READ: Luke 13:10-17 and 14:1-6
PRAY: In both of these stories, Jesus heals on the Sabbath day. Jesus does this not to show a disrespect for Jewish worship, but to demonstrate what all worship ought to be about. In worship this week, pay special attention to prayers for healing. At home, give thanks again, and pray for God to go with you as you follow the command, “Go in peace. Serve the Lord.”
DO: Find information about Jewish observance of the Sabbath Day. When does this observance begin / end? What does a typical Sabbath day include? How is this different / similar to Christian observances? Pick something from the Jewish practice of observing the Sabbath and try to work it into your own Sabbath observance for the next week or two.
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PONDER:
What is the same about these two stories? What is different?
What does it mean to be “set free” from suffering? What does it mean to be healed?
Why is there still suffering in the world? Does Jesus still heal people today?
What do you do to observe the Sabbath? Is this a day of rest and worship for you?
What are some ways that other Christians observe the Sabbath?
Is there something else you can do to make the Sabbath holy?
Is there ever a time when it’s okay to break the rules? What justifies this? Can you think of an example from your own life?
What’s the difference between the “letter of the law” and the “spirit of the law”? Is it possible to break one and keep the other? If so, think of examples for each case…
Big Idea: God made laws for people; not people for laws (cf. Mark 2:27).
Historical Stuff:
The Sabbath was a cherished gift God had given the people. Its observance was a holy thing. God's people had a history that remembered never having a day to rest (all the way back to their slavery in Egypt), so now there were rules about remembering and observing and being thankful for the gift of rest. But Jesus reminded the people again and again that God's grace is the most important gift.
Read Exodus 20:8-11 and Leviticus 23:3. What is the same and different in these two descriptions of the same law?
What is special about the Sabbath law? Why was the synagogue leader so angry with Jesus?
Read Psalm 119:33-40. How does this help us understand the ancient Israelite understanding of God’s laws? How were God’s laws to be observed?
How should we observe God’s laws? How are God’s laws a gift for us?
Contemporary Stuff:
Who initiated each of these healings (Jesus or the person who is healed)?
Who initiates our healings / forgiveness?
What does this mean in terms of Baptism? Salvation?
(cf. Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-31)
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