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Luke Lesson 18 (2009)

“Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’”

One man challenged another man to an all-day wood chopping contest. The challenger worked very hard, stopping only for a brief lunch break. The other man, however, had a leisurely lunch and took several breaks during the day. Guess what happened! At the end of the day, the challenger was surprised and annoyed to find that the other guy had chopped substantially more wood than he had. “I don’t get it,” he said. “Every time I checked, you were just taking a rest, yet you chopped more wood than I did.” The winning woodsman smiled and said, “My friend, you didn’t notice one thing. When I sat down to rest, I was actually sharpening my ax.”

What does “Sabbath rest” mean to you? Most of us tend to think of “rest” in terms of doing nothing. But the Biblical concept of “Sabbath rest” does not mean doing nothing. It includes “happiness” and “fruitfulness.” When Jesus said “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”, he meant something very significant. The two incidents recorded in today’s passage involve Jesus’ confrontation with the Pharisees, regarding the observance of the Sabbath. In the eyes of the traditional Jews, Jesus’ way of observing the Sabbath was problematic. In fact, it made the Pharisees furious. Yet, as he declared in the previous passage “New wine must be poured into new wineskins” (5:38), Jesus showed the new way of observing the Sabbath by defending his disciples and healing the man with a shriveled hand. So let us think about how we can have true Sabbath rest and what it means to us.

Look at verses 1 and 2. “One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain-fields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, ‘Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?’” Jesus and his disciples were probably on their way to the synagogue that morning. Most Jews would have prepared food before the Sabbath day. But the disciples, who didn’t prepare their food early enough, had to skip their breakfast. So while they were walking through the grain field, they decided to help themselves. They picked some heads of grain, rubbed them in their hands and ate the kernels. It wouldn’t be seen as a problem on any other day because Moses had commanded that a portion of the grain was to be left in the field for those in need (Deut. 23:25). But the problem was that the disciples did it on the Sabbath, the holy day of rest. Some time ago, one lady was in a hurry to bring several children to Sunday school. I guess she was driving a little fast. The police officer happened to stop her and found that children in the rear were not wearing seatbelts. When the officer asked her for license and insurance ID, the lady realized that she had forgotten to bring her wallet, along with her driver’s license and insurance ID card. She felt so frustrated. And the police officer gave her 5 tickets, one for not carrying a driver’s license, one for not carrying an insurance ID card and three tickets for failing to put seatbelts on her three children. The Mishinah, an ancient Jewish rule book, contains thirty-nine prohibited activities on the Sabbath. Most Jews were well aware of those regulations. According that list, the disciples had multiple violations. They were guilty of reaping, threshing, winnowing and preparing food. Perhaps the Pharisees were about to give multiple violation tickets to each of the disciples.

In verses 3-4, Jesus defended his disciples through the example of David and his companions, described in 1 Samuel 21:1-6. Look at verses 3 and 4. “Jesus answered them, ‘Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” At that time, David had been anointed by God. Yet, due to King Saul’s jealousy, David had to run for his life along with his companions. When they were hungry, they ate the consecrated bread. Certainly what David and his companions did was in violation of the Jewish ceremonial law. But what Jesus was saying to the Pharisees is that David was not condemned for what he did. Instead, God was happy to provide David and his companions with the consecrated bread, which was available in the house of God. As a result, David and his companions were greatly revived in their body and spirit. This proves that God is concerned with providing our needs more than demanding us to keep endless ceremonial laws. There are moral laws, like the Ten Commandments. We cannot violate them. But in some cases, ceremonial laws could be put aside for the sake of the wellbeing of his children. Jesus was saying that if David and his men were not condemned for eating consecrated bread when he was hungry, the disciples should not be condemned for doing what they did when they were hungry. In Matthew’s account, Jesus said to the Pharisees, “If you have known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,’ you would not have condemned the innocent.” (Mt 12:7) The Pharisees didn’t understand God who is full of mercy and compassion for sinful mankind.

