Spiritual Common Sense

Scripture – Mark 2:23-28: ²³One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” ²⁵He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” ²⁷Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Reflection: Here’s a perfect example of new wine and old wineskins not getting along. The idea of keeping the Sabbath law had been stretched to absurd lengths. In this scene, for example, Jesus’ disciples were technically doing work on the Sabbath. In verse 23 they were reaping – gathering grain like it was harvest time. I have done exactly what they were doing. I’ve been in a wheat field and pulled off heads of grain to eat as I walked along. Clearly, it’s not work.

In the face of that, Jesus injects some spiritual common sense. The disciples were fulfilling God’s Sabbath law. They were out for a walk. I imagine them just enjoying the day as they relaxed and rested.

Over the years the Sabbath laws had evolved to a place where it would have been impossible to keep them all. Jesus came back to the simple fact that the Sabbath was made for us. It’s a way God takes care of His people. In this hurry-up world, He still calls us to slow down for a day and rest.

Lord, teach me to follow your direction fitfully, without getting crazy. You always have my best interest in mind. Remind me of that. Restore to me the joy of your salvation.

An Invitation: For anyone interested in sharing their personal reflections from this week’s readings, you are invited to come by the Tim Hortons donut shop at Dix-Toledo and Northline in Southgate tomorrow morning at 9:45am. We’ll have a cup of coffee and see what the Lord has been teaching us this week.

Reading for Sunday, January 20:

Scripture – Mark 3:1-6: ¹Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. ²Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” ⁴Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. ⁵He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.