On the Attack ~ The Sabbath… (3 things) vs. 1-12

• 1^st – Breaking the Sabbath… vs. 1-2
  • The Disciples were hungry…
    • Much like walking through the tubo – if your hungry you grab a piece and eat…
    • The problem was not eating the grain – that was allowed – Deuteronomy 23:25
    • The problem was rubbing the grain in their hands – that was work – on the Sabbath!
  • The Sabbath day…
    • In the beginning – Genesis 1 & 2 – God established the 6-day workweek…
      • God worked 6 days to create the World – so man is also only to work 6 days a week…
      • The 7^th day God rested – He made it a day of rest – it became known as the Sabbath…
    • The 7^th day – Saturday or Sunday…
      • Saturday is the Jewish Sabbath (day of rest)
      • The first church celebrated Sabbath on Sundays – resurrection of Jesus – Acts 20:7
      • That is why we consider Sunday to be our day of rest…
  • It is against God’s Law to do any work on the Sabbath – 4^th commandment – Exodus 20:8…
    • Working on the Sabbath was punishable by death – Exodus 35:2…
      • In Numbers 15:32 a man was found gathering sticks on the Sabbath day…
      • The punishment for his crime was to be stoned to death by the people!
    • The Pharisees had decided that rubbing grain was work – harvesting / threshing
      • It may seem funny to think that such a simple act would break the Sabbath but…
      • The challenge was the Bible said you couldn’t work on the Sabbath…
      • But what constituted ‘work’ – that’s where the Pharisees stepped in…
      • They defined what ‘God meant’ when He said you could not work – (39 do not’s)
      • In Israel today: there are Shabbat elevators (pushing a button is work)…
      • Only walk 1km – Sabbath day’s journey – (unless you tied a rope to your house)…
      • Could not cook rice – you are not allowed to kindle a fire – that would be work…
      • Pharisees defined what ‘work’ meant – but they missed the purpose of the Sabbath
        
• 2^nd – The Lord of the Sabbath… vs. 3-5
  • Jesus answered the Pharisees accusations by redefining the Sabbath…
    • King David got hungry one day (like the disciples) – while running from Saul
      • He came to the tabernacle and asked for some food – I Samuel 21:2-6
      • The only food they had was the 12 loaves of Show Bread…
      • Only the Priests were allowed to eat that Bread – Leviticus 24:9
      • In spite of being against the Law – David ate the bread – he was Hungry!
      • David’s hunger was more important than the law concerning the ‘Priests Bread’
    • Jesus’ point – Man is more important than the Sabbath…
      • God did not create us to follow the Sabbath – He gave the Sabbath to us!
      • It was meant to give us a day to unwind – rest – recover…
      • It is no longer required – but it is probably a really good idea…
    • The Pharisees condemned men because they broke ‘their interpretation of the law’…
      • But they missed the real purpose of the Law – to teach men about God…
      • But they strained out the mosquito, only to swallowed the Caribou
      • Meaning they would make sure to follow the smallest details of the law…
      • But they missed the more important matters of the Word – they missed Jesus!
      • People want to judge what you wear – where you live – who you know…
      • They are only concerned about the outside and appearances
      • But they miss what really matters – which is a relationship with Jesus!
  • Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath…
    • The real purpose of the Sabbath was to point us to Jesus!
    • * Colossians 2:16-17 – “So let no one judge you in food or in drink, or regarding a festival or a new moon or Sabbaths, which are a shadow of things to come, but the substance is of Christ.”
    • If you see the shadow of your best friend – you do not run up and hug the shadow…
    • But the shadow does tell you your friend is close…
    • The Sabbath was a shadow of Jesus – He is where we find true rest!
    • Pharisees only saw the shadow – they thought it was only about the Sabbath…
    • They missed who was right in front of them – they missed Jesus!
    • Don’t be so concerned about your outward appearances/traditions that you miss Jesus!
      
