The Sabbath Rest- Mark 2:23-28

Introduction

5 years ago I launched to South Asia to plant a base.

Hard. Grinding work. The wife was pregnant. 18 months old.

That entails business, language learning, Maslow’s hierarchy. Team building and development. Program creation and strategy.

April/June- Baby. USA. 9 days program.

July- Program. August- Program.

November- cash crisis. Kicked out of the apartment. Exhausted.

We are all created with limitations, and even the hardest of workers run into their own limitations at times.

The Rest of God (vs. 23)

The Sabbath is a sacred and God-given day of each week established to give people rest!

It is first mentioned in Genesis when God rested on the 7th day of creation.

Observance of this day is one of the 10 commandments.

God intends his people to share in his own Sabbath-rest. This involves resting from the work that is committed to us at present (cf. Rev. 14:13), just as God did from his. However, we are not to think of God’s rest as the rest of inactivity. The image is rather one of freedom from toil and struggle, to enjoy with God the satisfaction and perfection of his work in creating and redeeming us.But this was not because God was tired. No the rest that the Sabbath references is not simply a nap. Netflix veg. Or any other guilty pleasure because we are so tired from our work. God saw that His work of creation was good, so he rested to enjoy it! This rest is not exhaustion, but enjoyment. And God invites us into the enjoyment of Himself and His creation.

He created man on Day 6 and saw that it was very Good. And what was Mankind’s first day of life? What did they do??? They sabbathed! They enjoyed. They were satisfied in God and enjoyed His creation.

Sabbath then does not simply rest, but satisfaction. How many of you can say, “I am truly satisfied. I am at peace. My soul is at rest.” VERY FEW IT SEEMS.

More now than ever 40% of workers do not use their paid vacation time.

Americans work

137 hours more than Japanese.

260 hours more than British.

499 hours more than French.

American is the most stressed society in the world, and the #1 cause of mental and health problems in our society is stress!

There is no rest! Because as soon as you try to relax that device in your pocket goes off! Another notification. Another pull to the addiction of your screen. Social media leads you to compare yourself to others. Judge yourself to others. And hate yourselves in comparison to others. Leaving:

Less than half of your generation could say they have experienced contentment.

68% of your generation report they feel overwhelmed by what they have to do each week.

3million 12-17-year-olds are battling severe depression and anxiety.

Suicide is up 30%!

We are in a pandemic, but not simply Covid 19 but an inability to Sabbath. To find satisfaction. To find rest.

But it doesn’t have to be that way. There is REST for God’s people and we are going to study that rest today!

The Religious Hijacking

The Pharisees were watching everything Jesus did so they could gather evidence. Accuse Him. And discredit His ministry.

Jewish Tradition held 39 specific acts that must not be performed on the Sabbath.

Examples are: writing, baking, construction, erasing, and in this case it includes plucking heads of grain!

The idea was that if you can avoid these 39 things then you can Sabbath.

His disciples were clearly guilty of breaking this tradition. So how did Jesus defend their action?

Example of Scripture:

Have you never read? What a rebuke!

David— your hero. He broke that law on the Sabbath why… he was in need.

The spirit of the Law, the real essence of the Sabbath is in response to human need not ceremonial rules!

THE SABBATH WAS MADE FOR MAN, NOT MAN FOR THE SABBATH.

It was established to give you rest. To give you satisfaction. Peace. Rest in God, with God. Yet, the religious hijackers had lost sight of its purpose and made it burdensome!

Resting is not drudgery. It is not a burden. Therefore we must not view it as such either.

He is Lord of the Sabbath.

In essence, he is saying… I am God and I approve of their behavior. I am not offended. Nor should you be. Your rules are not God. Your religion is not God. I am. Follow me.

The Rest for Today

Are you stressed? Tired? Overwhelmed? Worn out? Hear Jesus… come all who are weary and heavy laden! I will give you rest!

But it isn’t found in religious rites or duties. It isn’t a list of dos or don't. Although they may help. You can’t earn this Sabbath Rest, for it is a free gift!

Hebrews 4:1 says, “The promise of entering his rest still stands.” Verse 9 says, “So then, there remains rest for the people of God.” There is peace for you today. Yet hear the warning, “It remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly received the good news failed to enter because of disobedience… So today, if you hear his voice do not harden your hearts.”

We receive it by faith.