WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:17.300 What do you think? We're looking at Mark chapter 2, end of chapter 2, beginning of chapter 3. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:21.059 If you're looking in one of the Pew Bibles, it's page 838. 00:00:21.059 --> 00:00:30.100 So we're looking at Mark chapter 2, verse 23, through chapter 3, verse 6. 00:00:32.079 --> 00:00:43.379 Now if you haven't been coming to the evening service, just to give you a heads up, after the preaching time, we'll have a song of reflection and then we'll have an open time for question and answer. 00:00:43.380 --> 00:00:55.700 So if you have questions that come to your mind as we're going through this, keep them in mind or jot them down and then you'll have an opportunity to ask them and we'll have a little time to interact a little bit later on. 00:00:56.140 --> 00:01:00.560 So we've started that this fall and it's gone really well so far, so I'm looking forward to it tonight. 00:01:01.560 --> 00:01:04.700 Alright, let's read Mark chapter 2, beginning of verse 23. 00:01:05.599 --> 00:01:06.439 It says this, 00:01:06.439 --> 00:01:10.459 One Sabbath, he, Jesus, was going through the grain fields. 00:01:11.259 --> 00:01:14.640 And as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 00:01:15.400 --> 00:01:20.140 And the Pharisees were saying to him, look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath? 00:01:20.980 --> 00:01:22.019 And he said to them, 00:01:22.539 --> 00:01:28.840 Have you never read what David did when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him? 00:01:28.840 --> 00:01:40.740 How he entered the house of God in the time of Abiathar the high priest and ate the bread of the presence, which is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him. 00:01:41.400 --> 00:01:42.359 And he said to them, 00:01:42.420 --> 00:01:46.200 The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 00:01:47.000 --> 00:01:50.879 So the Son of Man is Lord, even of the Sabbath. 00:01:52.159 --> 00:01:53.340 Again, he entered the synagogue. 00:01:53.340 --> 00:01:55.780 And a man was there with a withered hand. 00:01:56.340 --> 00:02:01.380 And they watched Jesus to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 00:02:01.980 --> 00:02:03.640 And he said to the man with the withered hand, 00:02:03.740 --> 00:02:04.120 Come here. 00:02:05.300 --> 00:02:06.120 And he said to them, 00:02:06.700 --> 00:02:13.379 Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill? 00:02:14.360 --> 00:02:15.379 But they were silent. 00:02:16.659 --> 00:02:18.920 And he looked around at them with anger, 00:02:19.800 --> 00:02:21.860 grieved at their hardness of heart, 00:02:21.860 --> 00:02:23.560 and said to the man, 00:02:24.360 --> 00:02:25.440 Stretched out your hand. 00:02:26.140 --> 00:02:27.060 He stretched it out, 00:02:27.660 --> 00:02:28.720 and his hand was restored. 00:02:29.460 --> 00:02:33.740 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him. 00:02:34.380 --> 00:02:36.100 How to destroy him. 00:02:37.100 --> 00:02:42.500 Sometimes having a common enemy can bring together unlikely allies. 00:02:43.360 --> 00:02:48.660 At the end of this passage, it says the Pharisees got together with the Herodians against Jesus. 00:02:48.659 --> 00:02:53.680 Now normally, the Pharisees and the Herodians would have had very little to do with each other. 00:02:53.780 --> 00:03:03.439 The Pharisees were a conservative religious movement and cultural movement wanting to preserve Jewish identity against outside influences. 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:10.319 And so they were focused on studying and obeying the Old Testament law and practicing traditional values. 00:03:10.319 --> 00:03:15.079 Now the Herodians, on the other hand, they were connected with Herod. 00:03:15.659 --> 00:03:19.299 Herod was the Roman Empire's ruler in Galilee. 00:03:20.120 --> 00:03:23.519 And they were a political movement that was much more, 00:03:24.659 --> 00:03:29.560 that was pragmatic and not religious. 00:03:29.560 --> 00:03:35.280 So Herod, for example, Herod had no reservations about disobeying the biblical law. 00:03:35.420 --> 00:03:37.280 So he was visiting his brother, 00:03:37.860 --> 00:03:40.000 and he fell in love with his brother's wife, 00:03:40.420 --> 00:03:42.140 and so he divorced his own wife, 00:03:42.340 --> 00:03:44.360 and married his brother's ex-wife, 00:03:44.439 --> 00:03:45.560 and she divorced her husband. 00:03:46.400 --> 00:03:49.620 So this is the guy that the Herodians were connected with. 00:03:49.620 --> 00:03:54.420 And, but, but both of these groups, 00:03:54.960 --> 00:03:56.599 these conservative religious people, 00:03:57.259 --> 00:04:01.680 and this liberal political movement that didn't really care anything about religion, 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:04.140 joined together against Jesus. 00:04:05.259 --> 00:04:07.219 And you sort of think, 00:04:07.420 --> 00:04:08.360 what's going on here? 00:04:09.080 --> 00:04:12.420 I mean, today this would be sort of like the Tea Party leaders 00:04:12.420 --> 00:04:14.759 joining forces with President Obama, 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:17.240 and presenting a united front. 00:04:17.240 --> 00:04:18.600 And you sort of think, 00:04:19.199 --> 00:04:21.780 what in the world would make that happen? 00:04:22.800 --> 00:04:24.259 And then you look at what Jesus did. 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:26.439 Right, what did Jesus do in this passage? 00:04:26.939 --> 00:04:29.400 He defends his disciples for having a snack 00:04:29.400 --> 00:04:31.639 as they're walking through somebody's field. 00:04:32.340 --> 00:04:33.660 And then he heals a guy 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:36.780 who had a paralyzed or withered hand. 00:04:37.960 --> 00:04:38.519 And you think, 00:04:39.340 --> 00:04:41.060 that doesn't, doesn't make sense. 00:04:41.180 --> 00:04:42.600 What's, what's going on here? 00:04:42.960 --> 00:04:44.079 What's so controversial? 00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:49.279 What's making everybody band together against him? 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:53.500 Well, the passage says both of these things happen on the Sabbath. 00:04:54.259 --> 00:04:56.379 And that's why this controversy came up. 00:04:56.439 --> 00:04:58.500 So we need to ask three questions tonight. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.759 First, what was the Sabbath all about? 00:05:02.919 --> 00:05:06.740 Second, why were Jesus' actions on the Sabbath so controversial? 00:05:06.740 --> 00:05:12.360 And third, what do we take away from this story? 00:05:12.879 --> 00:05:13.600 These two stories. 00:05:14.139 --> 00:05:16.199 So first, what did the Sabbath represent? 00:05:16.879 --> 00:05:18.019 Well, in Jesus' time, 00:05:18.340 --> 00:05:21.100 the Sabbath was one of the major distinctive aspects 00:05:21.100 --> 00:05:23.379 of being Jewish. 00:05:24.100 --> 00:05:25.079 It still is today. 00:05:25.879 --> 00:05:27.280 Especially for Orthodox Jews. 00:05:27.939 --> 00:05:28.740 It was one of the Ten Commandments. 00:05:29.980 --> 00:05:30.879 The Ten, it's, 00:05:31.280 --> 00:05:32.240 and it says this, 00:05:32.240 --> 00:05:35.160 Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 00:05:35.240 --> 00:05:37.759 but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the Lord your God. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:40.199 On that day you shall not do any work, 00:05:40.740 --> 00:05:42.819 you or your son or your daughter 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:44.780 or your male servant or your female servant 00:05:44.780 --> 00:05:47.079 or your livestock or the sojourner 00:05:47.079 --> 00:05:48.319 who's within your gates. 00:05:48.900 --> 00:05:50.439 That's Exodus 20, 8 through 10. 00:05:51.060 --> 00:05:53.480 So everyone in the whole community, 00:05:54.060 --> 00:05:54.980 adults and children, 00:05:55.639 --> 00:05:56.519 male and female, 00:05:57.139 --> 00:05:57.939 slave and free, 00:05:58.840 --> 00:05:59.720 native and foreigner, 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:01.519 must rest. 00:06:01.519 --> 00:06:04.259 One day a week on the Sabbath. 00:06:05.399 --> 00:06:06.919 Now in the larger cultural context, 00:06:07.039 --> 00:06:09.339 that was a totally unusual practice. 00:06:10.339 --> 00:06:12.879 No other religion in Jesus' time 00:06:12.879 --> 00:06:16.519 commanded its followers to take one day every week to rest. 00:06:17.539 --> 00:06:20.099 Pagan religions in the Roman Empire had holidays 00:06:20.099 --> 00:06:23.379 and days that you had to offer sacrifices to the gods, 00:06:23.579 --> 00:06:24.519 but they were inconsistent. 00:06:25.279 --> 00:06:26.399 They didn't happen every week. 00:06:27.039 --> 00:06:29.139 And especially if you were a slave 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:30.699 or if you were a lower class worker, 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:32.860 you didn't necessarily get the day off. 00:06:33.319 --> 00:06:35.039 Or you had to sort of bargain with your employer 00:06:35.039 --> 00:06:36.939 and say, well, I'll work double time on Friday 00:06:36.939 --> 00:06:38.620 if you give me Saturday off. 00:06:39.979 --> 00:06:43.039 Now many of us today take for granted the idea 00:06:43.039 --> 00:06:45.079 of having a seven-day work week 00:06:45.079 --> 00:06:46.659 or seven-day week 00:06:46.659 --> 00:06:50.219 with one or two days normally set aside for rest. 00:06:50.220 --> 00:06:51.500 Now it's, 00:06:52.040 --> 00:06:53.920 but it wasn't always that way. 00:06:54.780 --> 00:06:56.960 And actually it's largely due to the influence 00:06:56.960 --> 00:06:59.100 of this biblical command throughout history 00:06:59.100 --> 00:07:02.240 that we run on a seven-day week. 00:07:02.440 --> 00:07:04.820 Almost anywhere in the world that you go, 00:07:05.520 --> 00:07:05.940 you run on, 00:07:06.040 --> 00:07:07.460 people run on a seven-day week 00:07:07.460 --> 00:07:09.440 and there's usually one day 00:07:09.440 --> 00:07:11.560 or sometimes two days 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.180 that are mostly set aside for rest. 00:07:13.500 --> 00:07:14.120 Now, of course, 00:07:14.500 --> 00:07:16.400 that's becoming less and less the case 00:07:16.399 --> 00:07:17.379 in our society. 