Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-04-29

own scriptures. He recalled to their
minds the time wnen David. fugitive
from the vengeance of Saul, had gone
into the temple and had eaten the bread
which was unIawIu1 for any one to eat
except the priests. He recalled also the
fact mat the priests in the service OF the
temple were required 10 do great deal
O. servile work on the Sabbath in the
Strengthening of the beasts for sacrifice,
i'm ne preparation of the offerings, ana
i'm the washing of tire utensils-yet they
were guiltless. Now, Jesus uid not
mean that David had a right TO brea K
the laws of the temple simply because
he was hungry. The case was one Of
need, IT is true, but David was the rep
resentative Of God, he was the anointed
king. Saul had been rejected. and David
was Gods king. Therefore. In order to
supply the necessities Of his body the
king might set aside the laws Of the
temple under stress of circumstances.
The appT cation which Jesus would have
=, EN- make Of ms was that he was the
Amounted One of Goo; that He was re-
iected by the leaders of the day as Da-
vid had Deen by Saul; that He and His
disciples, therefore, might set aside the
ceremonial law and S. guiltless as
much so as David when he set aside IN .
law of the temple, and as the priests
wno did work of service on the Sabbath
day. and yet were guiltless. He would
impress on fsIeir minds that He was not
only the Son Of Man, but He was also
the Lord of the Sabbath.
Mark adds the very significant state
ment that the Sabbath was made for mar.
not man for the Sabbath; by which he did
not intend to teach by any means that
the Sabbath was a day which could be
turned from a holy day into holiday
Creator. who knew mans bodily needs
so well, that He saw the necessity for
one day out of the seven for rest and
worship. He did not mean that the Sab
bath was a day 10 be used for all sorts
of excursions, for baseball games. for
various forms of recreation and amuse-
ment which all might be right in their
places; but that II must be used to meet
deep needs of mans soul and body as
he comes into relationship with his God.
and with eternity. For these purposes the
day was created, not man created in or-
der that he might keep a few ceremonies.
MERCY, NOT SACRIFICE.
AS noted above, on the succeeding Sab
bath In the synagogue they brought I'm q
man with withered hand. They watched
Him to see whether or not He Would
heal a man on the Sabbath day. He knew
their thoughts, and turned 10 them with
one of those searching questions of His
which could not be answered without
ccndemning themselves. He asked them
us it lawful to do good or to do evil
on the Sabbath; to save life or to destrQyI
it?" Just here let us notice what a mar
velous teacher He was looking into the
very depths of their souls. and laying
bare their whole characters. They were
willing to withhold that which would save
life. and were therefore willing to kill
rather than break one of those self-im-
posed ceremonies. OF course they held
their peace, they answered Him not d
word.
And then Mark gives us one of those
few records where the feelings of Jesus
are displayed. He tells us that He was
angry with them, being grieved at the
hardness of their hearts. All the right
eous indignation of His compassionate
heart arose against this sect of men
whose hearts were so hardened that they
would withhold that which was helpful
rather than break q ceremonial law.
Here Jesus gives us an example of how
we can be angry but righteous. for while
Eo was angry with them. at the same
time He was grieved at the hardness of
their hearts. You may be perfectly sure,
wc may say i'm passing, that your anger
is righteous one. where at the same
time there is i'm your heart just as in
tense grief for the sin of the person with
', hom you are angry.
Now, the ceremonial law of the Phari-
sees did not permit any outward applica-
ton to be made to the body OH a Sab
bath. but something might be given in
ternally, with this man standing before