Prepare for Sunday morning worship by using the guide below.
Mark 2:23-3:6
23 One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
3 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4 And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: Mark’s goal in his gospel is to reveal Jesus as the Messiah, the unique Savior and Lord, the promised King of a new kingdom. While this is a bold claim, he proves its truth as he performs miracles. While these great works were amazing, not all were amazed. Beginning with the paralytic, Jesus enters a season of great conflict with the religious leaders that will end at the cross. Why the controversy? Jesus had come announcing a kingdom different from the one anticipated. The Jewish leadership expected a kingdom marked by power to overthrow the Romans. Jesus came and challenged the traditions and customs of these leaders. In this story, we see the choice between following the rules of men or following the Son of man who is the Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath is the battleground where outward religion is confronted and defeated by the gospel.
Review & Apply
In what ways do you promote rule keeping in your life and in the lives of others? How do rules help and hurt in the Christian faith?
How does Jesus invite us both to worship and to freedom from law saying, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath"?
In what ways do you see the Sabbath as pointing to a final and glorious rest? How do you use your Sundays to prepare for this?
Why does Jesus choose to heal on the Sabbath?
What is Jesus' point in the question, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm?" In what ways are you to use the Sabbath?
Jesus expresses anger at false religion but also grief. How ought grief to balance out our anger at the injustices of this world?
Give
If you would like to give online CLICK HERE. For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you. (1 Chronicles 29:10-18)