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WHEN THE disciples plucked and ate corn (wheat) on the Sabbath, the Pharisees again complain to Jesus: “Behold, why do they on the Sabbath day that which is not lawful?”
The Spirit of God is pleased to leave us the record of this conversation because it reminds us, as the Lord answered them, that “The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.” vs. 27-28. The time of Israel’s privilege, during which the Sabbath was part of the ordinances, was about to end. God was to put His earthly people aside for a period because of their disobedience, and Christianity would be the testimony in the world.
It is important for all to remember that the Sabbath was directly connected with the law and had its rightful place in the Old Testament order of things. When God, as Creator, brought forth a world of perfect creation in the opening of Genesis, He rested on the seventh day from His work and gave that day a special place — identifying it later as a day of rest for His earthly people. We will find this confirmed and directly connected with the work of creation in Exodus 20:8-118Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 9Six days shalt thou labor, and do all thy work: 10But the seventh day is the sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 11For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it. (Exodus 20:8‑11) when the law was given to Moses to communicate to the people and a special blessing given to this seventh day of the week (a reminder of God’s completeness in the work of creation). This, however, was all in connection with earthly ordinances.
As we have already noticed, the Lord has now set that law aside because of man’s failure to keep it (He Himself alone fulfilling every jot and tittle; Matt. 5:1818For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. (Matthew 5:18)). As our verses in Mark remind us, it is no longer appropriate for His heavenly people redeemed by His shed blood on Calvary — to have the Sabbath in reverence, but rather the first day of the week to which He, as the Lord of the Sabbath, has now given a special character.
We remember, of course, that Christ rose from the dead — not on the Sabbath — but on the first day of the week. His faithful followers are thereafter found observing that day. For example, in John 20:1919Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace be unto you. (John 20:19) we read: “Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst...” Again, in the opening verses of Acts 2, the Holy Spirit comes upon the believers on the day of Pentecost, and this is also the first day of the week. Another reference helpful to us is in Acts 20:77And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. (Acts 20:7): “And upon the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread...” There are many other scriptural references of this kind. The Apostle John calls the first day of the week “the Lord’s day” in Revelation 1:1010I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, (Revelation 1:10), and it is nice to hear believers give it this distinction, is it not?
“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John 1:1717For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. (John 1:17). He is now seeking those who will come to Him in faith and thereafter walk after Him in obedience of heart and not the letter of the law.
Memory Verse: “AND AS MOSES LIFTED UP THE SERPENT IN THE WILDERNESS, EVEN SO MUST THE SON OF MAN BE LIFTED UP; THAT WHOSOEVER BELIEVETH IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH, BUT HAVE ETERNAL, LIFE.” John 3:14, 1514And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up: 15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life. (John 3:14‑15).
ML-05/26/1963