Skip to main content

60. Grace At Sun Down


Isaiah 53:4A, Matthew 8:16-17, Mark 1:32-34, Luke 4:40-41
Key Verse: Surely he took up our iniquities and carried our sorrows. 
Isaiah 53:4a

When evening came, or, when the Sabbath had ended so that the people could move about freely again, the sick and the hurting were brought to Jesus, and Jesus cared for them.  Jesus was willing to heal on the Sabbath.  He had healed Peter's mother-in-law on the Sabbath, but the people had too much fear of man.  Their lack of understanding of God, prevented them from throwing off restraint, no matter how severe the need, to come to Jesus before the sun set, signaling the end of the Sabbath. 

In Judaism, a 24 hour day is measured from sunset to sunset.  Sabbath begins on Friday evening and continues until sun down of, what we would call Saturday evening.  In the past history of Judah, the people had not done a very good job of keeping the Sabbath.  After the Babylonian exile, however, in which the people had been punished for not obeying God's commands, the priests created many rules to instruct the people about what would keep God's laws and what would break them.  These became known as the hedge around the law.  They were intended to keep the people far from breaking the Ten Commandments so that Judah would never be punished again. 

Unfortunately, this meant that the people became intent on following the law, especially man's new hedge around it, and once again, missed God's heart altogether.  So, the law said, limited walking, no work, no carrying on the Sabbath, and the people obeyed.  No matter how badly they wished to see a loved one healed, they waited until sundown to come to Jesus. 

Jesus was there when they arrived.  God himself witnessed His hurting creation and brought a bit of heaven to earth for those who believed.  In grace and love, he removed their sorrows and burdens.  He did part of what He had come to do, walk among men and share in our burdens. How sad that man's religion held the people back from God's grace, if only for a time.  

Unfortunately, it still happens today.  We let rules determine with whom we will associate, or how we will act and pray.  While some of this may be helpful guidance, too often, we let man's rules keep us away from experiencing the heart of God Himself.  So often, we miss the relationship that He is seeking with us, preferring the rules that show us whether we are, "GOOD," or not.  God is our Father.  What loving Father would only want a house of rules and regulations for relating to His children?  May we seek His heart, first, today, and obey the rules because we love Him. 

beautiful! : Come, Ye Disconsolate

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

211. The Sons of Thunder's Request

Matthew 20:20-28 , Mark 10:35-45 , Key verse: "Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." Mark 10:43B-44 In our readings for yesterday, in which Jesus outlined what was about to happen to Him, for His disciples, the passage in Luke ends: "The disciples did not understand any of this. It's meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what He was talking about." ( Luke 18:34 ) Now, we see just how truly clueless they were. Jesus had laid out a plan before them of pain and suffering and death and now James and John are focused on a promotion. The disconnect is so obvious. It's really not important to know whether James and john came up with this request on their own or if their mother put them up to it. The request was made and James and John thought that they could handle the responsibility that would come with it. What is that saying, "Fools rush in where angels fe...
Post a Comment
Read more

204. Come Like a Child

Psalm 127 , Matthew 19:13-15 , Luke 18:15-17 , Mark 10:13-16 Key Verse: Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." Matthew 19:14 The attitude of the disciples isn't much different than the attitude of many people, even Christians, today. Instead of seeing children as a blessing from the Lord, too many regard them as a burden to bear that gets in the way of our own selfish happiness. Family size is determined by what we think we can afford rather than openness to God's blessing, trusting God to provide. Satan hates children. Children represent innocence. The sooner he can corrupt and or damage a child, the happier he is. This is why Jesus warned in Matthew 18:6: "If anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him to have a large millstone hung around his neck and to be drown in the depths of the sea." To corrupt or damage ...
Post a Comment
Read more

174. Pleading for the Fig Tree

Proverbs 27:18 , Luke 13:6-9 Key Verse: He who tends a fig tree will eat its fruit, and he who looks after his master will be honored. Proverbs 27:18 We have here three main characters: a master, who acquired the tree in hopes of eventually enjoying its fruit, a servant, who looks to the tree to reflect his care and attention, and lastly, the tree itself. The master has the right to expect his investment to pay off. The servant, who has obviously put much effort into the tree, would also like to see fruit. The servant's interest is not only to show his own talent in gardening, but because he wants to please his master. Both the servant and the master are dependent upon the tree to do what it was designed to do. Their little parable is an interesting way for Jesus to finish off His exhortation to, "repent or perish."  God is the Master. He had a purpose for you before you were even born. ( Jeremiah 1:5 & Psalm 139:16 ) He planted you on this earth to ful...
Post a Comment
Read more