QT 10/25/2023 Mark 2:23-28, Importance of rest

Mark 2:23–28 (ESV) —

23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”

 

NOTE: I think James Brooks (1991) summarizes the thought of verses 27-28 well:

 

Jesus meant that human beings were not created to observe the Sabbath but that the Sabbath was created for their benefit.

 

Lately, I've seen many long and detailed presentations on "Sabbath-keeping" or any number of titles. Jesus simplifies it well here. This is not a law for the new covenant believer, but it is a good thing, that is, rest is a good thing. In the original days of the Sabbath, it was not a religious day, although there was a meal that was celebrated. Men only went to the temple three times a year. The synagogue wasn't started until the exile by the Babylonians. It is a day of rest, pure and simple. It is not Sunday. By definition, it starts as sunset Friday evening and continues until sunset Saturday evening. It doesn't have to be any special day. But for our good, God wants us to rest. He does not demand it in the new covenant. It was a command in the old covenant. In fact, the year of the Sabbath was commanded as well as the year of Jubilee. Those Sabbath years were for the land, and for the people in a sense as it allowed the soil to renew.

 

What's the application for me? There are two types of rest. There is a rest which involves time alone with God and away from the demands of everyday life. There is another rest which is a time to decompress and enjoy a relaxing hobby, a book, or a non-stressful game.

 

A good application is to rest once a week, to have a Sabbath TAG (time alone with God 3-4 hours) once every 7 weeks (about every 2 months), and to have an all-day TAG (my year of Jubilee) once every 49 weeks (once a year).

 

PONDER:

1. Have I planned out my Sabbath TAGs (time along with God) this year?

 

PRAYER: Father, help me to use my days wisely. Help me to serve you in my retirement years.