Mk3

An appropriate response to the reality of our culture should be both ANGER and SORROW. Anger because of the pervasive sin that continues to erode our morality and character, and sorrow because that is not what God intends.

Jesus was both angry and sorrowful at the cultural abuse of the Sabbath. It was intended to be a specific day set aside to rest and enjoy God. A day to honor Him fully and do good. But it became an opportunity for judgement and harshness! A religious set of rules that was completely were void of God Himself. 

In the religious leaders minds it was Jesus' violation of this "holy day" that caused them to want to destroy Him. His actions, though always loving and beneficial to others and honoring to God, were deemed as repulsive and damnable. How could He violate their religious traditions!

Today the "Sabbath" is honored by almost no one. Religious leaders or "christians". No one in our culture seems to believe that any day or any particular day should be set aside to honor and worship God. We should do the "God thing" only when it is convenient or when it benefits us personally. AND what we do for God should be as passive as possible!

Hmm. Maybe the Pharisees totally missed it! We know they did. Maybe we, as a culture, are missing it even worse! God help us stop worshiping ourselves and to start truly worshiping Him.