The Holy Work of the Sabbath

One Sabbath, when he went to dine at the house of a ruler of the Pharisees, they were watching him carefully. And behold, there was a man before him who had dropsy. And Jesus responded to the lawyers and Pharisees, saying, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath, or not?” But they remained silent. Then he took him and healed him and sent him away. And he said to them, “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” And they could not reply to these things (Luke 14:1-6).

The Sabbath was a time to rest in the Lord by withdrawing from the busy activity of the world, gathering together with God’s people, and worshipping the Lord. From God’s introduction of this special day, the Sabbath was to mark His people Israel as a special people… “Above all you shall keep my Sabbaths, for this is a sign between me and you throughout your generations, that you may know that I, the LORD, sanctify you” (Exodus 31:13). Christ followers are to keep the Sabbath too because it is one of the blessings we inherit because we are grafted into Israel… “But if some of the branches were broken off, and you, although a wild olive shoot, were grafted in among the others and now share in the nourishing root of the olive tree” (Romans 11:17). We keep the first day of the week as a Sabbath because it reflect our rest in the finished work of Christ in the resurrection and is a sign that we are God’s born again children… “So then, there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God, for whoever has entered God’s rest has also rested from his works as God did from his” (Hebrews 4:9-10).

Over the years the Pharisees had developed a large list of things that were to be avoided on the Sabbath. They created and enforced Sabbath laws that were so concise and complicated that they even counted steps that were allowed on this holy day. This was never God’s true intention. Jesus revealed the truth of God regarding the Sabbath and showed His disciples what He wanted the Lord’s Day to look like in the days to come. In today’s text, “the Lord of the Sabbath” (Luke 6:5) provides an example for true disciples and the local church in every age of the holy work of the Sabbath.

On the Sabbath diligent disciples should connect with people. On this Sabbath Jesus dined with Pharisees. Our Lord’s Day worship and fellowship should connect us with God and with each other to encourage and mature our faith… “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near” (Hebrews 10:23-25). But our Sabbath gathering should also reflect the seeking and inviting heart of Jesus for the lost… “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). The effective disciple making local church helps people connect on the Sabbath.

On the Sabbath diligent disciples should care for the needy. Jesus’ agenda for this Sabbath dinner was interrupted by the presentation of a man with dropsy. Without hesitation Jesus used this needy man to create and present a lesson to His hosts and then He healed him. Our Lord’s Day gathering should remind us that our needs are Christ’s opportunities to reveal His glory… “This illness does not lead to death. It is for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it” (John 11:4). The culture shaping local church cares for the needy on the Sabbath.

On the Sabbath diligent disciples should compel the lost. Jesus confronted the Pharisees and compelled them to consider a deeper understanding of God’s purpose for the Sabbath. His argument was theological and he used a personal illustration to challenge the hearts of these curious men who were “were watching him carefully”. His message was so compelling these professional interpreters of the law “could not reply to these things”. Our Lord’s Day gathering should be infused with a compelling proclamation of the gospel… “Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation” (Mark 16:15). The gospel proclaiming local church compels the lost to consider Christ on the Sabbath.

As we grow up into Christ, our faith is perfected in a local church that is fully engaged in…

The Holy Work of the Sabbath.