Mark 2:23-3:6 - Lord of the Sabbath

God gives Israel the gift of the Sabbath to rest and remember God’s faithfulness. The Pharisees took the command and turn it into everything but resting. We see in the sermon this morning that they would rather someone starve or suffer than to help them. All in the effort to not work. They had twisted God’s gift for their own Glory. They had raised their traditions to the level of scripture and accused Jesus of breaking the Law.

They accuse the law giver of breaking the law, while they were breaking the true spirit of the law. They confused the law of God as a challenge or a job to be done rather than a gift to be enjoyed. They turned to legalism, which is not from God, not for God, and not needed. Religious work is serving God for grace. Worship is serving God in response to Grace. Jesus is the Sabbath to all those who cry out to him for salvation. He is where you do not need to work. He is where you have rest from your toils.

Main Point: We do not earn acceptance before God by our religious work, but by our rest in Christ’s completed work.

Outline : Religious work will not earn us acceptance before God because.. 1. It is not from God 2. It is not for God 3. It is not needed

1. How do you find Rest in Christ? How is he your Sabbath? Show how the ceremonial Sabbath pointed to Christ. 2. Everything done in your life for God is either religious work or worship. How do you live a life of worship? How do you avoid being the Pharisees? 3. What religious work do you tend to return to for acceptance before God? 4. What traditions have you placed on the same level as scripture? What laws from God are you using outside of their purpose? 5. Legalism publicizes your holiness for the approval of man, to be looked at and admired. How does Jesus look at legalism? 6. How is the man with the Withered hand an example to follow?