00:07:17.620 --> 00:07:19.299 But still, 00:07:19.379 --> 00:07:20.579 there are some modern societies 00:07:20.579 --> 00:07:22.019 that have tried something totally different. 00:07:22.139 --> 00:07:23.299 So the French Revolution said, 00:07:23.379 --> 00:07:24.939 we're going to do a 10-day week. 00:07:25.139 --> 00:07:26.419 You get nine days of work 00:07:26.419 --> 00:07:27.599 and one day of rest. 00:07:29.399 --> 00:07:30.859 It lasted for nine years 00:07:30.859 --> 00:07:32.179 and then they decided 00:07:32.179 --> 00:07:33.159 it was a total failure. 00:07:34.079 --> 00:07:35.219 The Soviet Union 00:07:35.219 --> 00:07:37.139 tried a five-day week 00:07:37.139 --> 00:07:38.279 and then they quickly switched 00:07:38.279 --> 00:07:39.279 to a six-day week 00:07:39.279 --> 00:07:41.739 and then nine years later 00:07:41.739 --> 00:07:42.819 they scrapped the experiment 00:07:42.819 --> 00:07:44.019 and said that was a bad idea too. 00:07:44.019 --> 00:07:46.599 This week, interestingly, 00:07:46.740 --> 00:07:47.359 I read an article 00:07:47.359 --> 00:07:49.740 by a guy named Joel Gascoigne. 00:07:50.299 --> 00:07:52.500 He's the CEO of an internet company 00:07:52.500 --> 00:07:53.599 and the article is called 00:07:53.599 --> 00:07:54.959 My Seven-Day Work Week 00:07:54.959 --> 00:07:56.620 and Why I Won't Stick With It. 00:07:57.079 --> 00:07:58.759 So he had a lot of flexibility 00:07:58.759 --> 00:08:00.399 in determining his work schedule, 00:08:00.719 --> 00:08:02.839 probably more than most of us, 00:08:02.979 --> 00:08:04.279 but he experimented 00:08:04.279 --> 00:08:05.699 with working seven days a week 00:08:05.699 --> 00:08:07.079 and he said, 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:08.120 I wanted every day 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:09.519 to be exactly the same. 00:08:09.599 --> 00:08:09.959 So he said, 00:08:10.019 --> 00:08:11.319 every day I would do some work, 00:08:11.439 --> 00:08:12.639 every day I'd go to the gym, 00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:13.979 every day I'd spend some time 00:08:13.980 --> 00:08:14.420 reflecting 00:08:14.420 --> 00:08:16.060 and every day I would 00:08:16.060 --> 00:08:17.860 spend some time resting. 00:08:18.740 --> 00:08:20.160 And so he constructed this schedule. 00:08:20.259 --> 00:08:20.379 He said, 00:08:20.420 --> 00:08:21.420 I'm not going to actually work 00:08:21.420 --> 00:08:22.439 more hours, 00:08:22.560 --> 00:08:23.400 but I'm just going to work 00:08:23.400 --> 00:08:24.360 more consistently 00:08:24.360 --> 00:08:26.100 because, you know, 00:08:26.160 --> 00:08:26.840 after the weekend, 00:08:27.020 --> 00:08:28.740 I feel on Monday, right, 00:08:28.759 --> 00:08:30.000 it's always terrible 00:08:30.000 --> 00:08:31.120 to go back to work on Monday. 00:08:31.200 --> 00:08:31.840 So why don't I just 00:08:31.840 --> 00:08:32.899 make this consistent? 00:08:33.080 --> 00:08:34.680 So he tried it for two weeks 00:08:34.680 --> 00:08:36.779 and he concluded 00:08:36.779 --> 00:08:38.740 it was a bad idea. 00:08:39.200 --> 00:08:40.100 Only took him two weeks 00:08:40.100 --> 00:08:40.700 to figure it out. 00:08:41.259 --> 00:08:42.139 So he says this, 00:08:42.139 --> 00:08:42.399 he said, 00:08:42.399 --> 00:08:43.919 I worked out for 15 days straight. 00:08:44.279 --> 00:08:44.639 In the end, 00:08:44.699 --> 00:08:45.399 I strained a muscle 00:08:45.399 --> 00:08:46.799 and had to take almost a week off. 00:08:47.679 --> 00:08:48.620 In terms of my work, 00:08:48.679 --> 00:08:50.179 I was excited during the first week 00:08:50.179 --> 00:08:51.000 and even at the weekend, 00:08:51.139 --> 00:08:51.819 I enjoyed it. 00:08:52.159 --> 00:08:52.919 But in the end, 00:08:53.500 --> 00:08:54.399 the seven-day work week 00:08:54.399 --> 00:08:54.939 fell apart 00:08:54.939 --> 00:08:55.939 because of the lack 00:08:55.939 --> 00:08:57.559 of an extended period 00:08:57.559 --> 00:08:59.799 of renewal and rest. 00:09:00.480 --> 00:09:01.819 Now, this guy is not a Christian, 00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:04.199 but at the end of his article, 00:09:04.340 --> 00:09:05.000 he quotes 00:09:05.000 --> 00:09:08.179 the biblical Sabbath reference 00:09:08.179 --> 00:09:09.439 from the book of Genesis. 00:09:11.219 --> 00:09:12.259 And he recognizes 00:09:12.259 --> 00:09:12.839 the wisdom 00:09:12.839 --> 00:09:13.759 of this pattern 00:09:13.759 --> 00:09:14.899 that it fits 00:09:14.899 --> 00:09:16.659 with how we work. 00:09:17.620 --> 00:09:18.199 And he says 00:09:18.199 --> 00:09:19.139 to work six days 00:09:19.139 --> 00:09:20.079 and to take one day 00:09:20.079 --> 00:09:20.599 for rest. 00:09:21.839 --> 00:09:21.959 So, 00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:23.399 but you know, 00:09:23.479 --> 00:09:24.319 the Sabbath wasn't just 00:09:24.319 --> 00:09:25.679 sort of a practical device 00:09:25.679 --> 00:09:27.359 so that we'd be more 00:09:27.359 --> 00:09:28.319 rested and refreshed 00:09:28.319 --> 00:09:29.559 and ready to go back to work 00:09:29.559 --> 00:09:30.479 at the beginning 00:09:30.479 --> 00:09:31.599 of the next week. 00:09:32.120 --> 00:09:32.839 The Old Testament 00:09:32.839 --> 00:09:33.679 talks about the Sabbath 00:09:33.679 --> 00:09:35.199 as a spiritual thing. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:37.700 And it actually gives 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:39.920 three spiritual meanings 00:09:39.920 --> 00:09:41.000 to the Sabbath. 00:09:41.879 --> 00:09:42.600 So, first of all, 00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:43.740 if you look in Exodus 20, 00:09:44.200 --> 00:09:45.160 that's one of the places 00:09:45.160 --> 00:09:46.420 where the Ten Commandments is, 00:09:46.780 --> 00:09:47.560 it says the Sabbath 00:09:47.560 --> 00:09:48.300 is a sign 00:09:48.300 --> 00:09:49.440 of God's creation. 00:09:50.360 --> 00:09:51.000 It's a reminder 00:09:51.000 --> 00:09:52.160 God created the world 00:09:52.160 --> 00:09:52.940 in six days 00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:54.420 and he rested on the seventh 00:09:54.420 --> 00:09:56.560 in the Genesis account. 00:09:57.100 --> 00:09:58.080 So, if God rested 00:09:58.080 --> 00:09:58.800 from his work, 00:09:58.900 --> 00:09:59.600 we should too. 00:10:00.340 --> 00:10:00.480 Right? 00:10:00.500 --> 00:10:01.560 It's a reminder that 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:02.920 and the Sabbath 00:10:02.920 --> 00:10:03.580 would be a day 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:04.960 for us to enjoy. 00:10:05.200 --> 00:10:06.080 God's creation. 00:10:06.740 --> 00:10:07.520 That's sort of the idea 00:10:07.520 --> 00:10:08.040 of resting. 00:10:08.700 --> 00:10:09.200 It's not just 00:10:09.200 --> 00:10:10.740 falling asleep 00:10:10.740 --> 00:10:11.500 for 24 hours, 00:10:11.560 --> 00:10:12.020 it's really 00:10:12.020 --> 00:10:13.700 just sitting back, 00:10:14.320 --> 00:10:15.940 enjoying the good things 00:10:15.940 --> 00:10:17.320 that God has created 00:10:17.320 --> 00:10:18.920 and being reminded 00:10:18.920 --> 00:10:19.879 that God's our creator 00:10:19.879 --> 00:10:20.640 and we're his creatures. 00:10:21.500 --> 00:10:22.200 But the second 00:10:22.200 --> 00:10:22.960 spiritual meaning 00:10:22.960 --> 00:10:23.540 of the Sabbath 00:10:23.540 --> 00:10:25.220 was that it was a sign 00:10:25.220 --> 00:10:26.180 of God's redemption. 00:10:26.800 --> 00:10:27.379 In other words, 00:10:27.420 --> 00:10:29.080 his liberating the people 00:10:29.080 --> 00:10:30.700 from slavery in Egypt. 00:10:31.379 --> 00:10:32.520 And Deuteronomy 5 00:10:32.520 --> 00:10:33.940 is the reference for this 00:10:33.940 --> 00:10:34.879 if you want to look that up. 00:10:35.200 --> 00:10:35.780 Some other time, 00:10:35.820 --> 00:10:36.040 it says, 00:10:36.140 --> 00:10:36.940 observe the Sabbath 00:10:36.940 --> 00:10:38.740 because you were slaves 00:10:38.740 --> 00:10:39.259 in Egypt 00:10:39.259 --> 00:10:40.780 and God brought you 00:10:40.780 --> 00:10:41.340 out from there. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.020 So, in other words, 00:10:43.620 --> 00:10:43.780 you know, 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:44.840 if you were one 00:10:44.840 --> 00:10:45.500 of the Israelites, 00:10:46.080 --> 00:10:47.080 when you were in Egypt, 00:10:47.400 --> 00:10:48.580 you worked seven days 00:10:48.580 --> 00:10:49.120 every week 00:10:49.120 --> 00:10:50.180 because you had 00:10:50.180 --> 00:10:51.020 a harsh master 00:10:51.020 --> 00:10:52.020 who never would 00:10:52.020 --> 00:10:52.680 let you rest. 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.040 And you had no hope 00:10:56.040 --> 00:10:57.379 of gaining your freedom 00:10:57.379 --> 00:10:58.220 no matter how hard 00:10:58.220 --> 00:10:58.640 you tried. 00:10:58.639 --> 00:11:01.439 but now God says, 00:11:01.720 --> 00:11:03.000 I've set you free 00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:03.399 from that. 00:11:03.960 --> 00:11:04.740 I've brought you 00:11:04.740 --> 00:11:05.199 out of that. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:06.679 I've done what you 00:11:06.679 --> 00:11:07.319 could never do 00:11:07.319 --> 00:11:07.919 for yourself. 00:11:08.899 --> 00:11:09.100 And so, 00:11:09.139 --> 00:11:09.559 I'm giving you 00:11:09.559 --> 00:11:10.000 the Sabbath 00:11:10.000 --> 00:11:11.299 so you can remember 00:11:11.299 --> 00:11:11.600 that. 00:11:12.480 --> 00:11:13.879 That every week 00:11:13.879 --> 00:11:14.879 when you take 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:15.840 one day to rest, 00:11:15.879 --> 00:11:16.500 you can remember 00:11:16.500 --> 00:11:17.539 I'm not a slave 00:11:17.539 --> 00:11:18.419 anymore. 