Still Lord of the Sabbath

Introduction

Good evening students! It is great to see each one of you here tonight. We are jumping back into the Gospel of Mark this week. If you remember the last time that we were studying in the Gospel of Mark, Jesus and His disciples were confronted by the Pharisees because Jesus’s disciples had picked some heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath day. The Pharisees saw this as breaking God’s law; however, Jesus, God’s Son, revealed to the Pharisees that the disciples had no broken God’s law. Instead, they had broken the manmade law of the Pharisees which was only made to make themselves appear righteous. Jesus also revealed that He was the Lord of the Sabbath as He is God’s Son.

Now, Jesus continues this as the Pharisees confront Him again. To set the stage, Jesus enters into the synagogue on the Sabbath in Mark 3 only to have the Pharisees confront Him yet again.

Let’s take a look at

Mark 3:1–6 ESV

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And 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. 5 And 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. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Pray.

As we have read this passage, the first thing we see is that Jesus is in the synagogue on the Sabbath and is confronted by the Pharisees. This leads us to point number one.

Jesus seeks to meet needs while the Pharisees seek to accuse.

Look back with me at verses 1-2 with me.

Mark 3:1–2 ESV

1 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.

Here we see that Jesus has entered into the synagogue once again. It is the Sabbath day meaning it is the day in which the Jewish people would rest. Also, remember that on the Sabbath day the Jewish leaders such as the Pharisees had placed all these manmade regulations and restrictions on all the other Jews. They Jews could not walk a certain distance from their house and they were not permitted to work. The Sabbath Day was to be a day of pure rest; however, due to all these extra rules and regulations the Jews could not rest for the sake of trying not to break a manmade rule. If you remember the last time we were in the Gospel of Mark, we saw that Jesus and His disciples were confronted for picking the heads of grain and eating them on the Sabbath. However, Jesus revealed to the Pharisees that He is the Lord of the Sabbath which also revealed that Jesus is God.

Now, Jesus is seen again on the Sabbath as He enters the synagogue which was typical for Jews in the first century. As Jesus enters, He finds a man with a withered hand. This man had a hand that would not be used. He was probably viewed as a sinner by other Jews and Jewish leaders. The Jews held to the belief that if someone was born with a defect it was cause by the sin of the parents or by the person with the defect. Because of this, the Jews would write others off as sinner because of things such as blindness, deafness, and a withered hand. However, that is not the case. Our sin fallen world is the cause of such instances. Every person is born with a sin nature which inclines a person to sin. However, because we live in a sin fallen world things such as diseases and disabilities now exist.

This man was in the synagogue was a withered hand as Jesus enters the synagogue. Knowing that this man was in the synagogue, the Pharisees sit back and watch to see what Jesus would. Would Jesus heal the man on the Sabbath? Surely Jesus would not do so because the Pharisees had rules and regulations about healing on the Sabbath. Get this, if a family member or someone came down with an illness or was hurt on the Sabbath, the rules and regulations of the Jewish religious leaders only permitted for the Jew to do enough for that person to keep them alive. The Jew could not do anything to improve the person’s health because that would be considered work. They were only permitted to do enough to keep that person alive. How cruel and messed up is that?

Because of this, the Pharisees were simply sitting back and waiting on Jesus to heal the man or help the man. They were there only to accuse Jesus. They wanted Him to act so that way Jesus would break the Sabbath manmade laws and be worthy of punishment. That was their sole purpose in looking on. The Pharisees were simply waiting on Jesus to act in order that they could condemn Him. Likewise, breaking the Sabbath was a charge punishable by death. These Pharisees were simply looking to accuse not to help the hurting. Jesus came to the synagogue and was ready to help the hurting.

This speaks to us. How often do we look to help the hurting? Whenever we see someone in need, are we willing to go out of our way to help them? Or, are we like the Pharisees just waiting to judge someone that will help the hurting? If we are Christians, the call is for us to follow and imitate Jesus; therefore, we must seek to help the hurting.

Jesus knows the thoughts of man.

Let’s venture back to verses 3-5 of Mark 3.

Mark 3:3–5 ESV

3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And 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. 5 And 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.

Now, as the Pharisees have sat back ready to accuse Jesus, Jesus calls the man over to Himself. Then, Jesus heals the man. Likewise, Jesus already knew what the Pharisees were thinking. He knew they were scheming against Him. Knowing this, Jesus asks them a question: “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” Jesus asked this question knowing that the Pharisees would not respond. However, it is a very simple question. Jesus simply asks which is more important, obedience to the law or doing good.

