Connect
- Pray first
- What is one item in your home that you could not live without?
Discuss
- Read Mark 2:23-28.
- What do the Pharisees focus their complaint upon and why? What did Jesus mean when He said, “Have you never read…”?
- After describing the situation of David and those who were with him, what principle does Jesus bring forward in vs. 27, and what does it mean? How does the scene from David’s life in vss. 25–26 support the Sabbath principle in vs. 27?
- In vs. 28, Jesus calls Himself the “Son of Man” again. What does “son of man” represent in Psalm 8? Daniel 7:13-14 also uses the same term — to whom does it refer? (Note: this title was a favourite self-designation of Jesus as He used it than 80 times in the New Testament, 14 of those in the book of Mark!)
- Read Mark 3:1-6.
- In vs. 4, Jesus asks, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm?” He answers Himself in Matthew 12:9–14. How does His answer challenge the “rules” of the Pharisees? (Note: Over the centuries, the rabbis dedicated themselves to find-tuning the Sabbath laws, adding many specific prohibitions not found anywhere in the law. These traditions eventually became binding on people’s consciences as much as Scripture itself.)
- Why does Jesus ask the question, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath…to save life or to kill?” (see Luke 6:8 & John 5:18). Why do the Pharisees not answer either question?
- What two emotions does Jesus show in response to their silence in vs. 5? What does this tell us about His heart for sinners?
- What is your usual practice of observing the Sabbath? What hinders you from keeping the Sabbath? How might your practice of Sabbath rest be a blessing to your family? To your friends who do not know Jesus?
Pray
- Take time to pray together asking God to help each person to make an active choice to put aside agendas and projects, tuning out demands and deadlines (and even screens!) that enslave to enter Sabbath rest that will be bring joy and lead to worship. Pray against any unwanted extra ‘laws’ that smother the intention of true Sabbath rest.
- Use this as a prayer heading into your Sabbath rest. https://runhardrestwell.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Sabbath-Prayer.pdf
