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12:1-8
The Sabbath
By now the religious opposition, led partly by the Pharisees, was about
to explode, but Jesus continued his work undeterred. In fact, sometimes he
seemed to go out of his way to challenge the rituals and traditions. A case in
point happened one Sabbath.
Jesus was walking along, with his disciples and critics in tow, when he
suddenly set off through a corn field. Predictably, the hungry disciples picked
some corn and started to eat it. This, of course, was completely OK because of
Deuteronomy 23:25, which makes it clear that a hungry person may eat from a
neighbour's field provided that person doesn't use a sickle to cut the corn
down.
The Pharisees, being legal nit-pickers, pounced on Jesus and accused him
of allowing his disciples to break God's Old Testament Law. Unfortunately they
didn't say exactly what law, but, knowing their narrow, trivial attitudes they
could have been thinking of at least three stupid aspects : 1. Harvesting -
picking the grain - and therefore 'working' on the Sabbath, or 2. Threshing -
rubbing the grain-heads to loosen the grain - 'working' on the Sabbath, or 3.
Winnowing - separating the grain from the stalks - again, 'working' on the
Sabbath. You just couldn't win with them!
Jesus could have ignored the ridiculous charge, but he showed, instead,
great patience and love, and tried to explain to these men some important
principles.
"Point one" he said, "You know, from reading your Bibles,
that there was a time when David, the rightful king of Israel, was on the run.
Saul was after him, intent on his murder, and David had few friends and nowhere
safe to hide. Everywhere David went his enemies hounded him . . . a situation
very similar to mine.
David finally arrived at Nob, (1Sam.21) where Ahimelech the priest was at
that time looking after the Tabernacle. Ahimelech was surprised to see David,
who arrived with a few men, and no prior notice, so he asked him why he had
come. David said he was on the king's business, and asked for food, for himself
and his men. The only food the priest had to give David was the shew-bread,
(Ex.25:30 and Lev.24:5-8) so Ahimelech gave David permission to take and eat the
bread. God never punished Ahimelech for doing this - do you know why?
"Because God's Law was never intended to inflict hardship on people.
It was not David's fault that he was in exile. He was running because Saul and
the wicked people who served him were in rebellion against God. David had to
run!"
"In the same way, I would not have to walk everywhere, like a
fugitive, dodging persecution and threats to my life, with a band of hungry
followers, if you and the Jewish nation acknowledged me for who I am - the
rightful King of Israel.
"Point two. The priests work harder on the Sabbath than any other
day, killing and presenting animals (Num.28:9,10), and attending to many other
duties, yet you Pharisees would say that this is not really 'work', because they
are 'serving God'. Well what do you think I am doing? My whole life is service
to God. I serve him every day of the week, and on the Sabbath, yet you cannot
accept that my teaching, preaching, and healing is service to God? What amazing
bigotry!
"Point three. You Pharisees really admire the Temple don't you? It
is a grand building, with a 'holy atmosphere'. You feel really close to God when
you are inside it, and people come from miles around to admire it. By its very
size and colour, it seems to sanctify whatever you do, it seems to have a sort
of presence . . . yet you cannot see that something far greater and more
magnificent than that architectural masterpiece is standing right here in front
of you!
"Point four. Hosea (6:6) said something very interesting about God.
He said that God puts mercy ahead of sacrifice. This means that God values
compassion far more than he values ritual. You Pharisees are so intent on
forcing people into your rituals, you forget to be compassionate and caring. You
would rather have my followers starve all day, than allow them to eat. My
disciples are completely free of guilt, but you want to place a huge load of
man-made rules and ceremonies on them . . . you are contradicting the heart of
the God you claim to represent!
"Point five. And finally, let me just remind you that, as the one
who instituted the laws surrounding the Sabbath, I have the perfect right to
change them. The one who makes the law can change it. I am the Lord!"
The Sabbath
The Sabbath is always the seventh day of the week. It can be any seventh
day, provided the one who keeps it is consistent. People in different parts of
the world may keep different days, but they will all be keeping a seventh day.
In the 10 commandments, (Ex. 20:8-11) the law of the Sabbath was not the
same as the other nine. It was ceremonial, while the others were moral.
According to Jesus, people could do many things on the Sabbath. They
could serve God (Matt.12:5), do deeds of necessity (Matt.12:3,4), and do deeds
of mercy (Matt.12:11,12). Nine of the 10 commandments are repeated in the New
testament, but not as law - they are given as instructions, or guidelines, or
principles, for Christians living under Grace. A Christian cannot be condemned
for not keeping the Sabbaths - Col.2:16.
