Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-04-12
The Sunday |
School Lesson
Sunday School Lesson for April IA.

Golden Textile Sabbath was
Sabbath. Mark 1927.
Lesson Text-Mark 2:23.3:6. Com
NIT VS.. 81. %.
Time-A. D. 20. Place-Near Caper-
naum.
Exposition-I. The Sabbath made
for man and not man for the Sabbath.
1898. We have here one of the many
indications Of the poverty Of the dis
ciples. and the simplicity Of their
lives. More apostolic simplicity in
our lives would be conducive to moro
apostolic tenacity in our faith. and
apostolic fervor and power in our
preaching and apostolic efficacy in
our prayers. The critics always find
something to complain about even In
Gods Son and Gods Word. In the
present case, they had good show of
reason on their side, the action Of
Christ's disciples seemed like viola
ton Of at least the letter of the fourth
commandment. (Deut. 5:14; Elk. 81:
49, The criticism of the pharisees,
though apparently Scriptural, was aft
er all founded upon an incomplete
knowledge Of the Scriptures. Jesus
answered by bringing a complete view
of Scripture, a view of the teaching
of the Bible as whole, against the
view built upon isolated passages. He
showed: Q) That ceremonial prescrip.
tons must give way before the needs
Of man, which they were ordained to
subserve. In Illustration of this Jesus
brings forward the case Of David.
(2) That the demands of temple serv-
ices were superior to the prescription
Of the general law. (Cf. Matt. 1875,
g. He himself was greater than the
temple, being the one in whom God
really tabernacled (Matt. 1876 CT. John
lila r. V, marg.) and of whom the
temple was only type. The Sabbath
law must therefore give way before
the necessities of Christian service.
(3) That mercy was more than sacri-
flee. and so ceremonial demands must
give way before the demands of mer-
cy and compassion. This is pro-
found principle, the full significance
Of which many In the church have not
even yet learned. The pharisees did
not understand it and so condemned
the guiltless. az That the Sabbath
was made for man Tvs. II, 2S) and
therefore the Son of Man." the con-
summation and head of the race, was
Lord even Of the Sabbath. This las:
principle was one the scope of which
was not fully comprehended until
after his death and resurrection. As
Lord Of the Sabbath, Jesus has en-
tirely abrogated the seventh-day Sab
bath, which was the shadow of things
to come (Col 2:10, and which be-
longed distinctly to the old creation:
SO now we have no right to Judge any
one In respect to the Sabbath day
(Col. 2:16, 17) AS Christians, be-
longing to the new creation risen in
Christ" (Col. 3:D We keep the Lords
day (Rev. 1:10), the first day of the
week (Acts 20:D, resurrection day.
Those who are under the law may
keep the seventh day; but those who
are under grace keep the first day
(Gal. 3:10), but not as day of bond
age, but of Christian liberty and priv
ilege.
II. The proper use of the Sabbath,
1-6. 1t was his custom to frequent the
synagogue on the Sabbath (cf Luke
4:16), the day upon which the Jews
still gathered there in large numbers.
The question, "Is it lawful to heal on
the Sabbath day." (see Matt. 1910
was not asked from an honest desire
for information but to get material
for an accusation. However, the ques-
ton was none the less important and
received an honest and deeply signifl-
cant answer, viz, 1T is lawful to do
good on the Sabbath day." Matt. ~:
12) Mercy and love are more than
ceremonies, even though those cere-
monies be of divine appointment. God
will have mercy, and not sacrifice
Matt. 1919 Love is the divinest
thing in the universe. Il John 4:8.)
Therefore the demands of ceremonies,
even though divinely appointed, must
give way before the activities and ex.
igencies of love, which Ia itself d..
vine. Lower law must yield to high
er law. The pharisees themselves
acted upon this principle when it
concerned men. They had not learned
that a man is of much more value
than a sheep. A good many have not
learned 1t even yet. The pharisees
had no pity for the poor fellow with
the withered hand. All they saw in
his misfortune was chance to entrap
Christ. They we're very religious,
great sticklers for the letter, but with
cred in heart. Jesus was angered at
them and grieved at the hardening
of their hearts. ". R. W. He is
just the same today. The pharisees
attended to the minute and neglected
the mammoth. (Matt. 1929 Jesus
did nothing. He simply spoke the
word of power; so his enemies were
completely baffled: they could not &C.
cuse him Of working on the Sabbath
day; for If there was any work done,
God himself must have done It..
Though the pharisees were silenced,
they were not satisfied. They went
out and took council how they might
destroy him: very religious but MUIR
derers at heart. The method Of the
cure was deeply significant; he COM
manded the man to do what quite
likely it was naturally impossible for
him to do ". 81, but with the will to
obey came the power to act. Jesus
Christ often commands the impossible,
but If We will just believe him, he will
give the power to do the impossible.