00:11:19.360 --> 00:11:19.740 God, 00:11:20.100 --> 00:11:20.939 and I'm not a slave 00:11:20.939 --> 00:11:22.000 because God 00:11:22.000 --> 00:11:23.080 stepped in 00:11:23.080 --> 00:11:23.860 and set me free. 00:11:23.860 --> 00:11:25.580 And so, 00:11:25.639 --> 00:11:26.360 it's a celebration 00:11:26.360 --> 00:11:27.360 of freedom. 00:11:28.060 --> 00:11:28.820 That's what the Sabbath 00:11:28.820 --> 00:11:29.620 was meant to be. 00:11:30.379 --> 00:11:30.879 Really. 00:11:32.279 --> 00:11:32.980 And so, 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:33.800 the command is there 00:11:33.800 --> 00:11:34.360 because God 00:11:34.360 --> 00:11:35.500 was saying to the people, 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.820 don't act like 00:11:36.820 --> 00:11:38.440 you're still a slave 00:11:38.440 --> 00:11:39.740 because you're not 00:11:39.740 --> 00:11:40.440 slaves anymore. 00:11:41.259 --> 00:11:42.019 Don't act like 00:11:42.019 --> 00:11:43.100 you're still in bondage. 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.740 And don't become 00:11:44.740 --> 00:11:45.980 a harsh master 00:11:45.980 --> 00:11:46.720 to other people. 00:11:47.379 --> 00:11:48.539 If you're a boss 00:11:48.539 --> 00:11:49.659 or an employer, 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:51.600 don't make your employees 00:11:51.600 --> 00:11:52.639 keep, 00:11:52.840 --> 00:11:53.580 don't drive them 00:11:53.580 --> 00:11:54.180 into the ground. 00:11:54.840 --> 00:11:55.879 Don't just make them 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.820 work and work and work 00:11:56.820 --> 00:11:57.720 and never give them 00:11:57.720 --> 00:11:58.139 a break 00:11:58.139 --> 00:12:00.000 on a weekly basis. 00:12:01.379 --> 00:12:01.780 So, 00:12:02.160 --> 00:12:02.800 the Sabbath was 00:12:02.800 --> 00:12:04.000 a time to step back 00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:04.540 and remember. 00:12:06.280 --> 00:12:06.440 You know, 00:12:06.480 --> 00:12:07.100 and really, 00:12:07.300 --> 00:12:08.379 this applies to all of us, 00:12:08.460 --> 00:12:09.259 not just to the people 00:12:09.259 --> 00:12:09.960 in the Old Testament. 00:12:10.320 --> 00:12:11.180 When we rest, 00:12:11.280 --> 00:12:12.000 we can remember 00:12:12.000 --> 00:12:13.480 God created, 00:12:13.639 --> 00:12:15.440 God created each one of us. 00:12:16.060 --> 00:12:17.020 God created the world 00:12:17.020 --> 00:12:18.520 all by himself. 00:12:19.759 --> 00:12:19.960 Right? 00:12:20.020 --> 00:12:20.960 You had no part, 00:12:21.640 --> 00:12:22.520 I had no part 00:12:22.519 --> 00:12:23.559 in my parents 00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.100 choosing to conceive me. 00:12:25.840 --> 00:12:27.480 I played absolutely 00:12:27.480 --> 00:12:28.319 no role in that. 00:12:29.220 --> 00:12:29.439 Right? 00:12:29.460 --> 00:12:30.159 I had no part 00:12:30.159 --> 00:12:30.879 in God choosing 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:31.879 to create the world 00:12:31.879 --> 00:12:34.079 and everything 00:12:34.079 --> 00:12:35.319 that I enjoy 00:12:35.319 --> 00:12:36.379 from a day-to-day basis. 00:12:37.699 --> 00:12:38.279 And you know what? 00:12:38.559 --> 00:12:40.039 In the Bible, 00:12:40.139 --> 00:12:40.799 it also says 00:12:40.799 --> 00:12:42.659 that when God 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:43.159 sent Jesus, 00:12:43.539 --> 00:12:45.159 when God 00:12:45.159 --> 00:12:46.199 sent Jesus Christ 00:12:46.199 --> 00:12:47.000 to die on the cross 00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:47.579 for our sins 00:12:47.579 --> 00:12:48.299 and rise again, 00:12:48.860 --> 00:12:49.360 you know what? 00:12:49.360 --> 00:12:50.820 I had no part 00:12:50.820 --> 00:12:51.240 in that either. 00:12:52.139 --> 00:12:52.779 God did it 00:12:52.779 --> 00:12:53.680 all by himself 00:12:53.680 --> 00:12:55.259 without me doing 00:12:55.259 --> 00:12:55.879 any work. 00:12:57.480 --> 00:12:58.340 He did all 00:12:58.340 --> 00:12:59.080 that was necessary 00:12:59.080 --> 00:13:00.600 for our salvation. 00:13:01.680 --> 00:13:02.159 And so the Sabbath 00:13:02.159 --> 00:13:02.899 is a time to remember 00:13:02.899 --> 00:13:04.120 God created me 00:13:04.120 --> 00:13:04.860 all by himself 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:06.720 and God saved me 00:13:06.720 --> 00:13:07.980 all by himself 00:13:07.980 --> 00:13:09.620 for his own glory. 00:13:11.440 --> 00:13:11.539 So, 00:13:11.940 --> 00:13:12.700 and third, 00:13:12.820 --> 00:13:13.300 it was a sign 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:14.019 of God's promise 00:13:14.019 --> 00:13:14.560 to one day 00:13:14.560 --> 00:13:15.300 bring his people 00:13:15.300 --> 00:13:17.519 into an everlasting rest. 00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.079 So when the prophets 00:13:19.079 --> 00:13:19.559 spoke about 00:13:19.559 --> 00:13:20.460 the kingdom of God 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:21.439 or the Messiah 00:13:21.439 --> 00:13:22.360 or the age to come, 00:13:22.419 --> 00:13:23.019 sometimes they would 00:13:23.019 --> 00:13:23.600 talk about it 00:13:23.600 --> 00:13:24.299 in terms of 00:13:24.299 --> 00:13:26.079 an eternal Sabbath. 00:13:27.199 --> 00:13:28.419 A time of rest 00:13:28.419 --> 00:13:30.019 and of peace 00:13:30.019 --> 00:13:31.259 and flourishing 00:13:31.259 --> 00:13:31.939 and growth. 00:13:33.000 --> 00:13:33.519 So that was 00:13:33.519 --> 00:13:34.460 the spiritual significance 00:13:34.460 --> 00:13:34.980 of the Sabbath 00:13:34.980 --> 00:13:36.059 in the Bible. 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:37.419 But, 00:13:37.799 --> 00:13:39.059 in Jesus' time, 00:13:39.980 --> 00:13:40.519 it had become 00:13:40.519 --> 00:13:41.100 something more. 00:13:41.840 --> 00:13:42.620 It was a topic 00:13:42.620 --> 00:13:43.939 of technical debate 00:13:43.939 --> 00:13:45.419 among the religious leaders. 00:13:45.419 --> 00:13:47.019 So we have actually 00:13:47.019 --> 00:13:47.879 a lot of documents 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.639 from this time 00:13:48.639 --> 00:13:49.879 that go through 00:13:49.879 --> 00:13:51.019 what can you do 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.519 on the Sabbath 00:13:51.519 --> 00:13:52.719 and what can't you do 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.199 on the Sabbath. 00:13:53.819 --> 00:13:54.379 Because the question 00:13:54.379 --> 00:13:55.439 people were asking was, 00:13:55.539 --> 00:13:55.939 well, it says 00:13:55.939 --> 00:13:56.860 don't do any work. 00:13:57.559 --> 00:13:58.539 So what qualifies 00:13:58.539 --> 00:13:59.079 as work 00:13:59.079 --> 00:14:00.120 and what's not? 00:14:00.939 --> 00:14:01.219 You know, 00:14:01.279 --> 00:14:01.659 what about 00:14:01.659 --> 00:14:02.539 taking a run 00:14:02.539 --> 00:14:04.579 for five miles? 00:14:05.059 --> 00:14:05.620 What about 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.179 taking a run 00:14:06.179 --> 00:14:06.899 for ten miles? 00:14:07.579 --> 00:14:08.259 Well, most of us 00:14:08.259 --> 00:14:09.079 aren't quite up 00:14:09.079 --> 00:14:09.579 to ten miles, 00:14:09.719 --> 00:14:10.819 but what about 00:14:10.819 --> 00:14:11.240 taking a run 00:14:11.240 --> 00:14:11.819 for one mile? 00:14:12.379 --> 00:14:12.699 What about 00:14:12.699 --> 00:14:13.599 taking a long walk? 00:14:13.819 --> 00:14:13.980 You know, 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:14.679 does that qualify 00:14:14.679 --> 00:14:15.159 as work? 00:14:15.419 --> 00:14:16.599 They had all these 00:14:16.599 --> 00:14:17.519 kinds of discussions. 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:18.939 And they said, 00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:19.740 what about traveling? 00:14:19.860 --> 00:14:20.879 So their answer was, 00:14:21.599 --> 00:14:22.360 you can walk 00:14:22.360 --> 00:14:23.319 up to 00:14:23.319 --> 00:14:25.599 1,999 steps 00:14:25.599 --> 00:14:26.339 on the Sabbath. 00:14:27.159 --> 00:14:28.000 But if you walk 00:14:28.000 --> 00:14:28.579 2,000, 00:14:28.899 --> 00:14:30.259 too much walking, 00:14:30.939 --> 00:14:31.479 that's work. 00:14:32.759 --> 00:14:33.539 What if a building 00:14:33.539 --> 00:14:34.219 falls down? 00:14:34.959 --> 00:14:35.799 Well, the answer is, 00:14:35.919 --> 00:14:37.139 you can remove 00:14:37.139 --> 00:14:38.159 enough of the rubble 00:14:38.159 --> 00:14:39.179 to see if anybody's 00:14:39.179 --> 00:14:39.919 still alive, 00:14:40.559 --> 00:14:41.339 but you have to wait 00:14:41.339 --> 00:14:42.319 to bury the dead bodies 00:14:42.319 --> 00:14:43.120 until the next day. 00:14:44.019 --> 00:14:44.419 Seriously. 00:14:45.139 --> 00:14:46.099 They discussed 00:14:46.099 --> 00:14:46.579 these things, 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:48.299 and even before 00:14:48.299 --> 00:14:49.000 these situations 00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.339 happened, 00:14:49.419 --> 00:14:50.259 they had all 00:14:50.259 --> 00:14:50.939 these discussions. 00:14:52.299 --> 00:14:53.839 What if somebody 00:14:53.839 --> 00:14:54.299 is sick? 00:14:55.599 --> 00:14:55.899 You know, 00:14:55.939 --> 00:14:56.799 can a doctor work? 00:14:57.740 --> 00:14:58.000 They said, 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:58.219 well, 00:14:58.240 --> 00:14:59.179 if it's life-threatening, 00:14:59.360 --> 00:15:00.860 you can take care of them. 00:15:01.539 --> 00:15:02.839 If you just have a cold, 00:15:03.399 --> 00:15:03.860 then no, 00:15:04.019 --> 00:15:04.899 you can't go to the store 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:05.819 and get some Tylenol. 