Devotional from Nicole Sitter
“One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.””
Mark 2:23-28 NIV
“Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 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. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 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. He looked around 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. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.”
Mark 3:1-6 NIV
Jesus claimed to be able to forgive sins and the religious leaders called it blasphemy. Of course Jesus would point out the flaws in their take on the laws on the Sabbath. I love that He did this because it shows us who He is and what His heart is like. It is so easy for us to get wrapped up in following the rules that we miss the point of who Jesus is. We are nothing with out Him.
I’m reminded of what we learned in our reading a couple of weeks ago about the difference between mercy and grace.
Mercy – you don’t get what you deserve.
Grace – you get what you don’t deserve.
All of us are in need of a Savior and we have that in Jesus and the finish work of the cross. Nothing that we have done or can do can change that. He did it not us. No rules that we follow can help us if we don’t have Jesus. I’m so thankful that we have the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God. We are His and we have the opportunity to share that with others. So, when we close out the service with Cornerstone let us boldly proclaim
My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
And I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly trust in Jesus name.