July 25, 2011
Sabbath: The Rest of God Wk 4: Community
Posted by Michael
Learn:
Mark 3:1-6
1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.
Main Idea:
In Mark 3, Jesus uses the Sabbath to teach an important lesson. The Pharisees were trying to use the man in this story to trap Jesus. They cared very little about the man other than using him as a pawn. He was always around the synagogue, but never involved. They were fine with leaving the man as an outcast and loner as long as they kept their laws about the Sabbath. By healing the man on the Sabbath, Jesus was inviting him to experience community. We all have the opportunity to offer people rest. It could be by giving an encouraging word to a friend. It could be by telling your children you are proud of them. It could be inviting someone who has been deemed an outcast into community, as Jesus did in this passage. The Sabbath is a time to not only find healing alone with God, but to find healing in God’s community as well.
Know What: The Sabbath is God and humanity enjoying how good life together can be.
So What: There is rest to be found in the context of community.
Now What: Use your day of rest to offer rest to others as well.
Discuss…
1. In Exodus 31:14, it says that on the Sabbath no work must be done. Why did God give this command (Hint: read Deuteronomy 5:12-15)? How and why did the Pharisees take a good thing such as the Sabbath and turn it into a burden?
2. The Pharisees seemed to care more about making a legal point than about the dignity of a person. Have you ever cared more about being “right” than about being helpful? What were the consequences of having this attitude?
3. Have you ever felt left out of something like the man with the shriveled hand? Always around but never involved? What kept you out? How did it make you feel? Did anyone extend an offer of rest to you, as Jesus did to the man?
4. Do you know anyone right now who is on the outside looking in? What is keeping them on the outside? How can you extend an offer of rest to them and invite them into community?
5. Do you ever get so exhausted that the idea of community does not look appealing at all? How can we approach community in a way that does not become work, but rather rest?
6. The man in Mark 3 had to stretch out his hand in order for Jesus to engage him in community. Is there any area of life that you have been sitting in the sidelines? What is keeping you from engaging in authentic community? What steps can you take to stretch out your hand towards community?
Next Steps…
Garry said that a great way to engage in community on the Sabbath is to share a meal together. This week, try to get some people together (maybe your Connect group) to share a meal with. Make the event about more than simply sharing a meal. Make it about finding rest in each other. Go around the table and tell each other why you are thankful for them.