00:15:06.979 --> 00:15:07.599 Doesn't cut it. 00:15:07.599 --> 00:15:08.039 You've got to wait 00:15:08.039 --> 00:15:09.059 until Sabbath is over. 00:15:09.059 --> 00:15:10.459 Now, 00:15:10.519 --> 00:15:10.959 the Pharisees 00:15:10.959 --> 00:15:11.659 spent a lot of time 00:15:11.659 --> 00:15:12.879 discussing these questions, 00:15:13.219 --> 00:15:15.039 and they were 00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.599 the most powerful group 00:15:16.599 --> 00:15:18.079 in society at that time, 00:15:18.099 --> 00:15:18.679 so they actually 00:15:18.679 --> 00:15:19.839 were able to enforce 00:15:19.839 --> 00:15:21.439 their standards 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.919 on pretty much 00:15:22.919 --> 00:15:23.559 everyone else. 00:15:25.759 --> 00:15:26.899 And even today, 00:15:27.199 --> 00:15:28.079 within the Orthodox 00:15:28.079 --> 00:15:28.879 Jewish community, 00:15:29.000 --> 00:15:30.039 many of these standards, 00:15:30.239 --> 00:15:30.699 many of these 00:15:30.699 --> 00:15:32.539 technical details 00:15:32.539 --> 00:15:33.579 are still followed 00:15:33.579 --> 00:15:34.299 through today. 00:15:34.299 --> 00:15:37.039 And so, 00:15:37.399 --> 00:15:38.059 back then, 00:15:39.159 --> 00:15:39.939 the Pharisees 00:15:39.939 --> 00:15:40.699 sort of decided 00:15:40.699 --> 00:15:42.419 these are the rules, 00:15:42.779 --> 00:15:43.859 and pretty much 00:15:43.859 --> 00:15:44.519 everybody else 00:15:44.519 --> 00:15:45.899 had to follow that. 00:15:46.599 --> 00:15:47.259 Now, of course, 00:15:47.559 --> 00:15:48.240 there are some people 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:49.199 who didn't really like that. 00:15:50.240 --> 00:15:50.500 Right? 00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:51.439 In any society 00:15:51.439 --> 00:15:52.539 that's dominated 00:15:52.539 --> 00:15:53.859 by conservative 00:15:53.859 --> 00:15:54.639 religious people, 00:15:54.639 --> 00:15:55.179 there are always 00:15:55.179 --> 00:15:55.979 some other people 00:15:55.979 --> 00:15:57.219 who either quietly 00:15:57.219 --> 00:15:57.859 or publicly 00:15:57.859 --> 00:15:59.500 distance themselves 00:15:59.500 --> 00:16:00.579 and say, 00:16:00.899 --> 00:16:02.539 I don't want that. 00:16:02.539 --> 00:16:04.279 And those would have 00:16:04.279 --> 00:16:05.000 been the Herodians. 00:16:06.059 --> 00:16:06.299 And so, 00:16:06.360 --> 00:16:07.199 they got into politics 00:16:07.199 --> 00:16:07.799 and just focused 00:16:07.799 --> 00:16:08.459 on politics, 00:16:09.079 --> 00:16:09.699 try to distance 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:10.480 themselves from religion. 00:16:10.620 --> 00:16:10.879 Anyway, 00:16:11.480 --> 00:16:11.899 so you have these 00:16:11.899 --> 00:16:12.439 two groups, 00:16:12.659 --> 00:16:12.799 right? 00:16:12.819 --> 00:16:13.639 You have the Pharisees 00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:14.399 who are sort of 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:15.019 obsessed with 00:16:15.019 --> 00:16:15.919 technical details 00:16:15.919 --> 00:16:16.779 of religion, 00:16:16.779 --> 00:16:17.799 and then the Herodians 00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:18.740 who don't really 00:16:18.740 --> 00:16:19.419 believe in religion 00:16:19.419 --> 00:16:19.839 at all. 00:16:20.759 --> 00:16:21.519 And now, 00:16:22.099 --> 00:16:22.899 enter Jesus. 00:16:24.379 --> 00:16:25.639 Jesus doesn't fit 00:16:25.639 --> 00:16:26.319 either of these 00:16:26.319 --> 00:16:26.839 categories. 00:16:29.439 --> 00:16:29.919 Okay? 00:16:30.699 --> 00:16:31.480 Now you think, 00:16:31.699 --> 00:16:32.399 so what did Jesus 00:16:32.399 --> 00:16:32.659 do? 00:16:33.699 --> 00:16:34.679 You might just think, 00:16:34.759 --> 00:16:34.879 well, 00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:35.519 Jesus was trying 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:36.100 to sort of push 00:16:36.100 --> 00:16:36.600 the boundaries 00:16:36.600 --> 00:16:37.199 a little bit. 00:16:38.079 --> 00:16:38.779 That he was, 00:16:39.159 --> 00:16:39.399 you know, 00:16:39.439 --> 00:16:39.980 a progressive 00:16:39.980 --> 00:16:40.779 and a conservative 00:16:40.779 --> 00:16:41.399 society. 00:16:41.720 --> 00:16:42.539 He was sort of 00:16:42.539 --> 00:16:43.019 more on the 00:16:43.019 --> 00:16:43.840 Herodian side. 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:44.620 Right? 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.340 Just trying to say, 00:16:45.459 --> 00:16:46.500 just relax. 00:16:47.379 --> 00:16:47.759 You know, 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.480 it's not that 00:16:48.480 --> 00:16:49.199 important anyway. 00:16:49.860 --> 00:16:50.720 Just let everybody 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.340 do what they want 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:51.740 to do. 00:16:53.399 --> 00:16:54.220 But it's actually, 00:16:54.399 --> 00:16:55.079 but it's interesting 00:16:55.079 --> 00:16:55.600 that there's, 00:16:55.679 --> 00:16:56.299 there's actually 00:16:56.299 --> 00:16:56.879 something more 00:16:56.879 --> 00:16:57.699 going on than that. 00:16:58.500 --> 00:16:58.860 Right? 00:16:58.919 --> 00:16:59.639 And if you look 00:16:59.639 --> 00:17:00.299 in verse 24, 00:17:00.399 --> 00:17:01.159 the Pharisees say, 00:17:01.159 --> 00:17:01.860 look, 00:17:02.419 --> 00:17:03.059 your people 00:17:03.059 --> 00:17:04.299 are breaking 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:04.759 the law 00:17:04.759 --> 00:17:05.519 of the Sabbath. 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:06.079 They're doing 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:06.819 what's unlawful. 00:17:07.500 --> 00:17:08.639 But Jesus doesn't say, 00:17:09.480 --> 00:17:09.759 well, 00:17:09.879 --> 00:17:10.399 actually, 00:17:11.059 --> 00:17:12.500 what they're doing 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:13.659 doesn't really qualify 00:17:13.659 --> 00:17:15.000 as harvesting grain, 00:17:15.099 --> 00:17:15.920 so it really doesn't 00:17:15.920 --> 00:17:16.740 qualify as work, 00:17:16.779 --> 00:17:17.460 so you really shouldn't 00:17:17.460 --> 00:17:18.119 count it as work, 00:17:18.180 --> 00:17:18.799 because technically, 00:17:19.159 --> 00:17:20.559 it doesn't count. 00:17:21.039 --> 00:17:21.779 He doesn't get into 00:17:21.779 --> 00:17:22.519 a technical debate. 00:17:22.619 --> 00:17:23.619 What he says is, 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:24.579 he gives an 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:26.579 unusual answer. 00:17:26.579 --> 00:17:28.460 So he refers to 00:17:28.460 --> 00:17:29.639 an incident in 00:17:29.639 --> 00:17:30.699 King David's life 00:17:30.699 --> 00:17:32.379 from 1 Samuel 21. 00:17:33.220 --> 00:17:33.960 David's men were 00:17:33.960 --> 00:17:35.659 hungry and 00:17:35.659 --> 00:17:37.539 didn't have 00:17:37.539 --> 00:17:38.619 anywhere else 00:17:38.619 --> 00:17:39.119 to get food. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:40.919 So he went to, 00:17:41.439 --> 00:17:42.240 he did something 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:43.039 that was technically 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.039 illegal against 00:17:45.039 --> 00:17:46.279 the law in order 00:17:46.279 --> 00:17:47.319 to provide for 00:17:47.319 --> 00:17:47.679 his men. 00:17:49.159 --> 00:17:49.859 Now you think, 00:17:49.919 --> 00:17:50.000 well, 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:50.819 why would Jesus 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.619 refer back to that? 00:17:51.679 --> 00:17:51.779 Well, 00:17:51.779 --> 00:17:52.639 he's basically saying, 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:52.799 well, 00:17:52.799 --> 00:17:53.720 if David can do 00:17:53.720 --> 00:17:54.059 that, 00:17:54.600 --> 00:17:55.380 so can I. 00:17:57.579 --> 00:17:58.420 But then step back, 00:17:58.460 --> 00:17:59.019 think about it. 00:18:00.000 --> 00:18:00.799 That's sort of like 00:18:00.799 --> 00:18:01.200 saying, 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:04.059 if President Obama 00:18:04.059 --> 00:18:07.440 can break the law 00:18:07.440 --> 00:18:10.400 to, you know, 00:18:10.460 --> 00:18:11.000 travel to an 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:11.680 important meeting, 00:18:12.600 --> 00:18:13.519 if he can break 00:18:13.519 --> 00:18:14.120 the speed limit 00:18:14.120 --> 00:18:14.759 on the highway 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.980 in the car that 00:18:15.980 --> 00:18:16.860 he's being driven in, 00:18:17.240 --> 00:18:18.100 then so can I. 00:18:19.839 --> 00:18:20.839 Of course not. 00:18:20.839 --> 00:18:23.799 Or the New Haven 00:18:23.799 --> 00:18:24.339 police. 00:18:25.159 --> 00:18:25.759 Sort of like saying, 00:18:25.819 --> 00:18:25.879 well, 00:18:25.899 --> 00:18:26.720 if the police 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.439 can turn on 00:18:28.439 --> 00:18:28.959 their sirens 00:18:28.959 --> 00:18:29.619 and go through 00:18:29.619 --> 00:18:30.139 red lights, 00:18:30.339 --> 00:18:31.019 I can too. 00:18:32.500 --> 00:18:32.859 No, 00:18:32.919 --> 00:18:33.459 you can't. 00:18:34.079 --> 00:18:34.759 Because you don't 00:18:34.759 --> 00:18:35.439 have that authority. 00:18:36.919 --> 00:18:37.759 The only way 00:18:37.759 --> 00:18:38.419 what Jesus says 00:18:38.419 --> 00:18:38.959 makes sense 00:18:38.959 --> 00:18:40.059 is if he's claiming 00:18:40.059 --> 00:18:40.819 to have more 00:18:40.819 --> 00:18:41.500 authority than 00:18:41.500 --> 00:18:41.980 King David. 00:18:42.819 --> 00:18:43.779 He says King David 00:18:43.779 --> 00:18:44.439 could do this. 00:18:45.599 --> 00:18:46.339 David could override 00:18:46.339 --> 00:18:46.779 the law 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:48.799 in this situation. 00:18:49.119 --> 00:18:49.699 So can I. 00:18:49.700 --> 00:18:51.840 Because I have 00:18:51.840 --> 00:18:52.460 even more authority 00:18:52.460 --> 00:18:52.920 than David. 00:18:54.319 --> 00:18:55.220 And then in verse 28 00:18:55.220 --> 00:18:56.440 he says the Son of Man, 00:18:56.799 --> 00:18:57.580 referring to himself, 00:18:57.960 --> 00:18:58.700 is the Lord 00:18:58.700 --> 00:18:59.720 even of the Sabbath. 