Look at verse 5. “Then Jesus said to them, ‘The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.’” This was not the first time that Jesus claimed his divine authority as the Son of Man in Luke’s Gospel. Earlier, when he was about to heal the paralyzed man in front of the Pharisees, he declared his divine authority to forgive man’s sins. (5:24) Now, he again claims his divine authority as Lord of the Sabbath. For many centuries, the observance of the Sabbath law had been the central practice of Judaism. Many devout Jews observed the Sabbath law as a matter of life and death. The word “Sabbath” means “to cease” or “to rest.” It is linked with God’s rest from his work of creation. Genesis 2:2-3 reads, “By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work. And God blessed the seventh day and made it holy, because on it he rested from all the work of creating that he had done.”

When we have been working hard and are weary and tired, we need rest in order to restore our strength. But the reason that God rested is different from our reason to rest. God rested on the seventh day not because he became weary and tired. He rested because his work of creation was done. Yet, he gave us the day of rest as a blessing so that we can rest and enjoy God, not to shackle us with many rules and regulations. So many regulations had been prescribed that applied to the observance of the Sabbath, that it burdened people and prevented them from resting, serving others or even meeting their basic needs. In some sense, people became restless due to too many regulations. So according to Mark’s gospel, Jesus had to say “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” (Mk 2:27) Did God create us in order to honor Him with many rules and restrictions? No. God’s glory can be revealed when men and women are fully alive, loving him with joy and faithfulness. If the Sabbath was made for man, that is a whole new different perspective. Worship is not just duty but privilege and blessing. Therefore, it’s perfectly fine for the hungry to eat grain.

What does it mean that Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath? It means that he is not under but above the law of the Sabbath. Actually Jesus was claiming that from now on he is the one who regulates what takes place on the Sabbath. This is not a small claim. And it’s not simple to explain how this could happen. Our life in this fast moving and stressful world can often become burdensome. We often feel tired, pressured and drained out. How and where can we find rest? By escaping from reality? No. By coming to church once a week for worship service for an hour? That’s not enough. When we feel tired, we can take a catnap for just 10 minutes and feel good and revived. However, by experience we know that the rest for our mind, soul and entire being is harder to achieve. But real rest is possible when we rest on something or somebody.

In fact, the rest God promised to us is not just one day of rest on the seventh day. The seventh day of rest is only a picture or a reminder of the real Sabbath rest in the bosom of God our Father, which will become reality to all of us through the coming of the Messiah, the one who will fulfill all these remarkable things. When we study the book of Hebrews, especially chapter 4, we learn it in detail. All the regulations and law in the Old Testament, along with all the sacrifices, burnt offerings, tabernacle, high priest, in his garment and office, including the Sabbath, were only a shadow of what was to come through the Messiah. When the work of the Messiah is finished, the shadows are not needed any longer. That’s why Paul said in Colossians 2:16-17, “Therefore do not let anyone judge you by what you eat or drink, or with regard to a religious festival, a New Moon celebration or a Sabbath day. These are a shadow of the things that were to come; the reality, however, is found in Christ.”

When we are wounded physically, emotionally or mentally, we cannot fully rest until we are completely healed. When we are burdened, we cannot rest. That’s why Jesus said in Matthew 11:28-30, “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Jesus offers us the rest we need. Here, we learn that there are two kinds of rest through Jesus. The rest is freely given to us when we come to Jesus. And the new rest is discovered over and over as we remain in our relationship with him. When we remain in this relationship, we have the rest that will bring us enormous blessing of fruitfulness through the work of the Holy Spirit, such as love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal 5:22) True rest is not possible just by following some religious rituals or doing religious activities. We can find it in our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said that in order to discover new rest in our lives, we need to take his yoke, which means our commitment to him. That’s why Jesus said, “Take my yoke upon you and learn from me. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Mt 11:30) In order for us to have rest, we need commitment in Jesus. By making commitment in Jesus, you are not losing anything. Actually, you are gaining everything.

