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On the Attack ~ The Sabbath… (3 things) vs. 1-12
- 1st – 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 7th day God rested – He made it a day of rest – it became known as the Sabbath…
- The 7th 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…
- In the beginning – Genesis 1 & 2 – God established the 6-day workweek…
- It is against God’s Law to do any work on the Sabbath – 4th 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
- Working on the Sabbath was punishable by death – Exodus 35:2…
- The Disciples were hungry…
- 2nd – 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!
- King David got hungry one day (like the disciples) – while running from Saul
- 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!
- Jesus answered the Pharisees accusations by redefining the Sabbath…
- 3rd – 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 went back into the synagogue on another Sabbath – to prove His point…
- 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!
- He asked the leaders – is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or evil – save life or kill…
- 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 commanded the man to stretch out his withered hand – made it whole!
- 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…
- Catching Jesus in the act…
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!
- The Apostles were not chosen lightly – Jesus spent all night in prayer to decide…
- 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…
- Jesus named those He choose – Apostles – Apostollo – to be sent out…
The greater work – is giving the Gospel – bringing eternal life that never fades away!
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