The Yale expositor. (Yale, St. Clair County, Mich.) 1894-current, 1914-03-12

bath. Mark 2:27.
These two sections of scripture
have been chosen that we might en-
phasize the truth of the golden text
which can correctly be translated,
The Sabbath was brought into being
on account Of man, and not man on
account of the Sabbath"
There are two extremes OF thought
and action as regards the Christian
Sabbath. One is to make IL holt-
day, the other to make it holy-day'
to worship the day as though It pos
sessed some secret sacredness there
by forgetting the author of the day.
A study OF what Jesus taught will
check laxity on the one hand and cor
rect fanatical error on the other.
Contrast Shown.
I. Jesus loosing the woman, 1910
II. This incident is a strong contrast
between Gods mercy and mans lack
of mercy. Satan was to blame for the
woman's illness ". 49, and at the
same time for the hardness of the
hearts Of these men. The incident
occurred In a synagogue and displeas-
ed the leaders. AS If to rebuke them
Jesus not only spoke the word or
relief but also touched her, causing
an instantaneous and complete cure
Her response was to glorify God. The
sight of this satanic captive acted in
contrast upon Jesus and the ruled of
the synagogue. Compassion and an
utter lack of sympathy. More care
for legalism than for the relief Of one
created In Gods image. Jesus seems
to have acted speedily and is today
calling the unfortunate to him to be
healed and comforted, Matt 11:2S-SO.
Jesus could have healed by a word
only, John 5:40-43. but there is power
also in the loving touch, which in this
case quickened her faith ". 49,. The
record does not suggest that her cure
was in response to her faith as was
| the case in other cures, Matt. $40;
1923. II the ruler had had heart
of compassion he too would have re-
joiced at the cure, but he cared more
for ceremonial ecclesiasticism than
for the good of the .worshipers and
his emotion was that of indignation
rather than that OF Joy. A religion
that is more concerned with bondage
to the beggarly elements, the observ-
ance of days (Gal. ACID is here de-
nounced as hypocrisy wv. Is, 16). 1t
is to have more interest in property
than in human souls. Outlines hatred
for those who do not agree with US is
covered up by a false fanatical pre-
tended jealousy for the law of God
Loves Attribute.
II. Jesus healing the man, Ais. In
this incident the question of the Sab
bath is raised by Jesus himself, evil
IDENTIFY in answer to their mental at
titude, for they watched him" w. -
Receiving no reply, Jesus first healed
the man and then again reminded
them of the care they gave their cat
tie. Jesus plainly implies that If they
give care to an OK or an ass on the
Sabbath, how can it possibly be wrong
to relieve humanity on the Sabbath
Mercy and love are superior to cere
monies though these be of divine ap
pointment. The reasoning is clear
Love is an attribute of Gods charac
ter, /. John AS, and therefore his owl
ceremonies must give way before TIT
activities and energies Of his being
Thus to act upon the principles tina
concern the value Of an "or or an ass
is to allow the lower to control thu
higher, for a man Is of more value
than the OK. These Pharisees were
exceedingly religious. great for tn
'1etter of the law" but they wer'
dried up at heart, and consequent!
far worse of than the man with TIT
dropsy. II Is small wonder then tina
the masters reply should silence then
so they could not answer him"
The Teaehing.-It is true that fun
damentally the Sabbath idea Is on
of worship and rest, but the reason
for It's existence is because OF man
need of that rest. That true rest cal
be found only In a true and intelli
gent spiritual fellowship with Goo
Anything, therefore. that interfere
with or binders rest breaks the SAT
bath and should be removed in orde
that the Sabbath intention may be OF
served. These men were justified Il
leading an OK or an ass to water Of
the Sabbath or to rescue one in perl
On the same principle any wor
which enables men to enter into
Sabbath rest is not only justifiable bu
necessary in the interest OF the Sat
bath itself They cared for cattle or
ly as cattle, their property; we mus
care for men for their own sakes an
in his interest and behalf
The Sabbath must never be desc
Grated by being made an instrumen
of harm to man. II is always desc
Grated when, in the presence Of HI
man need, we decline to render SER
ice on the plea of the sanctity of tn
day. A faIse ceremonial sanctity {
any particular day must never be pc
mitted to destroy the underlying, tn
truly essential. sanction and autho
ity for a Sabbath rest. Physically W
do not each night fully regain on
lost energy and need the seventh da