This week's message comes from Mark 3:1-6. The big idea of the sermon is "The Sabbath was created as a blessing for man and not for his destruction." This is similar to what Jesus said at the end of Mark 2: "The Sabbath was created for man and not man for the Sabbath."
The Lord's Day, when it is observed rightly, is not a legalistic, slavish observance. It is liberating and a blessing to any individual or family which follows the Biblical guidelines for the Sabbath of the New Covenant.
This text illustrates the "big idea" principle when Jesus heals the man with the withered hand. The Pharisees wanted Jesus to heal this man so they would have an excuse to accuse Him of lawlessness. Since "sin is lawlessness" (1 John 3:4) they were trying to trap Jesus in a sin. We learn a lot here about self righteous human nature and how low it will stoop to accuse what is truly righteous.
Jesus responds with an incredible and very convicting answer: is it right to heal or to kill on the Sabbath? In other words, should this day of rest be for the purpose of helping or hurting? He doesn't give a third option.
We come away with the principle that on the Lord's Day, our observance should not cause us to focus selfishly on ourselves. We should have our eyes open to others around us and do good on the Sabbath day to those who are in need.
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