of their innate failures as human beings, desperately in need of grace. Jesus represented something so different, something that couldn’t be earned with good behavior or sacrifices.  

I don’t want to miss the whole point of knowing and following Jesus: to live in the freedom he has given us through his death and resurrection. I want to see others as precious children of God, not as punching bags for me to deflect or redirect my sin and guilt towards. I am responsible for my own actions as I respond to grace—a grace that cannot be earned. A freedom that cannot be worked for.

God, grant me Your eyes to see others as your children. Help me not to judge, but instead to respond with compassion, acceptance, and love. Thank you for loving me in spite of myself. Your love and grace is a gift that I have never earned, and never will be able to earn or repay. Thank you. 

Jon 
jneufeld@b4church.org