In verses 6-11, we see that Jesus heals a man whose right hand was shriveled on another Sabbath. Look at verse 6. “On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled.” This man’s right hand was weak and twisted. When I was in high school, the skin on my leg was very dry. It looked like dried branches. So whenever we had to wear shorts for our gym class, I wanted to make sure to put lotion on my legs. If I happened to forget to put lotion, I would become very self-conscious. I didn’t want to expose my leg. We can all imagine how this man whose right hand was weak and twisted had felt about himself. He must have been deeply withdrawn into himself because of his serious life problems. This man needed healing more than anybody else.

Look at verses 7-9. At that time, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were trying to find fault with Jesus. So they watched him closely, wanting to see if he would heal the man on the Sabbath. Knowing what they were thinking, Jesus spoke to the man who had the weak and twisted hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So the man got up and stood there. While this man was standing in front of everyone, Jesus said to all those who were there, including the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” The answer is too obvious. What is lawful on the Sabbath is to do good and to save lives. What is unlawful on the Sabbath is to do evil and to destroy lives. And what is also unlawful on the Sabbath is doing nothing when there are sick and wounded people who need care and healing. So to Jesus, the Sabbath day is the day of healing and rejuvenation of our body and soul. In fact, when we read the gospel narratives, Jesus was criticized by the Pharisees because he healed many people particularly on the Sabbath day. (Jn 5:16) Jesus said to them, “My Father is always at his work to this very day, and I, too, am working.” (Jn 5:17) He also said to them, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he see his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” In fact, Jesus was not the only one who works when he heals people. It is the collaboration of God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

Look at verse 10. “He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ He did so, and his hand was completely restored.’” Actually, it was a huge challenge for the man with the shriveled hand to stand in front of everyone and stretch out his hand. At first, he might have felt embarrassed to stand in front of everyone. Some people who are extremely self conscious might run away or hide instead. Does Jesus ignore our situation? Is he insensitive to our feelings? Of course not! Yet, Jesus challenged the man to stand in front of everyone and stretch out his hand because it he knew that this man trusted him enough to listen to his instructions. It was also a test of his faith. Jesus wanted to give him concrete faith that would bring not just physical healing but also the healing of his inner person. Jesus wanted to restore this man’s damaged emotion, confidence and relationship with others through his absolute trust in the Son of Man. Now, this man was healed and became fully alive. Through the healing of this man on the Sabbath, God’s glory has been revealed. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath who heals us and gives us true rest. He makes our life meaningful, beautiful and fruitful. We face many challenges in our lives at home, school, work place, between people and the world. Where do we find rest and strength? We need Jesus every day. “I need Thee every hour, most gracious Lord; No tender voice like Thine can peace afford. I need Thee, oh, I need Thee; Every hour I need Thee; oh, bless me now, my Savior, I come to Thee.” Can you imagine how this man’s new life would be? Can you imagine the excitement he experienced, the joy and peace he had as he walked with the Lord in the Holy Spirit?

Look at verse 11. Seeing such wonderful things happening in the man’s life, the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were not moved. Jesus is new wine that should be poured into new wineskins. The man with the shriveled hand was like new wineskins. But these men who because furious at Jesus were like old wineskins. The saddest thing is that they missed the highest blessing of God, the true rest that can rejuvenate, renew and recreate their lives now and forever.

Why do we worship God on Sunday? We are not just keeping the Sabbath as our duty. After all, Sunday is not the Sabbath day. It is “the Lord’s day” when our Lord Jesus rose from death after suffering for our sins on the cross. Our true rest is in Jesus who is Lord of the Sabbath. We worship God together as God’s family on Sunday. It is the day of God’s empowerment through His blessing in Jesus as we worship together. Of course, we should worship God every day and have rest. We should not settle for superficial religion. We need Jesus. We need committed relationship with Jesus in order to find true rest we need. No matter how weak or twisted our lives may be, we can find true rest and healing of God in Jesus through the Holy Spirit. Sometimes, we need to stand up in front of everyone and stretch out our hand to experience the healing of God. No matter how bumpy or twisted our life may be in this world, we will continue to discover and rediscover rest everyday as we continue in our relationship with our Lord Jesus. Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath.