Why the Sabbath?

Jesus chose to heal, act, and challenge conventional religion.

As Jesus was having dinner at Matthew’s house, many tax collectors and “sinners” came and ate with Jesus and his followers.  When the Pharisees saw this, they asked Jesus’ followers, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

Jesus left there and went into their synagogue, where there was a man with a crippled hand.  They were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they asked him, “Is it right to heal on the Sabbath day?” (Matthew 12: 9-10) 

Jesus encountered a group of people who only cared about being “right” and following the law.  They condemned Jesus because he wasn’t following their rules.  Their focus was to discredit Jesus, defend their religion, and hold on to their beliefs.  Amazing is their blindness and ridiculous criticisms as before their eyes Jesus miraculously helped and healed hurting people.  The Jewish religious leaders only saw rules being broken rather than lives being saved. 

Jesus approach was opposite of what everyone expected from the coming King.  He chose to be with tax collectors, prostitutes, lepers, homeless street people, beggars, and social outcasts; those that the law said not to associate with.  He healed, fed, touched, and taught these people and was not concerned with religion, but with loving people.  When asked, Jesus summed it up this way: “Listen, people of Israel!  The Lord our God is the only Lord.  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.  The second command is this:  Love your neighbor as you love yourself.  There are no commands more important than these.”  (Mark 12:29-31)

Focusing on rules and law will keep you away from a close relationship with God.  Worrying over matters of opinion not salvation shift our heart away from loving others.   Living as a rule follower is a futile, frustrating, unsustainable path.   Aren’t you tired of trying to follow rules, of guilt, of the emphasis on matters other than loving God and loving your neighbor?    Aren’t you tired of the debate, the criticism, and the attempts to discredit others for their acts of faith?   Wouldn’t you like to have a passion for something real?   When confronting the Jewish religious leaders with their blindness Jesus said “But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice”  (Matthew 9:13).   At the heart of our Christianity as God intended it to be is Christ himself calling us to mercy and love, not laws or rules. 

Scotty Elston

Shallowater, Texas