Mark 2:23-3:6

23 On the Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to make their way, picking some heads of grain. 24 The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?”

25 He said to them, “Have you never read what David and those who were with him did when he was in need and hungry — 26 how he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the Presence —which is not lawful for anyone to eat except the priests —and also gave some to his companions?” 27 Then he told them, “The Sabbath was made for[a] man and not man for the Sabbath. 28 So then, the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

3 Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a shriveled hand. 2 In order to accuse him, they were watching him closely to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 He told the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand before us.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 After looking around at them with anger, he was grieved at the hardness of their hearts and told the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 Immediately the Pharisees went out and started plotting with the Herodians against him, how they might kill him.

SABBATH- God Gave it

  • Sabbath wasn’t about restriction, it was about rest, redemption, and dependence.
  • God created the world in 6 days, then rested. Not out of exhaustion, but satisfaction.
  • Adam and Eve were invited into that rest but sin disrupted it.
  • God gave Sabbath to Israel:
    • A weekly reminder of creation and their redemption from slavery
    • A symbol of future hope and right order restored
    • A way to “taste” ultimate peace, depending on God

SABBATH- Jesus fulfills it

  • Jesus isn’t rejecting the Sabbath, He’s fulfilling it.
  • He compares Himself to David: the royal, messianic prototype.
  • Jesus says He is Lord of the Sabbath.

The hope and purpose Sabbath pointed to is found in Him.

  • His miracles on Sabbath days showed what true rest looks like:
    • Healing
    • Restoration
    • Presence with God

SABBATH- Pharisee’s resisted it

  • Their desire to honor God became a system they controlled.
  • They created 39 categories of work but missed the heart.
  • Jesus: “Do good or evil? Save life or kill?” → they stayed silent.
  • Their hearts were unwilling to understand.
  • Rest is not in religion it’s in relationship with Jesus.

SABBATH- We live in it

  • God finished creation and rested, Jesus declared “it is finished” on the cross and now we can rest.

SABBATH- We look forward to it

  • We now live in a state of Sabbath rest Jesus secured. Yet we still wait for the final rest when sin and suffering are fully removed.

“Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest...
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matt. 11:28–30)