Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
February 24, 2023: SOAP #4831: Numbers 14-16; Mark 3

SCRIPTURE:  Mark (NIV) 3:1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked round at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

OBSERVATION:  Of this same Jesus, John wrote: “All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made.”  (John 1:3)   Later Paul wrote:  For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:  (Colossians 1:16)

With all the above verses in mind, we see the irony of the religious leaders trying to catch the Creator of the Sabbath doing something wrong on the Sabbath!  If anyone has the authority to teach about the Sabbath, it is Jesus!  As Creator, He knows what we need, so He provides the Sabbath. 

APPLICATION: Like we read yesterday in Mark 2:27 that man was not created so there would be someone to honor the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was created for man’s benefit.  The Sabbath was created to be a blessing to man, and Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath!  (Mark 2:28) 

I need to carefully listen to the words of Jesus and follow His example. 

PRAYER:   Thank you, Lord of the Sabbath, for times and seasons of rest.  Thank you for providing measurements for time, i.e. morning and evening, days and weeks, months and years, and seasons.  In this, Your wisdom is easily seen.  Amen.

Pastor Leon
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