Luke 6:5 “And He said to them, ‘The Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.”
Dear God,
You are the giver of all good gifts, as well as life and the ability to enjoy them all and I give praise for every blessing.
Jesus taught that the Sabbath day was and is a time of remembrance of You, Creator God, as well as a time of refreshment for us; because we have spent time with You and rested from our usual work and activities. Please give me discernment and Your wisdom, to honour Your Sabbath in a way that pleases and brings You honour and glory and not to observe Your Sabbath rest in the rigid, Godless way the Priests dictated in the time that Jesus lived. Please, also keep me from observing the Sabbath as the Godless; self-focused rest and relaxing activities of the tired and exhausted, which so often excludes seeking You with the whole heart.
Jesus has shown us the way, and in His gentle way of wisdom, reminded the carping Pharisees, “that the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.” Jesus could say this, because He knew what was intended for the Sabbath, for He was the One who set it apart as the Creator; at creation.
Good works and healing of the sick were certainly part of how Jesus conducted Himself on the Sabbath, even though many a Pharisee waited like a cat for its prey, so they could pounce; tearing at Him with words of censure, when He healed anyone from their afflictions.
Dear Lord, please do not let me be so focused on works of the law or any traditional prescribed way of doing ‘this or that’, that I do not see Your workings and miracles; upon any day, especially Your Sabbath day. The Pharisees could not give a defence for their attitudes and words, in Luke 6:9 “Then Jesus said to them, ‘I will ask you one thing. Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy?’” Not deterred, He went on, to make a shrivelled arm whole, as had been His intention, on that Sabbath day.
Father as always, everything had been created perfect, and it was sin at the hand of Satan, that had distorted and marred all creation. Why now, when Jesus had the opportunity to reveal His love through restoring health, would Jesus stay in the presence of marred human flesh and allow the works of Satan go unrestored? Instead He had done good and restored life to a limb, showing what was lawful to do on the Sabbath.
Despite the attitude of the Priests and Pharisees, Jesus always went on the Sabbath to the temple with everyone else, for spiritual refreshment, which serves as another example for us, of how the Sabbath is best kept.
Amen