If Christians are to keep any day, it is the FIRST day, for the following
reasons:
-
The Lord Jesus rose from the dead on the first day (John 20:1)
-
Jesus met his disciples on the first two "Lord's" days (John 20:19,26)
-
The Holy Spirit was given on the first day (Acts 2;1 with Lev.23:15,16)
-
The early disciples met to break bread on the first day (Acts 20:7)
-
Christians should set aside funds for the the Lord on the first day
(1Cor.16:1,2)
The old Sabbath came at the end of a week's toil - the first day begins
the week with rest.
The old Sabbath commemorated the creation of the earth etc - the first
day commemorates the new creation, the resurrection, and the redemption of all
things.
The old Sabbath was full of responsibilities - the first day is a
privilege to be enjoyed.
The Sabbath is Saturday, and the Lord's day is Sunday.
The Sabbath was a shadow, and the Lord Jesus is the substance.
The only reason Jesus kept the Sabbath was because he had come to meet
all the requirements of the Law, (as the second Adam, the perfect Man) but he
also brought out the true meaning of the Law - which grated against the
Pharisees and others, who had made the Law into a difficult religious system.
12:9-14
Healing on the Sabbath
Not long after his clash with the Pharisees (over eating wheat on the
Sabbath), Jesus found another point of difference to challenge them on. He went
deliberately into a synagogue and saw a man there, who was crippled with a
withered hand. This, Jesus knew, would be a good opportunity to expose the
Pharisees.
The Pharisees were thinking about an opportunity of their own. They
decided to try to corner Jesus on a minor technicality, to catch him out. They
knew already that he was habitually healing people, so they waited until Jesus
was close to the crippled man, then one of them spoke.
"Is it lawful to heal people on the Sabbath?"
The cripple, who had asked God to no avail for healing many times, was
surprised at this sudden attention shown him by the Pharisees. Up to now they
had treated him with a cool disregard - now he was the centre of attention.
Jesus smiled at the Pharisees.
"Do any of you own sheep?" he asked.
One of the Pharisees raised his hand.
"Tell me" said Jesus, "What would you do if you went home
today and found one of your sheep stuck down a hole?"
"I would pull it out." said the Pharisee.
"On the Sabbath?"
"Yes."
"Would you consider that to be work?"
"No."
"So here we have a man, who has fallen into a hole so to speak. He
is crippled, and he needs help. He is far more valuable than a sheep, yet you
would expect me to stop doing good works, and leave him as he is until tomorrow?
Do you see how inconsistent you are?"
The Pharisees had no answer, because they knew Jesus was right.
Jesus spoke directly to the cripple.
"Stretch your hand out."
The man obeyed, and as he did so the bones and skin and blood-vessels
re-formed into a healthy, strong hand.
The
Pharisees, when they saw the cripple being healed, were furious! Their pride was
hurt, their petty system of rules had been flounced, and their consciences had
been trampled on! In a fit of self-righteous anger they walked out of the
synagogue and started to work on a plan. From then on they were determined to
kill Jesus!
12:15-21
Jesus - God's servant
When Jesus realised how dangerous the Pharisees were becoming, he very
sensibly moved away from them, but he was determined to keep to his teaching and
healing ministry. As a consequence, he soon had a large crowd of needy people
around him.
But some of the people he healed started to shout and carry on excitedly,
so Jesus called for silence and warned the crowd not to publicise what he was
doing. You see, Jesus had a mission to fulfil. He had come to die on a cross,
not to be elevated to some high political position, but some of the people he
had helped were already calling for him to be crowned as king of Judea. If this
happened, it would spoil all his plans.
It may be of interest to note that Isaiah, (41:9, 42:1-4) writing
hundreds of years before all this happened, said this about the Messiah :
"Look! This is the Servant of
God. God has chosen Him. He is God's Beloved. He is powered by the Holy Spirit,
and he will reach out to everyone with My message - including the Gentiles.
"His manner will be unlike typical worldly political leaders. He
will not grasp at power, or be a rabble-rouser. He will not stir up people in
the streets, or be a popular revolutionary figure.
"He will instead be compassionate, and caring, and he will treat the
humble and dispossessed with concern, and he will show mercy and consideration
to people who would ordinarily be of no use to him.
