The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath."

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.

- Mark 2:23-3:6

In yesterday's reading, we learned that Jesus calls to Himself tax collectors as apostles (Levi, or Matthew) and that He sits at table with many tax collectors and sinners, together with His disciples. The Pharisees and scribes are scandalized at this behavior. Jesus tells them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." Later on the disciples of both John the Baptist and the Pharisees were fasting, and they asked why Jesus and His disciples do not. Jesus tells them that while they have the bridegroom with them, the friends don't fast. When He is gone, then His friends will fast. And He teaches, "No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old; and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins."

Now it happened that He went through the grainfields on the Sabbath; and as they went His disciples began to pluck the heads of grain. And the Pharisees said to Him, "Look, why do they do what is not lawful on the Sabbath?" My study bible says that this is not lawful because it was considered work, and a violation of the Sabbath-rest. It continues, "'Pharisaism' is a very real danger for all. Rules for religious practice are not bad in themselves, but when adherence to those rules triumphs over mercy and human need, the practice leads people away from God, not toward Him." The Pharisees are perhaps inadvertently asking important questions. Is religious practice really a matter of following rules? How do we regulate our behavior and why?

But He said to them, "Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him: how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the showbread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" My study bible notes that "Abiathar was appointed high priest during David's reign (1 Sam. 23:6-11). His father, Ahimelech, provided David and his men, who were starving, with holy bread intended for priests only (1 Sam. 21:1-6)." Interestingly, Jesus finds a previous exception to the rule; in this case David himself and his men provide a "violation." There are times when it is necessary to read the intention of the Law in order to interpret it correctly. Mercy must be a factor in the interpretation of how best to serve Creator, God who is love.

And He said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath." My study bible refers us to a similar saying that is found in rabbinical literature: "The Sabbath has been given unto you; you have not been given unto the Sabbath." But, it notes that Jesus is only putting what He teaches into practice, "interpreting the Law with authority. Only God can say He is Lord of the Sabbath." Already Jesus has pointed out to the Pharisees and scribes that He has the power, as Son of Man, "on earth" to forgive sins. He has also performed signs of healing that indicate the presence of the Father at work. Now he declares the Sabbath and all of God's law is to minister to mankind, and He as incarnate divinity is Lord of the Sabbath. Son of Man is a title that scholars have interpreted in various ways - but Jesus uses it as a definitive title, and clearly in reference to Himself. He emphasizes His humanity, while continuing to refrain from openly confirming divinity - rather He expresses His divinity through His attributes of forgiveness, healing, preaching and interpretation of the Law. To perceive the reality of His Person is something which each must find through faith.

And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, "Step forward." Then He said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they kept silent. My study bible says that "Jesus is motivated by compassion. He does not deny Sabbath traditions, but teaches that it is more important to do good on the Sabbath than to maintain the strict observance of Sabbath rest. The religious leaders are motivated by zeal for the rigid performance of rabbinic tradition; for them outward performance is more important than doing good. The two perspectives are incompatible." Jesus has said that He has come to save and to heal ("Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I did not come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance.") As Son of Man, He is incarnate as one of us, in order to serve, to love, to provide us with what we need, to nurture with spiritual food, and all that may imply of abundant life. Just as the Sabbath was made for man, so life-giving is the emphasis of the Lord. Healing was legal on the Sabbath only if a person's life was in danger. But for Jesus, life-giving takes on many dimensions and sustenance many forms.

And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. It's really important that we understand His compassion. Mark teaches us that Jesus is angry and grieved by the hardness of their hearts, the lack of compassion for the man with the withered hand. What good is serving God, if that service does not love and heal mankind? How is it pleasing to God not to heal? Can that be truly holy?

Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him. A note reads, "In their anger and self-deception, the Pharisees believe that in order to serve God, they must collaborate with their enemies, the Herodians, to murder the One who is the true Servant of God." The Herodians, of course, are the followers of Herod's court. They are allied with the one who will put John the Baptist to death.

Battle lines are drawn. Jesus has violated the Law which is zealously guarded by the Pharisees and scribes and He has crossed one line too many. Let us look to the point of today's gospel and let the lesson not be lost on us. This isn't a story about what took place 2,000 years ago, nor a mere history lesson, but a lesson for us to teach us about today. What do we learn from this lesson about compassion? About doing good, true service and the nature of God and God's love for man? Do we come up against circumstances today that require us to think outside of the rules in order to better serve and nurture? If our rules do not teach us about God's love and compassion and essential life-giving sustenance, then how do they help? Better yet, how will they serve God and God's purposes? Let us think, then, about how we conduct ourselves as Christians and what we do to serve the purpose of life-giving. How do we express God's love? What is truly healing and nurturing? A broken humanity still needs God's help and God's love, and those who would serve must remember compassion. This will never change, and God's love will always be needed - and God's servants to remember that need.