If we look at the parallel to this passage in the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus goes a bit further and even provides addition info for these Pharisees.

Matthew 12:11–12 ESV

11 He said to them, “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? 12 Of how much more value is a man than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.”

Jesus is pointing out the hypocrisy of the Pharisees, meaning that they say one thing and practice another. The Pharisees would not allow for a man to be healed on the Sabbath; however, if one of the Pharisees sheep fell in a pit, the Pharisee was permitted to get the sheep out which is obviously work. By pointing this out, the Pharisees have no answer that is why they remain silent because they are wrong and condemned. The Pharisees practice of showing more compassion toward a sheep than a human is wrong and sinful. As Jesus pointed out, the greatest commandments are to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. Also, the second greatest commandment is to love your neighbor as yourself.

John MacArthur points out, “No Pharisee would have argued that sheep were more valuable than people, since human beings were created in the image of God. Yet, in practice, the Pharisees treated their livestock with more compassion than they treated other people. Incredibly, they would sooner suspend their religious traditions to help an animal than aid another person.”

The Pharisees did not see the value in helping a hurting human, but they would help an animal. Jesus is pointing out how the manmade rulers and restrictions were not God-honoring. Instead, these restrictions made by man were sinful and violated God’s law. Jesus also revealed the Pharisees lack of compassion toward others.

Notice in verse 5,

Mark 3:5 ESV

5 And 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.

Jesus looked at the Pharisees with anger because of their hardness of heart. Jesus was angry because of the Pharisee’s lack of compassion upon others. They would rather for people to suffer than to break their manmade rules and regulations. However, Jesus is more concerned with showing compassion to people rather than holding to religious rituals. I also want you to notice that Jesus was angry with the Pharisees while at the same time, Jesus was also saddened. Verse 5 says that He looked at them with anger and grief. Jesus was grieved because of their unbelief and their cold hearts. Jesus was sad because these Pharisees were disobeying God the Father and distorting the Old Testament.

Then, Jesus healed the man with the withered hand. Again, this is yet another sign that points to Jesus’s divinity. While Jesus was on earth, He was both fully man and fully God. Jesus healed the man’s hand as He had compassion upon him. Get this, Jesus could have waited as the withered hand was not a life-threatening issue, but He chose to heal the man because He is the Lord of the Sabbath not man. Jesus has power over the Sabbath and the power to heal. By displaying this power, the Pharisees saw the miracle that Jesus performed and could have believed; however, they chose not to.

The call for us as believers is to be obedient to God even as hostile onlookers surround us. If we see someone in need, the call of the believer to follow Christ in lending a helping. Why? Because Christ helped us even while we were His enemies. While we were not worthy of having compassion, grace, and mercy extended to us because of our sin, God extended compassion, grace, and mercy anyway through sending Jesus to die on the cross for our sins. The Christian life is not about doing things to earn God’s favor. The Christian life is about living for Jesus because of our love for Jesus and His grace and mercy extended to us. As we reflect on that, we are compelled to live the Gospel and make the Gospel known to others.

Living for Jesus brings hostile opposition.

Mark 3:6 ESV

6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Jesus has just done something that was good. He healed a man with a withered hand. However, the Pharisees in their self-righteousness were enraged that Jesus had broken their manmade laws. Because of this, they plotted and discussed how they could kill Jesus. The Pharisees were Jewish religious leaders and the Herodians were those that were faithful to the ruler Herod. Typically, the Pharisees and the Herodians were enemies. But, both of these groups equally hated Jesus and because of this, they both sought to kill Him.

Jesus knew this, yet as we will see throughout the Gospel of Mark, Jesus continues teaching, healing, and discipling up to His death on the cross. Jesus did not back down from opposition. Jesus remained faithful to His Father while the opposition continuously rose up against Him. As the hostility and opposition continued to come, eventually the opposition from the religious leaders would result in the arrest of Jesus. Then, He would be falsely accused, beaten, and crucified. Though He never once sinned or disobeyed God, Jesus was crucified. Why? Jesus was crucified for the sins of the world. His blood was shed on the cross that we might truly live. Jesus died one time for all the sins of humanity. Your sins and my sins are paid for in full by the blood of Christ on the cross.

As the opposition resulted in the death of Christ, they thought they had won and gotten rid of Jesus. However, after three days, He rose from the grace victorious over sin, death, and satan. He has all power and authority. He then ascended to the right hand of God the Father where He now talks to God on our behalf if we place our faith in Him.

Invitation:

Christian: Understand that opposition will come to you if you faithfully follow Jesus. Bullying, College, Temptation, and lack of popularity

Non-Christian: Gospel.