"Ultimately, he will win vast numbers of people over to his side,
including many millions of Gentiles!"
12:22-30
The worst accusation of all
Despite all the Pharisees and other religious people could do to ruin
Jesus' reputation, the general opinion of the crowds was that he must be both
very powerful and extremely important. Some of the people were even suggesting
that Jesus might be the Messiah - the son of king David.
The matter was brought to a head when a man was brought to Jesus - a man
who was both demon-possessed, blind and mute. With his usual absence of
ostentation, Jesus sent the demon away, and healed the man's eyes and speech
defect . . . an incredible miracle performed with humble authority.
The Pharisees, still coiled up with malice, were really annoyed when they
heard the people saying that Jesus might be the Messiah. This was one thing they
could not tolerate! They exploded with the charge that Jesus was working his
miracles by the power of Beelzebub - the ruler of demons.
"This man is a deceiver!" they said, "He is filled with
the power of Satan! He is using Satan's authority to order demons about!"
But Jesus was ready for them because he could read minds.
"If you look at history" he said, "You will see that any
kingdom which disintegrates into civil revolt, soon falls apart. Once the head,
or ruler, or government is unable to control the army or the people, anarchy
follows, and with it total destruction of the whole country.
"This happens in a family too. If the husband, and wife, and
children are all at each other, the marriage eventually breaks down, and the
children leave home.
"Now lets apply this to Satan's kingdom. How long do you think he
will last if he attacks his own demons? How long will an army last if the
General tells the soldiers to run in all directions?
"You think I am Satan? You think I am attacking my own followers?
This is not logical is it? I mean, if I am the devil, then logically, your own
sons must be working for him too, because they practise exorcism. You could ask
them who they are working for . . . or are you saying that I and your sons are
all actually working for the enemy, but pretending to be working for God? That
is illogical!
"I think the most reasonable explanation for what I am doing is this
: I am the Messiah, and I am driving Satan's followers away. If this is true
(and its obviously the best explanation), then the kingdom which God wants to
set up is right here, under your noses! You are staring at the King of Israel,
and your are seeing Him exercising His royal authority, yet the best you can do
is say He is the devil!
"Isn't it obvious to you that I am breaking into Satan's house,
tying up his demons, and looting him of his possessions?
"In farming terms, you Pharisees are like stupid labourers, dipping
your hands into the sacks of grain and throwing it away. Here I am, trying to
reap the crop and the best you can do is scatter it back on to the paddocks!
12:31-32
The unforgivable sin
Jesus had, up till now, been very patient and tolerant of the Pharisees.
They had tried, in many ways, to pull him down, but he had forgiven them each
time, and gone on with his work. But now, when they openly accused him of being
Satan, he warned them clearly and solemnly of their danger.
"God can forgive all kinds of offences, "he said,
"Mockery, blasphemy, criticism, murder, thievery, lust, adultery,
deception, anger, lies, hate and so on. People can be forgiven rejection of the
gospel, backsliding, atheism and deliberate rejection of the truth. Anything and
everything can be wiped away by God . . . but there is one thing which God
cannot forgive : people like you who go about saying that the Holy Spirit of God
is actually Satanic. This is an enormous offence. It cuts at the very heart of
the kingdom. It reverses the whole pattern of the universe. If it is accepted,
it robs the Father of His glory, and elevates Satan to the Throne of
heaven!"
12:33-37
Trees and fruit
"You Pharisees" said Jesus, "Ought to take a lesson from a
fruit tree. If you found a tree with bright, shiny, disease-free, delicious
apples on it, you would know that the whole tree was healthy. Orchardists don't
usually attack strong, healthy, fruitful trees, do they! Now look at my work - I
am healing the sick, giving sight to the blind, casting out demons, raising the
dead . . . this is all good fruit isn't it. If what I am doing is good, then I
must be good too, yet you are following me round with axes, intent of chopping
me down!
"But I know why you hate me. You are like snakes in the orchard,
slithering round the trees with your fangs full of poison. Every time you open
your mouths the venom squirts out!
"If you were good men, you would say good things about me. Your
hearts would be full of praise, and commendation and thanks. You would encourage
the people to follow me. You would go ahead of me, and help me set up God's
kingdom . . . but of course you can't do that can you? Instead your hearts are
full of lies, and hypocrisy, and hate.
"Let me warn you of this. One day, when God calls all people to the
Judgement Throne, one of the criteria on which He will judge them will be the
things they have said. Your words are an accurate gauge of your lives, and a
suitable basis on which to assess the rewards or punishments."
