Throughout the season of Lent our daily devotions have been written by members of the Faith Lutheran community. Our theme this Lent is “Jesus Our Healer.” Today’s devotion comes from Joann Welton.
One sabbath he was going through the grainfields; and as they made their way his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the sabbath?” And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need of food? He entered the house of God, when Abiathar was high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and he gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:23-28
The Pharisees were the elite liberal Jewish power group of their day. They believed their mission was to uphold the man-made rules of the synagogue regarding the Sabbath. Enter Jesus (who was described as a Pharisee), he often hung with the “wrong” crowd (sinners) and stressed God’s love and forgiveness, over the established rules of the day. Therefore, it is not surprising that he was perceived as a threat, by the self-righteous rule followers.
In today’s world, with our Tweets and You Tube, seemingly trivial events, like the eating of a shaft of wheat on the Sabbath, can polarize the world. Jesus reminds us to use common sense, be tolerant of others, and not overact to unnecessary man-made rules. The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. God’s love and compassion is our salvation and his son Jesus, is truly the lord of the Sabbath.
Let us pray: Heavenly Father, bless this troubled world and help us to become more tolerant and accepting of others and their beliefs. Guide our leaders so they make thoughtful and just decisions that transform our world into the place of harmony and peace we all desire. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Daily Devotions 
March 11, 2015 at 5:04 pm |
very good devotion, A Men
March 21, 2015 at 7:16 am |
In this passage Jesus shows the high priests that their laws are not necessarily right in the eyes of God. I like Jesus’ answer to them:
“The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.” Mark 2:28.
Exodus 23:25: “And you shall serve the Lord your God, and he shall bless your bread and your water and take sickness away from you.”