How did the idea of the Sabbath, the day of rest begin? Genesis 2:1-3 says, “So the creation of the heavens and the earth and everything in them was completed. On the seventh day God had finished His work of creation, so He rested from all His work. And God blessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because it was the day when He rested from all His work of creation.”
God does not require rest or grow weary, yet, He chose to take the time to step back and admire His fabulous creation over the past six days. God knows that we, as frail humans, need a time to step back from all of our work and responsibilities to rest. In this time, we can admire God and His creation, and recharge and strengthen ourselves.
In the Bible, we read many times where Jesus modeled this to His disciples and to us. He purposefully withdrew from the crowds and His disciples to spend time and relax with God. In this time, He received instructions and strength for the day’s journey. (Luke:5:16; Mark:1:35; Luke:9:28; Mark:6:30-32).
We, too, should do as Jesus did each day.
However, God also requires us to take one special day each week to honor Him and to pause from our many activities and responsibilities. In this time, we can renew ourselves physically, spiritually, and emotionally. This is God’s directive not to burden us, but to bless and benefit us.
Jesus infuriated the religious leaders, particularly the Pharisees by healing people on the Sabbath. They were not excited to see people who had been sick and bound for many years, be set free! No, Jesus, in their minds, broke the rules!
But, Jesus had come to set people free; no matter what day it was; this was His mission! He often rebuked the Pharisees for their criticism, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy. (Matthew:23:1-36). In Luke 13: 10-17. Jesus silenced the Pharisees when they became angry that He healed a woman on the Sabbath day in the Synagogue! “But the Lord replied, “You hypocrites! Each of you works on the Sabbath day!
Don’t you untie your ox or your donkey from its stall on the Sabbath and lead it out for water? This dear woman, a daughter of Abraham, has been held in bondage by Satan for eighteen years. Isn't it right that she be released, even on the Sabbath?” (Luke:13: 15-17). Jesus was saying that there was actually no better day than the Lord’s day to set someone free from bondage!
The same applies for today! Verse 17 says, “This shamed His enemies, but all the people rejoiced at the wonderful things He did.”
Soon after, Jesus was at it again, much to the displeasure of the Pharisees. He healed a man on the Sabbath day, and this time in a Pharisee’s home! Jesus asked the Pharisees if they believed it was legal to heal on the Sabbath? They remained silent. Jesus promptly took hold of the man, healed him and sent him on his way! (Luke:14:1-4). “Then he asked them, “If one of you has a child or an ox that falls into a well on the Sabbath day, will you not immediately pull it out?” And they had nothing to say.” (Luke:14:5-6).
In Matthew 12: 1-14, Jesus once again encountered the wrath and hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They took issue when Jesus and His disciples walked through a grain field and his disciples picked wheat to eat when they were hungry. How dare they strengthen and nourish themselves on the Sabbath! Jesus silenced them by reminding them of the Scripture when King David ate the bread on the Sabbath in the Temple. “I tell you, there is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned My innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” (Matthew:12:6-8).
In this same account in the book of Mark, Jesus tells us the purpose of the Sabbath. Then Jesus said to them, “The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath. So, the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!” (Mark:2:27-28).
Yes, Jesus declared Himself Lord of the Sabbath—He, not them, would determine how to observe God’s Holy day made for man! His desire was for them to show mercy to others and help them instead of performing their ritualistic and self-righteous acts of worship. Soon afterward, on the Sabbath, the Pharisees tried to trap Him.
Jesus was unmoved and healed a man’s lame hand in the Synagogue. He told them it was lawful to do good on the Sabbath. At this point, the Pharisees had seen enough, and they plotted to kill Him! (Matthew:12:9-14).
There is much discussion and disagreement even today on how the Sabbath day is to be observed. What we do know is that it is a holy day unto God, to honor and worship Him, and to do good to others.
It is also a day created specifically for us, not to weigh us down with rules, but to give us a day each week to rest and gain strength. God intended this day to be a blessing and not a burden to His children!
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