THE SABBATH (a reminder)

Exodus 31:14-17

You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community.

You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death.

The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time.

It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’”

The day of rest of the Lord, is the Sabbath and just as we see in Exodus 31, the Lord reminds the children of Israel that they must keep the sabbath day, the penalty for flouting it was death!

Now we would understand why the teachers of the law observed Jesus on the sabbath day waiting for him to perform a miracle that they may jump on him to arrest, then kill him.

Mark 3:1-2

Jesus went into the synagogue again and noticed a man with a deformed hand.

Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus’ enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

I love the question Jesus asked them:

Mark 3:3-6

Jesus said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.”

Then he turned to his critics and asked, “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?” But they wouldn’t answer him.

He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored!

At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.

Today the contention is not really what can be done on the Sabbath day but on which day is the Sabbath. If the current calendar fits with what it had been in bible times the sixth day should be a Saturday.

This is so important to some that they believe those who will inherit God's kingdom are those who keep the sabbath day or do I say the saturday.

We remember this:

John 1:18

No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. (talking of Christ Jesus)

Thus, it is Christ who gives us the true revelation of the Father and the accurate interpretation of His laws.

What did Jesus say?

Matthew 12:6-8

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!”

Mark 2:27-28

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!”

What did Christ reveal through Paul:

Colossians 2:16-17

So don’t let anyone condemn you for what you eat or drink, or for not celebrating certain holy days or new moon ceremonies or Sabbaths.

For these rules are only shadows of the reality yet to come. And Christ himself is that reality.

This everyone ought to know and thus act accordingly either to condemnation or to truth. For we must understand that all that happened before Christ was revealed, were shadows of things to come, Christ was the fulfilment of all things. He is the Heavenly Father revealed.

Yes people seek physical things/practices to do or observe to make them feel holy or acceptable to God. Listen to scriptures again

For God is Spirit and those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit. (John 4:24)

It is NOT "the day" or "the place" we worship but the Heavenly Father we worship and His worship can only be true if it is in Christ Jesus. Selah

Even more absurd is certain days and rituals created by some sects even in the church and they tie attributes to it and have convinced some that they must follow those practices, ordinances or sacraments to get eternal life. This is NOT true. It is a contradiction of scriptures and what Christ came to do. For Christ is all in all.

1 Timothy 4:1-5

Now the Holy Spirit tells us clearly that in the last times some will turn away from the true faith; they will follow deceptive spirits and teachings that come from demons.

These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead.

They will say it is wrong to be married and wrong to eat certain foods. But God created those foods to be eaten with thanks by faithful people who know the truth.

Since everything God created is good, we should not reject any of it but receive it with thanks.

For we know it is made acceptable by the word of God and prayer.

Christ came to set people free, what denominations, religion or sects can put people in bondage again? God forbid.

May the Lord reveal His truth to the willing and searching heart.

Worship the Lord continually, do NOT get roped in the bondage of the law and legalism, understand that Christ is the fulfilment of the law.

Glory to God.

He calls us blessed.

Love

@the watcher