Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath
Matthew 12:1-14, Mark 2:23-3:6, Luke 6:1-11, John 5:1-17
In these passages Jesus makes striking claims; that He is the Greater Temple, He is the Son of Man, and He is the Lord of the Sabbath. The temple was the place God’s presence dwelled. Israel's priests offered sacrifices in the temple for Israel's sins, ushering them back into the presence of God. God interacted with His people in the temple. But, in Jesus, a Greater Temple is here.
The Son of Man was the title of Israel's coming Messiah prophesied in the book of Daniel. Sent from heaven, He would establish the Kingdom of God among all peoples, nations, and languages. Israel yearned for His coming; envisioning a military leader to free them from oppressive Roman rule. And He’d arrived, but differently than expected.
Sabbath was a weekly ritual practiced by Israel. Every seventh day Israelites would cease from work. God established the Sabbath as a sign of the day to come when humanity would experience ultimate rest. No righteousness to earn, no toil in labor, but enjoyment of God and His creation. And the Lord of the Sabbath had finally come.
The Greater Temple is here; not a place, but a person; Jesus. Jesus ushers us into the presence of God. The Son of Man has arrived; bringing the Kingdom of heaven, first to the hearts of His people, but later to the world. The Lord of the Sabbath has come, eliminating our need to earn our own righteousness, providing rest for the weary and burdened.
Jesus is the substance of the signs and shadows given to Israel. He is the actuality of what the temple, and the sabbath represent; and the fulfillment of Daniel's prophecy. Closeness with Him is experiencing heaven here and now. He frees us from arbitrary religion, inviting us to be satisfied in his fields of grace. In his presence, lifelong wounds are healed. If only we’ll trust him enough to stretch out our ugly hands or pick up our beds and walk. The world may not approve of His methods, but He will always do good. He makes three bold claims: He is our access to God, He is our hope, and He is our rest. What keeps you from His presence?
