Mexico Missouri message., 1918-02-07
IMPROVED UNIFORM NTERNATIONAL
SUNNYSGOOL
LESSON
CBy q. o. SELLERS, Acting Director of
the Sunday School Course of the Moody
Bible Institute, Chicago.)
lcopyright. 1917. Western Newspaper Union }
LESSON FOR FEBRUARY 8
JESUS LORD OF THE SABBATH
LESSON rExT-Mark 2:1s-s;s.

TEACHERS-Ex. 20S-11; lisa. 5S:13, IA;
Neh. 13:15-22; Matt 12:1-S Luke 4:16; Acts
2O:7; Cor. 1871, 2; Col 2:16, II.
PRIMARY ToPIC-Jesus and the Sab
bath day.
MEMORY vERsE-Remember the Sab
bath day, TO keep 1t holy.-Bx. 2O:s.
JUNIOR TOPIC-Jesus and the Sabbath.
MEMORY vERsE-Ex. 20:s-11.
INTERMEDIATE, SENIOR AND
ADULT ToPIC-our day of rest and wor-
ship.
I. The Sabbath a Boon, Not Burden
wv. 23-2s). 1t has been suggested
that this passage, particularly verse %,
indicates something of the poverty and
simplicity Of the lives of the disciples,
that they lived not only day at time
but literally from hand to mouth.
America is the most prodigal nation on
the globe, but it is today facing the ne
cessity of conservation and retrench-
ment, not because it is desired but of
necessity in winning this great world
war struggle. Perhaps this will prove
to be a boon growing out of the dark
ness Of the days through which we are
passing.
Notice that the disciplines were not
| particularly criticized because they
plucked and appropriated the grain
that belonged to another even though
1t was for their bodily needs, but be.
cause they did it on the Sabbath day.
The Jewish law permitted them to
take that which did not belong to them
because Of their necessity, but would
not permit them to do 1t on the first
day of the week. The criticism of the
Pharisees, based upon Deut. 5:14; Ex.
81 10, though apparently scriptural,
was, however, based upon an incom-
plete knowledge and application Of
those scriptures. Jesus shows them
first that ceremonial prescriptions and
laws must give way before the needs
Of man and he cites the case of David
as an illustration. Again he shows
them that the demands of the temple
service were superior to the prescrip-
tions of the common law (See Matt.
1876, g., that he, himself, is greater
than the temple for he is the one in
whom God tabernacled (John IA r.
V. Margin). The Sabbath law there
fore must give way before the neces-
sity of Christian service. Again he
shows that mercy is more than sacri-
fee, and so ceremonial demands must
give way before the needs of mercy
and compassion. He also shows them
that the Sabbath was made for man
wv. 81, 2S) rather than man for the
Sabbath. He, the "Son of Man." is the
consummation and head of the race,
Lord even of the Sabbath, and as Lord
of the Sabbath he has set aside the
seventh day Sabbath, which was the
shadow of things to come (Col. 2:17)
and belongs to the old order and dis
pensation. 1t is true that we have nc
right to judge any man regarding the
Sabbath. (Col. 2:16, 10, but as Chris
tians who are "risen with Christ" (Col
3:1) we are to keep the Lords Day
(Rev. / :10), the first day of the week
(Acts 20:7) the resurrection day
and are under no law whatever to keeI
the seventh day.
II. A Proper Use Of the Lords Day
(Ch. 3:1-5). 1t is somewhat unfortu
nate, our divisions Of the Scripture in
to chapters and verses. This mex
passage is really practical applica
ton and illustration of the principle
with which Jesus has just been deal
ing. 1t was the custom of Jesus t.
frequent the synagogue on the Sab
bath Day duke :16), the day upoI
which the Jews still gathered in larg'
numbers. We need to note ". p tina
the question which was asked of hin
was not a fair question, not so mucl
honest seeking for information, bu
rather they watched him" for the!
wanted to find something with whicl
to trap him. Jesus taught that it il
lawful to do good on the Sabbath Day
that it is lawful to heal on the Sab
bath Day Matt. - :10) that 1t is law
full to restore lost ass or OK on tn
Sabbath Day duke IA %; Matt. 1911
that q man is of more value than
sheep (Matt. II :13), and that the ney
methods and new times demanded neV
applications mark 2 81, 22). In thes
teachings Jesus does not necessaril
abolish or abrogate the ancient fOurt
commandment, but rather the misin
terpretation, misuse and misapplico
ton of the Sabbath law. For a col
rect Interpretation of the Old Tests
ment Sabbath see Isa. 58:13, IA. TIL
difference between the Jewish Sabbat
and Christian Lords Day is a matte
of counting: we begin to count at tn
point of the resurrection Of Jesus. Th
Sabbath Day is means to an end
1t is not the end itself.
Ameriea's Great Heritage.
The man was really and organ
cally sick; he had withered han
which all could see-no "mOral error
about 1t at all, and he was really hea
ed. The Lords Day is Americas grea
heritage. Are we going to throw
awayP 1t is of economic value as we
as a spiritual heritage. The obserN