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Parents often let their children learn from failure. They do it for the higher purpose of equipping them to face the world. Jesus pointed to the high purpose of the Sabbath Day as He dealt with the Pharisees. In their pride, Pharisees were blind to their flawed ideas about what made Sabbath Day holy. But as Lord over the Sabbath, Jesus took issue with their views. We see in Luke Chapter 6 how He showed them that King David in an emergency ate bread reserved only for priests, just as His disciples had done on the Sabbath. Jesus also healed a man on the Sabbath Day contrary to their custom. But these critics hated Jesus so much they looked for a way to demonize and discredit Him. Yet Jesus did not let their animosity keep Him from doing what was right and good. He asked them “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?” His questions pointed them to the high purpose of the Sabbath. Yes, it was to honor God, but also to help those who hurt. While for Israel, the Sabbath Day was a sign of their covenant with God, for us, the Lord’s Day points to Christ’s resurrection. We gather to worship God, study His word, fellowship with His people, renew our minds, bodies, and spirits in order to serve others at church, at home, and in our community.