00:19:01.200 --> 00:19:02.920 Now no Jewish teacher 00:19:02.920 --> 00:19:04.900 back then or today 00:19:04.900 --> 00:19:06.259 would ever say 00:19:06.259 --> 00:19:07.380 that. 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:09.940 Because God 00:19:09.940 --> 00:19:11.000 made the Sabbath. 00:19:12.039 --> 00:19:13.039 In the Old Testament 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:14.940 it says God set apart 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:15.880 the seventh day. 00:19:15.880 --> 00:19:19.360 It wasn't a human 00:19:19.360 --> 00:19:19.800 invention. 00:19:21.440 --> 00:19:22.160 God says keep 00:19:22.160 --> 00:19:23.260 my Sabbaths. 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:25.320 They're mine. 00:19:25.840 --> 00:19:26.620 The Lord's. 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.200 And so when Jesus 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:29.640 says I'm the Lord 00:19:29.640 --> 00:19:30.180 of the Sabbath, 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:34.620 what in the world 00:19:34.620 --> 00:19:35.220 is he saying? 00:19:35.940 --> 00:19:37.420 He's saying I'm God. 00:19:39.920 --> 00:19:40.640 You see why people, 00:19:40.640 --> 00:19:42.080 now do you start 00:19:42.080 --> 00:19:42.520 to see 00:19:42.520 --> 00:19:45.980 why people 00:19:45.980 --> 00:19:47.480 got mad at him? 00:19:48.960 --> 00:19:49.700 Because he wasn't 00:19:49.700 --> 00:19:50.360 just saying hey 00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.259 you should just relax 00:19:51.259 --> 00:19:51.780 a little bit 00:19:51.780 --> 00:19:52.460 and change the, 00:19:52.720 --> 00:19:53.300 make the rules 00:19:53.300 --> 00:19:54.380 a little bit more lenient. 00:19:55.080 --> 00:19:55.580 He was saying 00:19:55.580 --> 00:19:56.560 I'm in charge 00:19:56.560 --> 00:19:57.060 of this thing. 00:19:57.860 --> 00:19:58.960 I made this thing 00:19:58.960 --> 00:19:59.800 in the first place. 00:20:00.660 --> 00:20:01.720 I've come to do 00:20:01.720 --> 00:20:02.960 and be exactly 00:20:02.960 --> 00:20:03.660 what it was meant 00:20:03.660 --> 00:20:05.240 for. 00:20:06.340 --> 00:20:07.180 And he forces 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:07.680 the issue. 00:20:08.180 --> 00:20:08.740 Right in the next 00:20:08.740 --> 00:20:10.620 section he calls 00:20:10.620 --> 00:20:11.180 out this guy 00:20:11.180 --> 00:20:11.779 and says hey 00:20:11.779 --> 00:20:13.000 Tommy come on 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:13.359 up here. 00:20:14.859 --> 00:20:15.299 You don't have 00:20:15.299 --> 00:20:15.740 to come up here. 00:20:16.500 --> 00:20:18.059 Okay but literally 00:20:18.059 --> 00:20:18.839 it says stand 00:20:18.839 --> 00:20:19.279 in the middle. 00:20:19.720 --> 00:20:20.140 It's translated 00:20:20.140 --> 00:20:20.940 come here but he 00:20:20.940 --> 00:20:21.880 means he's saying 00:20:21.880 --> 00:20:22.839 stand up in the 00:20:22.839 --> 00:20:23.519 middle of the 00:20:23.519 --> 00:20:23.799 synagogue. 00:20:24.880 --> 00:20:26.240 And he challenges 00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:26.680 everyone. 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:27.700 He's like what's 00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:28.220 right here? 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:29.500 And then he goes 00:20:29.500 --> 00:20:30.240 and heals the man. 00:20:31.039 --> 00:20:31.539 You know if Jesus 00:20:31.539 --> 00:20:32.299 just wanted to heal 00:20:32.299 --> 00:20:34.059 the man he could 00:20:34.059 --> 00:20:34.579 have done so 00:20:34.579 --> 00:20:35.099 privately. 00:20:36.839 --> 00:20:37.960 Or the next day 00:20:37.960 --> 00:20:38.319 right? 00:20:38.380 --> 00:20:38.960 The man had the 00:20:38.960 --> 00:20:39.440 withered hand 00:20:39.440 --> 00:20:40.340 for a long time. 00:20:40.759 --> 00:20:41.319 One more day 00:20:41.319 --> 00:20:41.759 wouldn't have been 00:20:41.759 --> 00:20:42.340 a big deal. 00:20:43.559 --> 00:20:43.700 Right? 00:20:43.759 --> 00:20:44.720 Jesus is provoking 00:20:44.720 --> 00:20:46.079 the leaders 00:20:46.079 --> 00:20:48.519 because he claims 00:20:48.519 --> 00:20:49.299 authority over the 00:20:49.299 --> 00:20:49.579 Sabbath. 00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.340 We've seen this 00:20:51.340 --> 00:20:51.620 theme. 00:20:52.360 --> 00:20:52.440 Right? 00:20:52.460 --> 00:20:52.759 If you've been 00:20:52.759 --> 00:20:54.279 coming in the 00:20:54.279 --> 00:20:54.840 evening we've been 00:20:54.840 --> 00:20:55.360 looking at Jesus 00:20:55.360 --> 00:20:55.860 authority. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:20:57.180 Jesus authority 00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:58.319 over sickness. 00:20:58.519 --> 00:20:59.100 Jesus authority 00:20:59.100 --> 00:21:00.980 over evil spirits. 00:21:01.140 --> 00:21:01.720 Jesus authority 00:21:01.720 --> 00:21:02.740 in cleansing 00:21:02.740 --> 00:21:03.940 the unclean. 00:21:04.380 --> 00:21:05.519 In forgiving sins. 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:06.720 And in interpreting 00:21:06.720 --> 00:21:07.120 the law. 00:21:07.119 --> 00:21:07.639 And that's what 00:21:07.639 --> 00:21:08.779 threatened both 00:21:08.779 --> 00:21:09.479 the Pharisees 00:21:09.479 --> 00:21:10.239 and the Herodians. 00:21:10.339 --> 00:21:10.639 Because the 00:21:10.639 --> 00:21:11.779 Pharisees said 00:21:11.779 --> 00:21:13.199 we're in charge 00:21:13.199 --> 00:21:13.719 of religion. 00:21:13.879 --> 00:21:14.379 We want to be 00:21:14.379 --> 00:21:14.959 the religious 00:21:14.959 --> 00:21:15.619 authorities. 00:21:16.139 --> 00:21:16.839 And Jesus says 00:21:16.839 --> 00:21:19.059 I'm an authority 00:21:19.059 --> 00:21:19.379 there. 00:21:19.919 --> 00:21:20.919 And the Herodians 00:21:20.919 --> 00:21:21.879 say well we don't 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:22.579 really care about 00:21:22.579 --> 00:21:22.899 religion. 00:21:23.039 --> 00:21:23.759 We want to be 00:21:23.759 --> 00:21:24.259 the political 00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.779 authorities. 00:21:24.899 --> 00:21:25.419 And Jesus says 00:21:25.419 --> 00:21:26.039 I'm the authority 00:21:26.039 --> 00:21:26.699 over everything. 00:21:28.819 --> 00:21:29.579 Without any 00:21:29.579 --> 00:21:30.059 exceptions. 00:21:31.439 --> 00:21:32.139 And so both of 00:21:32.139 --> 00:21:33.279 them were threatened 00:21:33.279 --> 00:21:33.759 by that. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.900 But do you see 00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.799 Jesus isn't just 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.799 saying I'm in 00:21:38.799 --> 00:21:39.480 charge of this. 00:21:40.119 --> 00:21:41.279 What Jesus does 00:21:41.279 --> 00:21:42.500 is exactly what 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.059 the Sabbath was 00:21:43.059 --> 00:21:43.579 meant to do. 00:21:44.920 --> 00:21:45.740 The whole point 00:21:45.740 --> 00:21:46.319 of having a day 00:21:46.319 --> 00:21:48.119 of rest is to 00:21:48.119 --> 00:21:49.299 refresh people 00:21:49.299 --> 00:21:50.160 who are tired 00:21:50.160 --> 00:21:51.879 and to give 00:21:51.879 --> 00:21:53.279 restoration to 00:21:53.279 --> 00:21:53.799 people who are 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:54.200 broken. 00:21:54.200 --> 00:21:57.079 And to care 00:21:57.079 --> 00:21:57.619 for people. 00:21:57.619 --> 00:22:00.839 that's what 00:22:00.839 --> 00:22:01.379 Jesus does 00:22:01.379 --> 00:22:01.639 here. 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:02.879 Right? 00:22:02.979 --> 00:22:03.959 He heals 00:22:03.959 --> 00:22:05.239 the man who 00:22:05.239 --> 00:22:05.539 has the 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.219 withered hand. 00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.739 Isn't that a 00:22:07.739 --> 00:22:08.299 picture of what 00:22:08.299 --> 00:22:08.959 the Sabbath was 00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:09.519 meant to do? 00:22:10.239 --> 00:22:11.219 To take all the 00:22:11.219 --> 00:22:12.579 withered dried up 00:22:12.579 --> 00:22:13.159 parts of our 00:22:13.159 --> 00:22:14.959 life and bring 00:22:14.959 --> 00:22:15.739 them before God 00:22:15.739 --> 00:22:16.839 and give them 00:22:16.839 --> 00:22:17.399 life again. 00:22:18.719 --> 00:22:19.500 And the way he 00:22:19.500 --> 00:22:20.059 does it he just 00:22:20.059 --> 00:22:20.679 says a word. 00:22:20.819 --> 00:22:21.359 He says stretch 00:22:21.359 --> 00:22:22.059 out your hand. 00:22:23.079 --> 00:22:24.039 He doesn't touch 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.339 the guy. 00:22:24.439 --> 00:22:24.839 He doesn't actually 00:22:24.839 --> 00:22:25.559 do any work. 00:22:26.079 --> 00:22:26.779 He just says a 00:22:26.779 --> 00:22:27.179 word. 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.079 It's exactly 00:22:29.079 --> 00:22:29.639 like what God 00:22:29.639 --> 00:22:30.359 did in creation. 00:22:31.739 --> 00:22:32.659 God speaks a 00:22:32.659 --> 00:22:33.819 word and it 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.339 happens. 00:22:35.099 --> 00:22:35.559 And something 00:22:35.559 --> 00:22:36.259 beautiful comes 00:22:36.259 --> 00:22:36.659 to light. 00:22:41.519 --> 00:22:42.359 So the question 00:22:42.359 --> 00:22:42.939 is how do we 00:22:42.939 --> 00:22:43.719 respond to Jesus? 00:22:44.519 --> 00:22:44.919 It's not a 00:22:44.919 --> 00:22:46.099 question isn't how 00:22:46.099 --> 00:22:46.719 do you interpret 00:22:46.719 --> 00:22:47.539 the technical 00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.279 details of the 00:22:48.279 --> 00:22:49.279 Sabbath or other 00:22:49.279 --> 00:22:50.259 religious observances. 