• 3^rd – Healing on the Sabbath… vs. 6-11
  • Catching Jesus in the act…
    • Jesus went back into the synagogue on another Sabbath – to prove His point…
      • Inside was a man whose right hand was withered
      • This man had not been born with a bad hand – injured (stoke, accident, disease)
      • He knew what is was to have a healthy hand – but now he was disabled…
      • No doubt a financial hardship – as well as an emotional one…
    • The Scribes & Pharisees watched Jesus closely to see if He would heal him…
      • According to their interpretation of the Law you could not heal on the Sabbath… 
      • The most you could do was to save a life if someone was dying…
      • They wanted Jesus to heal – because they wanted to make an accusation against Him!
  • Jesus knew their thoughts – and told the man to stand up for everyone to see…
    • He asked the leaders – is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil – save life or kill…
      • To not help out a man who is hurting – when you can – is evil…
      • To not save a life – when you can – is to kill…
      • Jesus could help – so if He did nothing He would be doing evil on the Sabbath…
    • The point Jesus makes – how much better to do good on the Sabbath!
      • How terrible to leave this man to suffer – for the sake of silly rules!
      • But in the religious leaders attempt to follow their rules – they had lost sight of love
      • They would leave a man to suffer – whom Jesus could be made whole
    • Jesus looked on them in anger (only mentioned in Mark)…
      • Jesus was infuriated with the leaders because of their lack of compassion…
      • Yet Jesus’ anger was tempered by his grief – at the hardness of their hearts…
      • It was the leaders rules that hardened their hearts – so they could not see…
      • They thought they were serving God by not healing a man who was suffering…
      • Bare foot youth and a brand new carpet in the church…
      • You can come to church – if you dress the right way / say the right things…
      • It is wrong when we are more concerned about our rules than about others…
      • The point of the Bible is to point us to Jesus – not keep us from Him!
  • Healing on the Sabbath…
    • Jesus commanded the man to stretch out his withered hand – made it whole!
      • In total Jesus healed 7 times on the Sabbath – He did it to make a point…
      • Jesus did not come to live up to the Pharisees rules – He came to save lives…
      • The Pharisees were so caught up in rules – they missed love – missed Jesus!
    • Many in the ‘church’ have gotten lost in traditions and rules and forgotten…
      • We go to Church on Sunday (maybe even twice a week)…
      • We take communion once a month – We read our Bibles – pray…
      • But why do we do all these things – just because – have we forgotten Jesus…
      • What message do we give to others – the Gospel of what they must do…
      • Or the Gospel of who they should know – do we tell them about Jesus!
  • Jesus had shown the Pharisees they missed the heart of the law – to know God…
    • They were enraged – to the point of madness – at Jesus actions and words…
    • Unable to formulate a comeback against Him – they began to plot how to kill Jesus…

The 12… vs. 13-19

• All night in Prayer… vs. 13-16
  • The Apostles were not chosen lightly – Jesus spent all night in prayer to decide…
    • Up unto this point there was very little organization to the ministry of Jesus…
    • Many multitudes came to hear Him – and a growing number followed Him (disciples)
    • In the morning – from the multitude of His disciples – He choose 12…
    • Listed 4 times in the New Testament – Mark 3:13-19 / Luke 6:12-16 / Acts 1:13
  • Not the ones we would have chosen…
    • If I was to pick 12 men to disciple and teach to reach out and change the world
    • I would pick the best, the brightest, the richest, the most popular…
    • I would pick movie stars, politicians, the wealthy, the best educated…
    • But that does not even remotely describe the group that Jesus chose…
    • Peter (whom denied Jesus) and his brother Andrew, James and John (the Sons of Thunder), Philip and Nathaniel (both friends of Peter and Andrew), Thomas (who doubted), Matthew (who was a corrupt customs agent), the brothers James and Judas (who apparently was big hearted), Simeon (who wanted to overthrow Roman rule of Israel), and Judas (the one who betrayed Jesus)!
    • Quite the list – makes you wonder if Jesus needed a little more time in prayer…
    • If you saw them walking down the street – you’d cross to the other side to avoid them!
  • God chooses the VERY ordinary – I Corinthians 1:26-28…
    • The Apostles were from nowhere – from the province – from the ‘Bukid’…
    • They were no one extraordinary – ‘they were mostly fishermen’…
    • They weren’t the best educated (or perhaps educated at all)…
    • They were not the influential, the wealthy, handsome, or powerful…
    • They were ordinary fishermen, sinners, and the like
    • The very last people you would ever expect God would (could) use!
  • Yet they are ones God choose to use to turn the whole world right side up!
    • You might be thinking that God could never use you…
    • Thinking that you don’t have the right education – you have no money…
    • You might think you’re only from the Bukid – not famous or influential…
    • What you may not realize is that you just gave yourself the Apostles qualifications…
    • As the very disciples that Jesus choose to use to transform the World!
    • God wants to use you – not just to reach this community – but the world!
      
• Sent out… vs. 17-19
  • Jesus named those He choose – Apostles – Apostollo – to be sent out…
    • THE 12 Apostles – were unique – they were the pillars of the church – Revelation 21:14
    • They were chosen by Jesus – John 15:16 – to begin the work of the Gospel…
    • But the calling of an Apostle is still alive in the church today – Ephesians 4:11…
    • The picture is that of an ambassador – a representative of God to the world…
    • Sent out to share the Good News – the hope of salvation through Jesus!
    • We call them missionaries – those who are ‘sent out’ to tell others about Jesus!
    • Not just to other countries (the Apostles went to their own people)…
    • Sent out to tell your neighbor across the street – your friends at school…
  • To prepare the Apostles – Jesus showed them…
    • Jesus showed the disciples He had power over the spiritual / sickness / sin…
    • He came down with them from the mountain – and the multitudes came to Jesus…
    • Jesus taught them – touched them – and healed them all!
    • John 14:12 – “Anyone who believes in me will do the same works I have done, and even greater works.”
    • What could be greater than healing / casting out demons / raising the dead…
    • If you heal – they will get sick again / if you raise the dead – they die again one day…

The greater work – is giving the Gospel – bringing eternal life that never fades away!