(1Tim.5:13, Tit.1:12, Christians,
though saved by grace, will also receive rewards in greater or lesser degree
according to what they say or do - 2Cor. 5:10 and so on)
12:38-42
Asking for a sign
Despite the fact that Jesus had openly worked thousands of miracles, all
backed up by evidence and eye-witness testimony, the Pharisees and their cronies
were unwilling to accept Jesus as the Messiah. In a mocking sort of way, they
asked Jesus to perform some special sign, or outstanding miracle, just for them.
If he did this, they said, perhaps then they would be convinced.
Jesus knew that no miracle would ever convince these people, so he
referred them to the story of Jonah.
"You are too wicked to understand me" said Jesus, "Your
thinking is now so confused with mixtures of truth and error, you can't tell the
difference between God and Satan!
"The best "sign" I can give you is that of Jonah. He was a
prophet, sent to preach repentance to a wicked people. On the way there he died,
by being swallowed by a sea-monster. He remained in the belly of the creature
for three whole days, and then God brought him back out again, alive and well.
"In the same way, I have come to preach repentance to a wicked
people, and, like Jonah, I am too going to die, and remain buried for three
days, but I will also come back to life, and continue with God's plan.
(Some people have a problem with the "three days and three
nights" expression. Jesus was buried on Friday and rose on Sunday morning .
. . . not three whole days and nights. By Jewish reckoning, a part of a day
counts as a complete day.)
"Let me make a comparison here. Nineveh was a wicked Gentile city,
and God sent a fallible human to preach to it, yet for all its ignorance, and
idolatry, the people of Nineveh had the sense to repent. Here I am, a person far
greater than Jonah, with a perfect record of obedience to God, and you Jews, who
are already familiar with the truth, refuse to listen to me! If mere Gentiles
can do it, why can't you?
"Or try this on. The Queen of Sheba, who lived in a far off country,
went to great trouble and expense to travel for hundreds of miles, in order to
listen to king Solomon. She even considered it a privilege to hear him, and gave
him gifts, and many thanks for his time. Yet you Jews have the Messiah in your
own country, and all you have to do is walk a few miles to hear him, yet you do
nothing but criticise his every move. I am far greater than Solomon, in fact, it
was I who gave him his wisdom, yet you are not interested in hearing what I have
to say!
12:43-45
The Jewish nation
"This is how I see the Jewish nation" said Jesus, "It is
like a man who has been exorcised of a demon. At first the man finds himself
empty, and clean, but he forgets to allow God in, so the demon comes back, and
brings some of its friends. Subsequently the man ends up worse than when he
started!
"In the same way, the Jewish people were delivered of their
Babylonian captivity, and given back their city in the land of Israel. They set
up their Temple and built their synagogues, and promulgated the Law, but they
forgot to let God into their lives. They had everything but God, so the Devil
filled the empty rooms, took over the synagogues, and insinuated himself into
the Temple. And he brought plenty
of demons with him! This is how it is now, and it will not get any better for
you!"
12:46-50
Jesus and his family
While Jesus was saying these things, the crowds built up around him,
forming a wall on every side. On the outside of this wall, Mary and her sons
were trying to get through to Jesus, but they were unable to, so Mary sent a
message, which was passed on verbally.
(Just why Jesus' family wanted to talk to him we are not told, but it
could have been because they thought he was slightly mad - Mark 3:21, 31-35,
John 7:5)
When Jesus was told about his mother, he showed no immediate interest in
speaking to her. By showing such indifference he especially gave his mother no
elevated, or privileged position. Instead, he reduced Mary to the level of all
believers.
"I have no favourites" said Jesus, "Anyone who believes in
me, and obeys me, is my family. Jews, Gentiles, Africans, Asians, or whatever
race or culture you want to name, .
. . they are all the same in God's sight. Look! This woman here, she could be my
mother, or that one over there. These three young men could be my brothers, or
that old man, or that one, and this little girl could be my sister. It makes no
difference at all to me."
There are some who teach that Mary remained a virgin after she gave birth to Jesus. The Bible contradicts this : Ps.69:8, Matt.12:47, 13:55 - (James, Joses, Simon and Judas), Mark 3:32, 6:3 -(sisters), John 7:3,5, Acts 1:14, 1 Cor.9:5, Acts 1:14, 1Cor.9:5, Gal.1:19)