Sabbath

What is the sabbath to you? Do you observe a sabbath? What is Sunday to you? Do you take time to make it to church? Is Sunday like any other day? Do you work on Sunday? If you do, what other day do you have to rest? Have you considered the purpose of a sabbath?

We do not use the word sabbath in our culture much. However, we use the word sabbatical. Both words mean the same thing—taking time to rest. The Sabbath was the day of rest God had designated for his people. It was a day to worship God and rejuvenate for the next week.

The Jewish Sabbath was and is a Saturday on our calendar. As Christians, we worship on Sunday. Sometimes, we get upset when people do not make it to worship services due to having to work. However, notice Jesus’ words in today’s passage—the sabbath (a time for rest) was made for humankind, not the other way around.

As a pastor, Sunday is a workday. Personally, I try to take a sabbath day on Friday. Yet, some Fridays and Saturdays are workdays. There are funerals, special events, and conferences. When that occurs, we work on those days. We set aside the sabbath to care for people. This is Jesus’ point. We may not take a sabbath every week. We may need to take care of others.

Does this mean we should always be busy? No. We all need a time for rest. Depending on our work schedule, we may need to make a different day of the week our day of rest. In our busy world, taking time to rest can be a challenge. Yet, we all need the rest. If we did not, God would not have commanded a rest for his people. That rest may be physical or mental rest. It may be both. We need the rest to be rejuvenated to carry out the work God has set before us.

I pray we all take time to rest. I pray we take a “down day” to recuperate and rejuvenate ourselves. I pray each one of us will consciously set aside a day to rest for our own health. Obey God’s command. Set aside time to rest. Recuperate. Rejuvenate. Rest for your health.

Mark 2:27-28 Then he said to them, “The sabbath was made for humankind, and not humankind for the sabbath; so the Son of Man is lord even of the sabbath.”