October 1 ~ tammi

Today's reading from the One-Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is John 5:1-47, Mark 2:23-3:6, Matthew 12:1-21, Luke 6:1-11.

I think today's reading could be summarized with one simple phrase:  Love vs. Legalism.

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record the stories of Jesus and His disciples picking grain to eat on the Sabbath, as well as Jesus healing the man with the crippled hand on the Sabbath.  John records the healing of the invalid at the Pool of Bethesda ~ also on a Sabbath.  Hmmm, it almost seems like Jesus is trying to make a point here!!

I've often wondered why He seemed to very specifically choose to do things on the Sabbath that were considered against the rules, but my Life Application Bible ~ as well as the passage in John ~ actually shed a fair bit of light on what is quite likely the reason it looks like He did these things on purpose.  It's because He DID do them on purpose!  He was trying to show everyone, including (maybe especially) the Pharisees, that HE was Lord of the Sabbath.  As part of the Triune God, He was the originator of the "day of rest" and therefore, He could do whatever He deemed appropriate on that day, including caring for the needy.

He chose to change the lives of so many people.  Not only were people's physical ailments cured, their souls were fed and filled, their courses in eternity forever altered by an encounter with Christ.  And over and over again, the Pharisees missed the whole point of the exercise because they were so stuck in their traditions and regulations.  Rather than living with their eyes open, seeking out the fulfillment of prophecy in the Messiah, their hearts were hardened and their eyes were closed.  They'd determined centuries earlier how God was to be worshipped and how the Messiah would look when He arrived, and since Jesus didn't exactly fit the bill (just a small understatement!), they couldn't ~ or wouldn't ~ see Him for who He was.

I believe many of these Pharisees simply didn't understand.  I don't believe they all necessarily hated Him because He was stealing their popularity and challenging their authority; I think some were simply ignorant.  They genuinely believed He was a blasphemer because they were following the teachings they'd grown up with and Jesus was making outrageous claims about who He was.  I think Jesus' anger with them was not always just righteous anger ~ though obviously that was warranted! ~ but sometimes a disappointment and frustration as well at their refusal to see Him as He really was, despite His words and actions.

And therein lies the warning for us, I think.  The warning not to get so consumed with our definitions of right and wrong, particularly in areas where the Bible doesn't clearly say, that we act unlovingly and ungraciously towards others.  It's so easy to fall into the trap of feeling like everyone should feel exactly the same way I do about this or that and then have quite a judgmental attitude towards them when they don't, instead of loving them and allowing the Holy Spirit to work in their lives His own way.

The Lord of the Sabbath is Lord of the Sabbath because He created it. He is the Lord of all creation for the same reason.

That means HE gets to decide what's right, what's wrong, and what we should do about it ~ in our own lives first, and then as we encourage others to live for Him.






Tomorrow's passages: Mark 3:7-19, Luke 6:12-36, Matthew 5:1-6:4.