As we continue on in the life of Jesus we come to a place in Jesus’ story where he teaches on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was a celebration of rest given to humanity at the origin of human history. It was a commanded day of rest of the people of Israel that fostered a deeper sense of trust and dependence on God. It was also a practical way for the people of Israel to take delight in God and His creation.
Over the centuries following Exodus, God’s people fell away from the practice of Sabbath and it – along with other neglected commands – led to the downfall of Israel and the exile. As such, during the days of Jesus – the religious leaders held to a strict and tyrannical view of the Sabbath. As Jesus interacted with the leaders, He challenged their warped views and helped them to see the more significant purpose behind the Sabbath.
It is important to remember that Jesus did practice Sabbath within the context that it was given and as God intended. For us, as followers of Jesus, we too want to practice Sabbath in a way that fosters trust and dependence on God. In this episode, Pastor Aaron Brown, Lead Pastor of Third Coast Community Church, and Kevin Pike, Senior Pastor of the Fearless Churches, dive into the significance of the Sabbath and how we can rightly understand it now.
