Seeing Jesus in the Gospel of MarkSample

SABBATH

Look Closely:

- Jesus is beginning to gain both followers and opponents. What does Jesus do and say that seems to bring out the opposition?

- How does Jesus respond to his critics?

- What do you learn about Jesus as Son of God/ Son of Man from these verses?

Bible Dictionary Spotlight: Sabbath

The Sabbath is the name given to the day of rest God established at creation. He charged His people to keep this day holy. In fact, this commandment God gave to Moses has a longer explanation than the other nine (see Exodus 20:8-11). Over the years, Jewish religious leaders felt the need to further explain and define, down to the most minor details, what it meant to work and rest and follow the rules of the Sabbath. Today, about 40 categories of work are still prohibited for Jews. Jesus reminds the Pharisees that the heart of the command to keep the Sabbath is meant to center one’s focus on God. It was never about just following all the rules.