00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.739 The question is how 00:22:51.739 --> 00:22:52.459 do we respond to 00:22:52.459 --> 00:22:53.239 Jesus who claims to 00:22:53.239 --> 00:22:54.179 be the end all 00:22:54.179 --> 00:22:55.839 be all of them 00:22:55.839 --> 00:22:56.059 all. 00:22:56.059 --> 00:22:57.759 So let me 00:22:57.759 --> 00:22:58.299 challenge you. 00:23:00.440 --> 00:23:01.960 You can't stay 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:03.379 merely neutral 00:23:03.379 --> 00:23:04.539 about Jesus. 00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:06.440 Now maybe you're 00:23:06.440 --> 00:23:07.039 here for the first 00:23:07.039 --> 00:23:07.319 time. 00:23:07.419 --> 00:23:07.879 Maybe you're just 00:23:07.879 --> 00:23:08.980 starting to explore 00:23:08.980 --> 00:23:09.579 Christianity. 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.079 I encourage you to 00:23:11.079 --> 00:23:12.379 come back and keep 00:23:12.379 --> 00:23:12.720 learning. 00:23:13.439 --> 00:23:14.159 Ask questions. 00:23:14.779 --> 00:23:15.079 But you know 00:23:15.079 --> 00:23:17.000 eventually you must 00:23:17.000 --> 00:23:18.720 decide one way or 00:23:18.720 --> 00:23:20.099 the other about 00:23:20.099 --> 00:23:20.379 Jesus. 00:23:20.539 --> 00:23:22.099 He's either the 00:23:22.099 --> 00:23:22.960 Lord of everything 00:23:22.960 --> 00:23:24.519 as he claims to be. 00:23:25.359 --> 00:23:26.559 Otherwise he's lying 00:23:26.559 --> 00:23:29.539 or crazy and not 00:23:29.539 --> 00:23:30.019 trustworthy. 00:23:31.960 --> 00:23:33.079 If Jesus was just 00:23:33.079 --> 00:23:35.199 simply a wise man and 00:23:35.199 --> 00:23:36.619 nothing else he would 00:23:36.619 --> 00:23:38.459 never have said I'm 00:23:38.459 --> 00:23:38.979 the Lord of the 00:23:38.979 --> 00:23:39.239 Sabbath. 00:23:42.639 --> 00:23:45.059 Now finally for 00:23:45.059 --> 00:23:45.699 those of us who do 00:23:45.699 --> 00:23:47.419 follow Jesus let me 00:23:47.419 --> 00:23:48.159 conclude with two 00:23:48.159 --> 00:23:49.000 applications. 00:23:49.219 --> 00:23:49.719 Two things we can 00:23:49.719 --> 00:23:50.479 take away and we can 00:23:50.479 --> 00:23:51.279 talk more about these 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.819 in the Q&A. 00:23:52.759 --> 00:23:54.659 So first Jesus says in 00:23:54.659 --> 00:23:56.259 verse 27 the Sabbath 00:23:56.259 --> 00:23:57.639 was made for man. 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.679 In other words made 00:23:58.679 --> 00:23:59.159 for people. 00:24:00.500 --> 00:24:01.199 And you know the 00:24:01.199 --> 00:24:03.159 Sabbath is in the law 00:24:03.159 --> 00:24:04.279 but was also in 00:24:04.279 --> 00:24:05.920 instituted in creation. 00:24:06.680 --> 00:24:07.440 It's a good gift from 00:24:07.440 --> 00:24:08.379 God to all people. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:12.240 Now today we sort of 00:24:12.240 --> 00:24:13.000 live in the opposite 00:24:13.000 --> 00:24:14.319 kind of culture that 00:24:14.319 --> 00:24:15.039 they lived in back 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.240 then. 00:24:15.319 --> 00:24:16.220 Back then the culture 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.299 was dominated by the 00:24:17.299 --> 00:24:17.740 Pharisees. 00:24:17.799 --> 00:24:18.480 These conservative 00:24:18.480 --> 00:24:19.399 religious people who 00:24:19.399 --> 00:24:20.240 enforced lots and 00:24:20.240 --> 00:24:20.920 lots of rules on 00:24:20.920 --> 00:24:21.579 everybody else. 00:24:22.039 --> 00:24:23.399 Today we've sort of 00:24:23.399 --> 00:24:24.279 swung the other way. 00:24:25.240 --> 00:24:25.379 Right? 00:24:25.480 --> 00:24:27.119 Our culture is very 00:24:27.119 --> 00:24:28.240 much more secular. 00:24:28.619 --> 00:24:29.359 Much more pragmatic. 00:24:31.200 --> 00:24:32.440 And we have fewer 00:24:32.440 --> 00:24:33.740 and fewer boundaries 00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.779 in place in our 00:24:34.779 --> 00:24:35.700 culture that would 00:24:35.700 --> 00:24:37.660 promote any kind of 00:24:37.660 --> 00:24:38.279 Sabbath keeping. 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:38.720 Right? 00:24:39.019 --> 00:24:40.059 Stores are open today 00:24:40.059 --> 00:24:41.120 every day of the week. 00:24:41.559 --> 00:24:42.620 You can go online 00:24:42.620 --> 00:24:43.519 anytime you want. 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.299 Et cetera. 00:24:45.099 --> 00:24:46.279 So the question is 00:24:46.279 --> 00:24:47.859 are we pursuing and 00:24:47.859 --> 00:24:50.200 receiving God's gift 00:24:50.200 --> 00:24:51.380 of the Sabbath? 00:24:54.000 --> 00:24:54.740 You know do you think 00:24:54.740 --> 00:24:56.240 do you think this? 00:24:56.339 --> 00:24:57.240 Do you think you know 00:24:57.240 --> 00:24:58.500 maybe I don't really 00:24:58.500 --> 00:24:59.700 understand what that 00:24:59.700 --> 00:25:01.019 would be like to 00:25:01.019 --> 00:25:02.819 actually try to 00:25:02.819 --> 00:25:05.079 somehow take a day 00:25:05.079 --> 00:25:06.500 or some regular 00:25:06.500 --> 00:25:07.420 time every week 00:25:07.420 --> 00:25:08.079 for rest? 00:25:08.720 --> 00:25:09.500 But you know I 00:25:09.500 --> 00:25:11.879 really want to 00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.639 practice the Sabbath 00:25:12.639 --> 00:25:13.279 somehow because 00:25:13.279 --> 00:25:14.639 God's given it to me 00:25:14.639 --> 00:25:15.779 for my good. 00:25:16.779 --> 00:25:17.960 I really want to 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:19.460 take one day in 00:25:19.460 --> 00:25:20.720 seven if possible 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:22.099 to do no work. 00:25:23.480 --> 00:25:24.480 And to remember 00:25:24.480 --> 00:25:26.299 God created me 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:27.539 all by himself. 00:25:27.539 --> 00:25:29.059 and God sent 00:25:29.059 --> 00:25:29.839 Jesus and Jesus 00:25:29.839 --> 00:25:31.019 saved me all by 00:25:31.019 --> 00:25:31.799 himself and one day 00:25:31.799 --> 00:25:32.339 he's going to come 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:33.359 back and he's going 00:25:33.359 --> 00:25:34.059 to finish the work 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.480 he's done. 00:25:36.019 --> 00:25:36.940 I don't have to add 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.960 anything to it. 00:25:38.980 --> 00:25:39.720 Or do you just 00:25:39.720 --> 00:25:41.500 think oh no 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:43.059 I'm serving the 00:25:43.059 --> 00:25:43.359 Sabbath. 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.639 That sounds 00:25:44.639 --> 00:25:45.399 burdensome and 00:25:45.399 --> 00:25:46.220 restrictive and 00:25:46.220 --> 00:25:47.200 isn't there some 00:25:47.200 --> 00:25:48.099 reason why since 00:25:48.099 --> 00:25:48.819 we're Christians we 00:25:48.819 --> 00:25:49.559 don't have to obey 00:25:49.559 --> 00:25:50.159 that rule? 00:25:51.119 --> 00:25:51.619 But see if you're 00:25:51.619 --> 00:25:52.220 thinking that way 00:25:52.220 --> 00:25:52.639 then you've missed 00:25:52.639 --> 00:25:53.119 the point. 00:25:54.759 --> 00:25:55.420 The Sabbath is meant 00:25:55.420 --> 00:25:56.119 to be a good gift 00:25:56.119 --> 00:25:56.559 for us. 00:25:57.539 --> 00:25:58.420 Now I know it's 00:25:58.420 --> 00:25:58.899 complicated. 00:25:59.079 --> 00:25:59.599 I know that some 00:25:59.599 --> 00:26:00.139 of you are in 00:26:00.139 --> 00:26:00.960 situations where 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:03.159 you're required or 00:26:03.159 --> 00:26:04.019 expected to work 00:26:04.019 --> 00:26:04.779 seven days a week 00:26:04.779 --> 00:26:05.420 and you have no 00:26:05.420 --> 00:26:06.059 say in the matter. 00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.259 I understand that. 00:26:09.480 --> 00:26:10.159 We can talk about 00:26:10.159 --> 00:26:10.399 that. 00:26:11.420 --> 00:26:12.480 In biblical terms 00:26:12.480 --> 00:26:13.139 that would be called 00:26:13.139 --> 00:26:14.799 oppression actually. 00:26:15.500 --> 00:26:16.099 And you know most 00:26:16.099 --> 00:26:16.720 people in the world 00:26:16.720 --> 00:26:17.960 are oppressed in 00:26:17.960 --> 00:26:18.639 one way or other 00:26:18.639 --> 00:26:19.920 but you shouldn't 00:26:19.920 --> 00:26:20.500 choose to be 00:26:20.500 --> 00:26:21.839 oppressed when you 00:26:21.839 --> 00:26:22.480 don't have to be. 00:26:23.659 --> 00:26:24.740 So let me challenge 00:26:24.740 --> 00:26:25.119 you with that. 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.720 I'll leave it there. 00:26:25.799 --> 00:26:26.279 We can talk more 00:26:26.279 --> 00:26:26.659 about that. 00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.960 Second, so receive 00:26:28.960 --> 00:26:29.600 the Sabbath as a 00:26:29.600 --> 00:26:29.779 gift. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:32.720 But second, receive 00:26:32.720 --> 00:26:34.120 the spiritual meaning 00:26:34.120 --> 00:26:35.500 of the Sabbath that 00:26:35.500 --> 00:26:37.120 Jesus has come to 00:26:37.120 --> 00:26:37.460 fulfill. 00:26:39.160 --> 00:26:40.600 And Jesus made it 00:26:40.600 --> 00:26:41.880 and he embodies it. 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:43.259 He came to bring 00:26:43.259 --> 00:26:44.240 everything that the 00:26:44.240 --> 00:26:45.259 Sabbath was meant as 00:26:45.259 --> 00:26:46.940 a symbol to point 00:26:46.940 --> 00:26:47.460 forward to. 00:26:48.200 --> 00:26:49.340 He came to bring us 00:26:49.340 --> 00:26:51.480 rest from our 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:53.560 strivings to prove 00:26:53.560 --> 00:26:55.420 ourselves before God 00:26:55.420 --> 00:26:56.100 and before other 00:26:56.100 --> 00:26:56.420 people. 00:26:57.880 --> 00:26:59.380 When he died on the 00:26:59.380 --> 00:26:59.900 cross he said, 00:26:59.980 --> 00:27:00.400 it's done. 00:27:00.640 --> 00:27:01.279 It's finished. 00:27:02.640 --> 00:27:03.440 It's complete. 