Click this link to hear an audio version of the below text narrated by SOTH member Jerry Rhinehart:
Matthew 12:6-14 (NIV)
6 I tell you that something greater than the temple is here. 7 If you had known what these words mean, ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice,you would not have condemned the innocent. 8 For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” 9 Going on from that place, he went into their synagogue, 10 and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to bring charges against Jesus, they asked him, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?” 11 He said to them, “If any of you has a sheep and it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will you not take hold of it and lift it out? 12 How much more valuable is a person than a sheep! Therefore it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath.” 13 Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he stretched it out and it was completely restored, just as sound as the other. 14 But the Pharisees went out and plotted how they might kill Jesus.
Not too long ago, stores were closed on Sundays. The “Sabbath” was a cultural institution across America. But now, if the gas station is not open on our way to church or if we can’t get our hot-ham on our way home from the grocery store then we get upset and frustrated! But Jesus is not concerned about keeping arbitrary rules or whether we have cheap and easy access to modern luxuries. Jesus is concerned about giving life. That is God’s purpose for the Sabbath! Jesus came to bring healing, restoration, and life to the broken and hurting. Is there a place in your life that could use a little restoration? The Lord of the Sabbath sees us and we are exceedingly valuable in His eyes.