Forever Home in the Eternal Family of God

Daily Encouragement for the Family of God by Kenton Cheek

6 October 2024

Reading From Mark 2

“One Sabbath day as Jesus was walking through some grainfields, his disciples began breaking off heads of grain to eat. But the Pharisees said to Jesus, “Look, why are they breaking the law by harvesting grain on the Sabbath?”

Jesus said to them, “Haven’t you ever read in the Scriptures what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He went into the house of God (during the days when Abiathar was high priest) and broke the law by eating the sacred loaves of bread that only the priests are allowed to eat. He also gave some to his companions.”

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 2:23-28

     This interaction between Jesus, His disciples and the Pharisees tells us so much about how stifling and toxic religion can be.  The friends of Jesus were hungry and it wasn’t as though they were performing heavy labor on the Sabbath, but merely plucking heads of grain off as they walked along.  These Pharisees valued the Law above people. 

The Lord (who Himself wrote the Law through Moses and therefore is certainly the highest authority on its nature and interpretation) gave an apt historical example of David feeding himself and his mighty men gaining sustenance from the showbread in the Tabernacle.  Jesus values people above the Law.  The Sabbath was made for us to find rest, relaxation, and refreshment in worshipping the Lord. 

“Lord Jesus, I pray that we would seek wisdom and balance in living out the principles of Your Word.  May we obey You out of love and not dry ritual and lifeless religion.”

But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

–Titus 3:4-7