00:27:05.539 --> 00:27:06.539 You know, maybe you 00:27:06.539 --> 00:27:08.000 feel like the man in 00:27:08.000 --> 00:27:09.700 the synagogue with a 00:27:09.700 --> 00:27:10.300 withered hand. 00:27:11.300 --> 00:27:12.300 That there's some part 00:27:12.300 --> 00:27:12.920 of your life, 00:27:13.420 --> 00:27:14.320 whether it's physically 00:27:14.320 --> 00:27:16.259 or emotionally or 00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.820 spiritually, 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:18.600 that's just been 00:27:18.600 --> 00:27:20.279 withered and dried up. 00:27:20.279 --> 00:27:22.240 And no matter how 00:27:22.240 --> 00:27:22.899 hard you try, 00:27:23.299 --> 00:27:24.339 you can't bring it to 00:27:24.339 --> 00:27:24.839 life again. 00:27:26.180 --> 00:27:27.079 And Jesus invites you 00:27:27.079 --> 00:27:28.639 to stretch out your 00:27:28.639 --> 00:27:29.899 hand to him. 00:27:30.960 --> 00:27:33.059 And ask him to come 00:27:33.059 --> 00:27:34.940 and restore and bring 00:27:34.940 --> 00:27:36.899 life to that part of 00:27:36.899 --> 00:27:37.039 you. 00:27:40.480 --> 00:27:41.799 He's come to refresh 00:27:41.799 --> 00:27:43.740 and restore and heal. 00:27:43.740 --> 00:27:45.940 That's why Jesus has 00:27:45.940 --> 00:27:46.200 come. 00:27:47.000 --> 00:27:47.599 That's why he did 00:27:47.599 --> 00:27:48.259 these things on the 00:27:48.259 --> 00:27:48.519 Sabbath. 00:27:49.359 --> 00:27:50.460 To show us that he's 00:27:50.460 --> 00:27:51.700 all that the Sabbath 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.559 was ever meant to be. 00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.440 So let's pray. 00:28:01.799 --> 00:28:02.740 Lord Jesus, we pray 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:03.180 that you would 00:28:03.180 --> 00:28:06.400 help us to come to you 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:06.940 and rest 00:28:06.940 --> 00:28:07.579 tonight. 00:28:10.220 --> 00:28:11.240 And we pray that you 00:28:11.240 --> 00:28:12.859 would be here by your 00:28:12.859 --> 00:28:13.459 Holy Spirit, 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:15.500 that as that man in 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:15.959 the synagogue, 00:28:16.839 --> 00:28:17.719 experienced your 00:28:17.719 --> 00:28:19.579 restoring power, 00:28:19.879 --> 00:28:21.959 simply as you spoke 00:28:21.959 --> 00:28:22.679 a word to him. 00:28:24.319 --> 00:28:25.299 Lord, that your word 00:28:25.299 --> 00:28:28.119 would speak to us. 00:28:29.979 --> 00:28:30.939 Lord, that we might 00:28:30.939 --> 00:28:33.079 be restored and 00:28:33.079 --> 00:28:34.719 refreshed and 00:28:34.719 --> 00:28:36.919 encouraged and 00:28:36.919 --> 00:28:37.719 prepared for the work 00:28:37.719 --> 00:28:38.519 that you do call us 00:28:38.519 --> 00:28:38.839 to do. 00:28:40.219 --> 00:28:40.959 But Lord, that we 00:28:40.959 --> 00:28:41.519 might remember 00:28:41.519 --> 00:28:41.899 tonight. 00:28:42.859 --> 00:28:44.099 Lord, that we 00:28:44.099 --> 00:28:47.139 are saved by grace 00:28:47.139 --> 00:28:49.439 and not because of 00:28:49.439 --> 00:28:50.019 anything that we've 00:28:50.019 --> 00:28:50.259 done. 00:28:52.159 --> 00:28:52.839 Lord, that you've 00:28:52.839 --> 00:28:53.359 made us 00:28:53.359 --> 00:28:54.439 and you've 00:28:54.439 --> 00:28:55.099 redeemed us 00:28:55.099 --> 00:28:56.519 and you're 00:28:56.519 --> 00:28:57.479 completely sufficient 00:28:57.479 --> 00:28:59.319 to make us 00:28:59.319 --> 00:28:59.559 whole. 00:29:01.199 --> 00:29:02.000 So Lord, help us to 00:29:02.000 --> 00:29:02.659 rest in you tonight 00:29:02.659 --> 00:29:03.819 and every week. 00:29:04.039 --> 00:29:04.679 In Jesus' name, 00:29:05.000 --> 00:29:05.199 amen. 00:29:05.200 --> 00:29:05.299 Amen. 00:29:06.460 --> 00:29:06.840 A couple 00:29:06.840 --> 00:29:07.940 guidelines. 00:29:08.880 --> 00:29:09.500 Raise your hand if 00:29:09.500 --> 00:29:10.120 you have a question. 00:29:10.600 --> 00:29:11.240 State your question 00:29:11.240 --> 00:29:11.980 briefly and 00:29:11.980 --> 00:29:12.620 clearly. 00:29:12.759 --> 00:29:13.420 I'll try to repeat 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.019 it so everybody 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.559 can hear. 00:29:15.759 --> 00:29:17.140 If your question 00:29:17.140 --> 00:29:18.860 is maybe on a 00:29:18.860 --> 00:29:19.700 different topic, 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.680 I might say that 00:29:21.680 --> 00:29:22.180 it would be better 00:29:22.180 --> 00:29:22.799 to talk about it 00:29:22.799 --> 00:29:23.160 afterwards. 00:29:23.259 --> 00:29:23.860 I'd be happy to do 00:29:23.860 --> 00:29:24.140 that. 00:29:24.940 --> 00:29:25.860 But we'll try to 00:29:25.860 --> 00:29:27.019 keep to questions 00:29:27.019 --> 00:29:28.380 that are mostly 00:29:28.380 --> 00:29:29.360 focused on the 00:29:29.360 --> 00:29:30.000 passage here. 00:29:30.000 --> 00:29:32.559 So yeah, we've 00:29:32.559 --> 00:29:33.740 got about eight 00:29:33.740 --> 00:29:34.299 or ten minutes 00:29:34.299 --> 00:29:36.539 and then we'll 00:29:36.539 --> 00:29:37.180 end. 00:29:37.339 --> 00:29:38.140 So any 00:29:38.140 --> 00:29:38.500 questions? 00:29:41.380 --> 00:29:41.819 Elizabeth? 00:29:46.819 --> 00:29:47.839 Okay, Sabbath, 00:29:48.019 --> 00:29:48.279 yes. 00:29:48.660 --> 00:29:49.720 So literally it 00:29:49.720 --> 00:29:50.299 just means the 00:29:50.299 --> 00:29:50.960 seventh day 00:29:50.960 --> 00:29:55.480 or the day of 00:29:55.480 --> 00:29:55.859 rest. 00:29:58.599 --> 00:29:59.519 Which day is it? 00:29:59.519 --> 00:30:00.139 So in the Old 00:30:00.139 --> 00:30:01.539 Testament, it was 00:30:01.539 --> 00:30:02.619 from Friday night 00:30:02.619 --> 00:30:04.039 to Saturday night. 00:30:04.379 --> 00:30:05.039 That's the Jewish 00:30:05.039 --> 00:30:05.379 Sabbath. 00:30:06.319 --> 00:30:06.879 In the New 00:30:06.879 --> 00:30:09.299 Testament, so in 00:30:09.299 --> 00:30:09.900 the New Testament 00:30:09.900 --> 00:30:12.039 doesn't talk about 00:30:12.039 --> 00:30:13.839 a one particular 00:30:13.839 --> 00:30:14.859 day as the 00:30:14.859 --> 00:30:15.079 Sabbath. 00:30:15.220 --> 00:30:15.879 So it talks about 00:30:15.879 --> 00:30:17.579 Sunday as the 00:30:17.579 --> 00:30:19.579 Lord's Day when 00:30:19.579 --> 00:30:20.579 Christians meet 00:30:20.579 --> 00:30:21.379 together because we 00:30:21.379 --> 00:30:22.059 celebrate Jesus' 00:30:22.220 --> 00:30:22.619 resurrection. 00:30:23.460 --> 00:30:24.879 And for much of 00:30:24.879 --> 00:30:25.559 Christian history, 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:26.680 many Christians have 00:30:26.680 --> 00:30:28.180 tried to observe 00:30:28.180 --> 00:30:28.980 something like a 00:30:28.980 --> 00:30:29.500 day of rest, 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.259 rest on Sundays 00:30:30.259 --> 00:30:31.559 because that's 00:30:31.559 --> 00:30:32.379 when Jesus rose 00:30:32.379 --> 00:30:32.900 from the dead 00:30:32.900 --> 00:30:34.359 and so that's 00:30:34.359 --> 00:30:34.740 why we do 00:30:34.740 --> 00:30:34.980 that. 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.680 But it's not 00:30:38.680 --> 00:30:39.859 in some cultures, 00:30:40.099 --> 00:30:41.220 so Christians who 00:30:41.220 --> 00:30:41.680 live in the Middle 00:30:41.680 --> 00:30:43.539 East or in 00:30:43.539 --> 00:30:45.019 Muslim countries 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:46.139 often have 00:30:46.139 --> 00:30:47.539 Fridays off and 00:30:47.539 --> 00:30:48.079 they often meet 00:30:48.079 --> 00:30:48.619 for church on 00:30:48.619 --> 00:30:50.240 Fridays, which is 00:30:50.240 --> 00:30:50.759 when the Muslims 00:30:50.759 --> 00:30:51.359 meet for their 00:30:51.359 --> 00:30:52.220 prayer service. 00:30:52.700 --> 00:30:53.279 But that's the 00:30:53.279 --> 00:30:53.740 time when they 00:30:53.740 --> 00:30:54.460 can most conveniently 00:30:54.460 --> 00:30:55.180 meet together 00:30:55.180 --> 00:30:56.980 because most of 00:30:56.980 --> 00:30:57.480 them are required 00:30:57.480 --> 00:30:58.240 to work on Sunday 00:30:58.240 --> 00:30:58.680 and wouldn't be 00:30:58.680 --> 00:30:59.079 able to get 00:30:59.079 --> 00:30:59.599 around that. 00:31:00.019 --> 00:31:00.740 So I don't 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:01.400 think it's a 00:31:01.400 --> 00:31:03.400 command in the 00:31:03.400 --> 00:31:03.819 New Testament 00:31:03.819 --> 00:31:04.660 that we must 00:31:04.660 --> 00:31:05.420 meet on Sunday 00:31:05.420 --> 00:31:06.019 and not on any 00:31:06.019 --> 00:31:06.579 other day of the 00:31:06.579 --> 00:31:06.859 week. 00:31:07.240 --> 00:31:08.500 But I think it 00:31:08.500 --> 00:31:09.099 is appropriate 00:31:09.099 --> 00:31:10.940 when we can, 00:31:11.500 --> 00:31:12.259 when it's possible 00:31:12.259 --> 00:31:13.120 to meet on Sundays 00:31:13.120 --> 00:31:16.059 because Jesus rose 00:31:16.059 --> 00:31:16.640 from the dead on 00:31:16.640 --> 00:31:17.500 that day and 00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:18.559 because that's 00:31:18.559 --> 00:31:19.839 such a defining 00:31:19.839 --> 00:31:20.900 event for 00:31:20.900 --> 00:31:21.519 Christians. 00:31:21.519 --> 00:31:34.940 it's a 00:31:35.940 --> 00:31:37.000 v gruddle. 00:31:46.400 --> 00:31:47.440 Yes. 00:31:47.440 --> 00:31:50.440 It's a particular day when God gives you us. 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:53.100 You choose your Wednesdays and your other day. 00:31:53.519 --> 00:31:53.779 Yeah. 00:31:54.200 --> 00:31:57.080 So for me as a pastor, I have to work every Sunday. 00:31:58.000 --> 00:32:02.559 And so I take Mondays as my Sabbath. 00:32:02.680 --> 00:32:03.600 I'm able to do that. 00:32:03.840 --> 00:32:06.140 I try to take that as my day of rest. 00:32:07.740 --> 00:32:13.019 Again, you know, this, it's not always easy to do. 00:32:13.019 --> 00:32:23.240 So in college, sometimes I would try to take from Saturday night to Sunday evening and then sort of do the sunset to sunset idea. 00:32:24.460 --> 00:32:29.220 Again, I don't think we have to focus on the technical details. 