April 12, 2024
Today’s Reading: Luke 6:1-19
Daily Lectionary: Exodus 31:1-18, Luke 6:1-19
And He said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” (Luke 6:5)
In the Name + of Jesus. Amen. In the New Testament reading from the daily lectionary today, Jesus and the Pharisees butt heads over the Sabbath. The Third Commandment is indeed, ‘Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.’ God did command that no work should be done on the Sabbath. But the word Sabbath in Hebrew means ‘rest.’ (It also means ‘seven.’) Abstaining from work is certainly one way to rest. But it is not the only way.
When Jesus’ disciples plucked grain and ate it, they received rest from their hunger. When Jesus healed the man with the withered hand, that man received rest from his affliction. When Jesus healed the diseases of the multitudes, and drove out unclean spirits, those people received rest from sicknesses and oppression. But the Pharisees were furious, and plotted together what they might do to Jesus. Because Jesus ignored the lesser rest in order that people might have a greater rest.
We still do this today. We so want the lesser gifts that our Lord gives that we despise the greater. We pray about a test, or because we’re late, and we want to get through that moment well. But maybe missing that moment is something the Lord has for us in order to strengthen our faith, and teach us endurance. But we end up placing such importance on that moment, that we resent God for letting us go through that, and want nothing to do with the forgiveness of sins or eternal life. The Pharisees and we aren’t all that different.
Therefore repent. Turn to Christ and hand over your sin. Because He has done something truly remarkable with the Sabbath. In Genesis, on the seventh day, God rested from all His labors. Good Friday was the sixth day. And moments before sundown, which marked the beginning of the Sabbath, Jesus was placed in a tomb. And there He rested. The entire Sabbath Jesus rested from the work of giving us the greatest rest of all. Jesus rested from all His labors of the cross where He earned our forgiveness and salvation. Forgiveness even for failing to see the rest He has given us.
Jesus is the Lord of the Sabbath. He gives the greater rest. Therefore find rest in Him. Find sin, death, and the devil conquered. Find all your greatest troubles and fears overcome. Find rest from your work, from your life, from everything you have been given to endure. Christ is our rest. So rest in Him. In the Name + of Jesus. Amen.
I heard the voice of Jesus say, “Come unto me and rest; Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon my breast.” I came to Jesus as I was, So weary, worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place, And He has made me glad. (LSB 699:1)
– Pastor Eli Davis is pastor of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Grants Pass, Oregon.
Audio Reflections Speaker: Pastor Jonathan Lackey is the pastor at Grace Lutheran Church, Vine Grove, Ky.
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