Loving the Lord of the Sabbath

As leaders in Jerusalem thought in the days of Jeremiah the Prophet, so did leaders think in the days of Jesus. The leaders considered the Word of God a liability rather than an asset. Jesus Christ is called the Word of God and He is called the Word made flesh. [1] So, the leaders considered Jesus a liability to their city and not an asset.

“If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation.” [2]

The leaders were so convinced that the Word made flesh was a danger to their well-being that given the choice between saving a murderer named Barabbas or a Savior named Jesus, they chose Barabbas.

“The chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ They said, ‘Barabbas!’” [3]

The Lord told the people in the days of Jeremiah that if they honored the Sabbath, kings would bring their wealth into the city. If they disregarded the Sabbath, kings would takes its wealth away. They disregarded the Word of the Lord and hastened their country’s demise. The Lord gave the people in the days of Jesus a similar warning, and in 70 AD, Jerusalem was destroyed again.

The Sabbath was designed by God to be a sign between Him and His people. If His people loved Him, they would want to hear His Word. They would want to worship Him. They would want to know God’s will and do it to please Him. The Sabbath is about enjoying the Lord’s presence and guidance in one’s life. The Sabbath is about worship and love for the Lord.

“I gave them My sabbaths to be a sign between Me and them, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them.” [4]

The Lord sanctifies us as we redeem time with Him in His Word, and as we rejoice and sing praises to Him with His people.

Thus, there is principle to be observed here. Heed and honor God’s Word: kings bring wealth and honor into the city. Disobey and dishonor God’s Word: kings will remove the wealth and the honor of the city. Jesus said that the Father will honor those who honor Him. [5] It is not that we want material wealth and worldly fame, but that we want the nations to render unto the Lord all the glory, blessings and power that we should render to Him. To God be the glory!

Worse than losing our country’s sovereignty to a foreign conqueror is losing our soul to hell. Therefore, we should honor the Lord by honoring His Words everyday of our lives.

[1] John 1:14; Revelation 19:13
[2] John 11:48
[3] Matthew 27:20-21
[4] Ezekiel 20:12
[5] John 12:26