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:32.879 I think part of what Jesus is saying is not so much about the technical details. 00:32:33.059 --> 00:32:36.759 It's about the meaning. 00:32:37.019 --> 00:32:38.339 The spiritual meaning is more important. 00:32:38.339 --> 00:32:47.299 But I think taking some time, you know, if you have to work on Sunday, I'd encourage you, you know, is there another day of the week that you can take? 00:32:47.699 --> 00:32:53.720 Or can you take, you know, part of Sunday and part of the next day, part of Saturday and Sunday morning or whatever? 00:32:55.939 --> 00:32:59.199 Again, I think the day that you take is much less important. 00:32:59.319 --> 00:33:07.339 I think setting apart some time every week for that rest and to worship God is the most crucial thing. 00:33:07.339 --> 00:33:09.899 And I think that might look different at different stages of life. 00:33:09.980 --> 00:33:12.279 So my wife and I have a three-year-old and a one-year-old. 00:33:12.819 --> 00:33:13.959 Okay, so tomorrow is a holiday. 00:33:14.539 --> 00:33:16.779 So our three-year-old does not have his preschool. 00:33:17.599 --> 00:33:20.959 So I'm supposed to be taking a day of rest. 00:33:21.059 --> 00:33:23.099 But my wife hasn't been feeling well. 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.859 I don't know how restful tomorrow will feel. 00:33:25.019 --> 00:33:26.399 Like, that's just life. 00:33:26.859 --> 00:33:28.500 You know, life intervenes. 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:33.799 But I'm going to, you know, trust the Lord and receive what he gives me. 00:33:34.099 --> 00:33:42.440 And so I think that's, it'll look different at different times of life. 00:33:44.839 --> 00:33:45.279 Yes? 00:33:45.640 --> 00:33:47.279 Does it mean that God rested? 00:33:47.859 --> 00:33:49.000 Does it mean that God rested? 00:33:49.119 --> 00:33:49.380 Yes. 00:33:49.380 --> 00:33:49.460 Yes. 00:33:50.900 --> 00:33:58.040 So I think it's the idea of God enjoying his creation, taking delight in what he had made. 00:33:58.840 --> 00:33:59.240 Right? 00:33:59.340 --> 00:34:02.980 In the days of the creation story, right? 00:34:03.020 --> 00:34:07.280 He's creating things during this six-day pattern. 00:34:07.820 --> 00:34:10.640 And then the seventh day he rested. 00:34:10.639 --> 00:34:19.699 And I think, actually, that seventh day, it wasn't just that God rested on the seventh day and then started creating all over again the next day. 00:34:20.319 --> 00:34:26.079 That seventh day actually seems to be a much longer day. 00:34:26.440 --> 00:34:27.819 It's not a 24-hour day. 00:34:27.940 --> 00:34:30.279 I'm not sure the other days are either. 00:34:30.279 --> 00:34:38.519 But the seventh, when it says God rested on the seventh day, it means he had completed his work of creation. 00:34:38.519 --> 00:34:44.099 And it says that he invites us to enter into his rest. 00:34:45.239 --> 00:34:54.900 So actually in Hebrews, which we'll be looking at in a couple weeks in the morning service, it talks about entering into the Sabbath rest that God has prepared for us as his people to share with him. 00:34:57.059 --> 00:34:58.820 So, and one other interesting comparison. 00:34:58.820 --> 00:35:06.539 So there were some other stories about the gods creating the world back in the day when Moses lived. 00:35:06.539 --> 00:35:17.539 And some of them said the gods created people so that people could be slave labor for them while they got to rest. 00:35:17.820 --> 00:35:26.079 So basically, in these other pagan religions, the idea was that the gods make us to do their work for them so they can rest. 00:35:26.079 --> 00:35:31.059 And the idea in the Bible is that God has everything he needs all by himself. 00:35:31.259 --> 00:35:33.400 So he doesn't need us to do his work for him. 00:35:33.840 --> 00:35:35.840 He can finish his work all by himself. 00:35:36.179 --> 00:35:37.099 And he does. 00:35:37.579 --> 00:35:40.619 And then he invites us actually to share in that rest with him. 00:35:41.139 --> 00:35:43.619 So he's perfectly sufficient in himself. 00:35:43.880 --> 00:35:49.119 And he generously offers us to receive from his sufficiency. 00:35:49.119 --> 00:35:54.119 So I think that's an amazing thing. 00:35:55.059 --> 00:35:55.759 It's a beautiful thing. 00:35:59.339 --> 00:36:04.239 So it sounds like what you're saying is it's been the Sabbath day ever since creation? 00:36:06.739 --> 00:36:08.059 The Sabbath you mean? 00:36:08.880 --> 00:36:13.480 Well, in a second you said, so on the seventh day God rested. 00:36:13.480 --> 00:36:19.260 And that rest has never ended. 00:36:19.820 --> 00:36:21.079 So would you say it's still? 00:36:21.579 --> 00:36:23.360 Yeah, is it still the seventh day? 00:36:24.699 --> 00:36:27.740 So I think it's maybe symbolically used in the Bible. 00:36:27.820 --> 00:36:30.199 So in some sense, in one sense I would say yes. 00:36:31.199 --> 00:36:33.179 It's been the seventh day ever since creation. 00:36:33.800 --> 00:36:39.400 The only thing I would say there is that on the first day of the week, Jesus rose from the dead. 00:36:39.400 --> 00:36:44.420 And it talks about Jesus' resurrection as his work of new creation. 00:36:45.420 --> 00:36:50.940 So in one sense, yeah, God finished creating the world a long time ago. 00:36:51.559 --> 00:36:56.260 And it's continued to, you know, he continues to sustain it and develop it. 00:36:58.440 --> 00:36:59.960 And so he finished it back then. 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:03.380 But then the world, right, what happened? 00:37:03.480 --> 00:37:06.139 Well, we turned away from God and fell into sin. 00:37:06.500 --> 00:37:07.579 And the world became a mess. 00:37:07.579 --> 00:37:11.360 And so Jesus came to do a work of new creation. 00:37:11.920 --> 00:37:15.360 And in his resurrection, it was the first day of God's new creation. 00:37:17.179 --> 00:37:22.539 And so, but it also talks about us still entering into God's rest. 00:37:22.619 --> 00:37:24.279 So it's a little bit of a mixed metaphor, I think. 00:37:26.059 --> 00:37:32.000 We're both part of God's new creation work and we're invited to enter into his Sabbath rest. 00:37:32.460 --> 00:37:33.739 I think we got both of those at once. 00:37:35.239 --> 00:37:36.239 All right, last question. 00:37:37.239 --> 00:37:37.539 Chris. 00:37:37.579 --> 00:37:41.199 Does the phrase son of man connect the two stories? 00:37:41.920 --> 00:37:44.699 Does the phrase son of man connect the two stories? 00:37:45.799 --> 00:37:49.480 Yeah, so Jesus refers to himself as the son of man in verse 28. 00:37:50.719 --> 00:37:56.099 And let's see, I don't think he refers to himself in the chapter 3 part. 00:37:56.259 --> 00:38:01.519 But I think that's the central claim that Jesus is making here, that he's the Lord of the Sabbath. 00:38:01.519 --> 00:38:05.980 And that both of these stories and what Jesus does reflects that. 00:38:05.980 --> 00:38:09.599 In healing the man and restoring him. 00:38:09.599 --> 00:38:14.740 And also defending his disciples, caring for his disciples when they were hungry and in need. 00:38:14.739 --> 00:38:19.279 You know, that's what Jesus does for us. 00:38:19.280 --> 00:38:22.780 Let me just end with this thought. 00:38:22.780 --> 00:38:25.980 Because it really struck me this week. 00:38:25.980 --> 00:38:30.000 You know, Jesus' disciples were the ones who were picking some grain and snacking on it. 00:38:30.320 --> 00:38:31.679 But Jesus stands up for them. 00:38:31.760 --> 00:38:32.360 He defends them. 00:38:32.360 --> 00:38:36.599 And he defends us when we're wrongly accused by others. 00:38:36.700 --> 00:38:45.500 And so if other people have accused you and you were not at all at fault, Jesus is your defender. 00:38:45.500 --> 00:38:47.219 If you trust in him. 00:38:48.000 --> 00:38:50.400 And he hears every word that they have said. 00:38:51.059 --> 00:38:53.300 And he sees everything that you did and that they did. 00:38:53.440 --> 00:38:54.420 And he knows the truth. 00:38:55.260 --> 00:38:57.420 And one day, the truth will come to light. 00:38:58.380 --> 00:38:59.900 And so don't be afraid. 00:39:00.739 --> 00:39:04.960 And don't get really mad and try to throw it back in their face when they do that to you. 00:39:06.000 --> 00:39:07.460 But trust that you have a defender. 00:39:08.440 --> 00:39:09.699 Who's going to stick up for you. 00:39:10.539 --> 00:39:12.559 And he has stuck up for you and he will in the future. 00:39:14.480 --> 00:39:14.840 All right. 00:39:14.840 --> 00:39:17.200 Let me end with a few announcements. 00:39:18.320 --> 00:39:19.440 Look at your bulletin. 00:39:19.600 --> 00:39:20.440 There's a lot of... 00:39:20.440 --> 00:39:23.280 You got an extra large bulletin this week. 00:39:23.400 --> 00:39:25.059 Because there's lots of exciting stuff coming up. 00:39:25.160 --> 00:39:27.039 I'm just going to run through stuff real quick. 00:39:27.620 --> 00:39:30.420 If you're a woman, there is a fall dessert. 00:39:31.079 --> 00:39:32.260 Elizabeth is hosting it. 00:39:32.400 --> 00:39:33.440 Elizabeth is right back there. 00:39:33.539 --> 00:39:34.340 If you can raise your hand. 00:39:34.840 --> 00:39:41.460 If you have questions or want to meet her or need a ride, you can talk to her or contact Emily. 00:39:41.579 --> 00:39:43.720 Who's also one of the other contacts for that. 00:39:43.719 --> 00:39:45.480 It's next Tuesday. 00:39:45.599 --> 00:39:47.039 Not this week, but following Tuesday. 00:39:47.039 --> 00:39:48.319 If you... 00:39:48.320 --> 00:39:50.120 From here today. 00:39:50.120 --> 00:39:51.760 We're going to hear you from the other family. 00:39:51.800 --> 00:39:52.460 You can do any further along. 00:39:52.840 --> 00:39:55.519 If you're going to have a room with the USA, I need a few questions for those. 00:39:55.559 --> 00:39:56.780 We've got some new ideas. 00:39:56.820 --> 00:39:58.220 We go to theão Bus. 00:39:58.220 --> 00:39:58.720 We're almost eating a bit later. 00:39:58.780 --> 00:39:59.860 We're going to be on the other side.