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Jesus is Lord of The Sabbath (Mark 2:23-28)

Dec 10, 2025 By: Elias Adamo Topic: Sermon Devotional Series: The Gospel of Mark Scripture: Mark 2:23-28

We’ve come to the 4th controversy that the Pharisees had with Jesus because He was violating their traditions. This controversy and the next one, which culminated with them plotting to kill him, have to do with violating their rules for the Sabbath. The Sabbath identified the Old Testament people of God with Yahweh. He declared it a day of rest and worship for His people. It also served as a sign that pointed to the rest that God gave his people when he delivered them from slavery in Egypt and brought them to the promised land. The people of God were to rest on the Sabbath day from all their physical work, as God rested from the work of creation on the 7th day. This demonstrated their trust in God as their creator and provider. This was codified in the 10 commandments. Violating the 4th commandment by working on the Sabbath was punishable by death. The Pharisees saw Jesus’ disciples plucking heads of grain and eating them on the Sabbath. According to their traditions, this was considered a violation of the Sabbath. 

Jesus responds to their accusation by giving them an illustration from the life of David to show that the Sabbath was intended by God to be a mercy and not bondage, a blessing and not a burden.  And He ends this dialogue on the Sabbath by telling them: “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.” This was nothing short of a declaration of His deity and divine authority. He was essentially saying that as the Son of God, He determines what is lawful and unlawful on the Sabbath and not they and their man-made rules. 

As you read this passage, consider the following questions:

  1. According to Col 2:16-17, the Sabbath was a shadow pointing to Christ. What are some of the ways that we find our rest in Christ? (cf. Matt 11:28ff)
  2. How does faith in Christ secure for us an eternal rest with God in the future? (cf. Heb 4:9-10)
  3. As you think back on what the Sabbath day represented in the OT, how does the Lord’s Day resemble that?
  4. If the Lord’s Day is to be a foretaste of our eternal rest, what kind of priority should we give it in our lives?

May the Lord refresh us and give us joy in His presence this Lord’s Day.