Luke Experience The Beginning Of Jesus’ Ministry Sample

Jesus: Radical Lord of the Sabbath

The Pharisees are always at odds with Jesus and his radical approach to living. It seems they lurk around to nitpick at Jesus’s every action, judging him by the Law and holding him to standards they themselves cannot keep. 

Jesus demonstrates that many in his audience held a misguided view of the Sabbath. What they do not realize is that Jesus, the Messiah, is Lord of the Sabbath. This means he is the ultimate interpreter of its meaning and, as Lord of all, Jesus has power and authority to heal and to cast out evil spirits, however and whenever he chooses. This truth shocked his audience. 

We will never understand God or relate to him correctly if we only see Jesus as an ethical teacher or prophet. Jesus's ethical teachings are grounded in who he is – the Son of God. Such teachings originated with him, and it is Jesus who gives them their meaning. 

The Pharisees could not move away from the restricting laws they practiced long enough to see Jesus's point of view. Jesus tries to help them understand that when their laws produce results that are contrary to God’s teachings, it is time to reevaluate them. He wanted them to reevaluate how they made sense of the Law. 

As a case in point, before healing a man in the temple on the Sabbath, Jesus poses this question of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law: “On the Sabbath should we do good deeds or evil deeds? Should we save someone’s life or destroy it?” (Luke 6:9). The group remains silent, perhaps realizing that any answer they give would make them appear foolish in front of the people or point out their lack of compassion. 

Reflect

Do you hold on to meaningless tradition or practices even though they tend to hurt or ostracize others? Is your mindset different from that of the Pharisees? 

Pray

Jesus, we acknowledge you as Lord of the Sabbath, and give you praise for being Lord over all things. 

Respond 

Confess to Jesus any patterns in your lifestyle that are contrary to God’s teachings. 

Jesus, help me to make love my guide as I interpret your teachings.