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Jesus As Rest

Submitted by jesuslover on Tue, 09/16/2008 - 03:26.
Jesus As Rest
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  • The Lord of the Sabbath
  • Luke 6:1-11
    • Scripture Reading
      • One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some ears 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 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." Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
    • Scripture Reading
      • On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Get up and stand in front of everyone." So he got up and stood there.
      • Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
      • 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. But they were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
  • Jesus makes a point:
    • "One Sabbath..."
    • "On another Sabbath..."
  • In fact, all the synoptic gospels place these stories together.
  • What is the Sabbath?
    • Exodus 20:8-11 "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates. For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
  • What is the Sabbath?
  • Exodus 31:14-15
  • Observe the Sabbath, because it is holy to you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; whoever does any work on that day must be cut off from his people. For six days, work is to be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of rest, holy to the LORD. Whoever does any work on the Sabbath day must be put to death.
  • Did Jesus violate the Sabbath?
  • He allowed His disciples to prepare food:
  • "One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grain fields, and his disciples began to pick some ears of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels."
  • Compare this to Exodus 16
  • So bake what you want to bake and boil what you want to boil. Save whatever is left and keep it until morning... on the sixth day he gives you bread for two days. Everyone is to stay where he is on the seventh day; no one is to go out
  • Did Jesus violate the Sabbath?
  • Then He justified Himself, citing David's example of breaking the priestly regulations to feed himself in a time of need.
  • 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."
  • Did Jesus violate the Sabbath?
  • He did a healing work on the Sabbath:
  • On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath.
  • Compare this to Exodus 20
  • "Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your manservant or maidservant, nor your animals, nor the alien within your gates.
  • The Point!
    • 5.16 Spinning
    • 5.17 Weaving
    • 5.18 Making two loops
    • 5.19 Weaving at least two threads
    • 5.20 Separating two threads
    • 5.21 Tying
    • 5.22 Untying
    • 5.23 Sewing at least two stitches
    • 5.24 Tearing for the purpose of sewing
    • 5.25 Trapping
    • 5.26 Slaughtering
    • 5.27 Flaying
  • The Point!
  • Then Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath."
  • The Point!
  • 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.
  • The Same Error Can be Repeated in Christianity Today
    • Enforcing a day of rest, because it is the "Lord's Day" –based on one mentioning of this phrase
  • Revelation 1:10 "I was in spirit on the Lord's Day..."
    • Having the Lord's Table only on "The Lord's Day" –based on one "apparent" mentioning of this practice
  • Acts 20:7 "And on the first day of the week when we gathered together to break bread..."
  • The Same Error Can be Repeated in Christianity Today
    • Adding a list of traditions to the Bread breaking gathering, such as:
    • Prayer style
    • Music style
    • Enforced mutuality
    • Sacrament presentation, including bread size and shape, cloth cover, table position
    • Prayer that proceeds distribution
    • Distribution rules
    • Closing ceremony to the Father
    • Official close of the meeting
  • The Point!
    • All practices, traditions, and regulations are only a shadow of Christ... the Christ Who is our real rest.
    • Jesus said in Matthew 11:29:
  • Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
  • Warning:
  • Look at the Jews:
  • But they were filled with rage and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
  • Warning:
  • Look at us:
    • We often live under condemnation for not living up to a self-imposed standard.
    • We are unduly concerned about how others view us.
    • We are jealous of those who seem to have their life together.
    • We feel good about ourselves when we accomplish a set of weekly rituals.
    • We feel angry when practices change and express ill-will toward the perpetrator.
  • Listen to the words of Jesus
  • "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."
  • A Good Hymn:
  • And...
  • What is Jesus doing on the Sabbath?
    • Taking care of His disciples, even physically.
    • "Doing good," healing, saving lives that are destined for destruction
  • Then Jesus said to them, "I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?"
    • Saving His people from the self-destruction of their rules and regulations
    • Becoming the reality of the Sabbath rest as the Son of man.
  • Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath!
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