B8: How Did Christ uniquely Keep the Sabbath Day Holy?

The controversy over keeping the Sabbath Day can be resolved by going back to what Christ, Himself did while on this Earth. As Christians, we intend to follow Christ, so let’s review His response to this question and do likewise.

First let’s see what He did not do uniquely on that special day.

Christ was a preacher by profession during His three-year ministry, so we don’t expect Him to “quit working” on the Sabbath Day. Christ taught and healed the sick every day and He specifically did not stop doing such things on the Sabbath Day. So, He did not Sleep all day.

Some Examples:

Mark 3:1-5 (Lord of the Sabbath)

1 And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2 So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” 4 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. 5 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.

Mark 6:1-3 (Jesus Rejected at Nazareth)

1 Then He went out from there and came to His own country, and His disciples followed Him. 2 And when the Sabbath had come, He began to teach in the synagogue. And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, “Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands! 3 Is this not the carpenter, the Son of Mary, and brother of James, Joses, Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us?” So they were offended at Him.

Luke 4:16-17 (Jesus Rejected at Nazareth)

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read. 17 And He was handed the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when He had opened the book, He found the place where it was written.

Luke 4:31-32 (Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit)

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.

Luke 13:10-17 (A Crippled Woman Healed on the Sabbath)

10 Now He was teaching in one of the synagogues on the Sabbath. 11 And behold, there was a woman who had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bent over and could in no way raise herself up. 12 But when Jesus saw her, He called her to Him and said to her, “Woman, you are loosed from your infirmity.” 13 And He laid His hands on her, and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. 14 But the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because Jesus had healed on the Sabbath; and he said to the crowd, “There are six days on which men ought to work; therefore come and be healed on them, and not on the Sabbath day.” 15 The Lord then answered him and said, “Hypocrite! Does not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or donkey from the stall, and lead it away to water it? 16 So ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan has bound—think of it—for eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath?” 17 And when He said these things, all His adversaries were put to shame; and all the multitude rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by Him.

Okay, what then did Christ do on the Sabbath Day that we don’t see Him doing every other day?

Well, there are two things in particular that we find:

1. Christ went to the synagogue every Sabbath Day. There He would find others who specifically attended their church services on that day and perhaps on no others.

2. Christ “Remembered” the Sabbath Day, specifically by making the effort to be in the synagogue on that day.

Christ did in fact reiterate the Sabbath Commandment by His actions.  He Remembered it. 
What He did not do was keep the Law of Moses rituals about the Sabbath (EG He still healed on that day etc.). This demonstrated what it means to "Remember" the Sabbath to keep it Holy.  Christ fulfilled that law by first recognizing the Sabbath Day and then by honoring the Creator by specifically dealing with His creation from the perspective that the Creator would have of it.  You do things that reflect your Trust in God, ie that God has a plan for us to enjoy a perfect everlasting Kingdom of Heaven; and we want to get there and to bring others with us.  This is what Christ did to keep holy the Sabbath Day.  He did this every other day as well.  The only thing He did differently on the Sabbath Day itself was to meet with others specifically for the purpose of remembering the Day and what this creation was all about, together.  This coming together for that purpose is what we are commanded to do.  http://www.nasamike.com/main/book/a10d.htm

27 Feb 2007

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For more on this and a response to any questions, please email any comments to nasamike@nasamike.com