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Mark 3:1-6 – Meaning vs. Rules
Jesus does more than keep the Sabbath. He honors its meaning more than those who simply see it as a rule or law. The Son of Man shows it to be a blessing, and not a burden. Therefore when Jesus healed on the Sabbath, He wasn’t “breaking” the Sabbath; neither was He showing an exception to the Day of Rest. Jesus is showing the true meaning and purpose which is rest.
In Mark 3 a man with a withered hand comes to worship in the Synagogue. It’s nice to know He did dishonor God by blaming Him for His affliction. Jesus sees the man; and “they” (v.2), probably Pharisees and scribes, also see the man. They also see an opportunity to accuse Jesus (v.2). Unknown to them, Jesus also “sees” something else which is their hearts which both angers and grieves Him (5).
Jesus asks them if it is lawful to do good or evil, to save or to kill on the Sabbath (v4). Here, “doing evil” or “doing harm” is doing nothing when good could be done. Notice the emphasis on doing. Therefore unknowingly, “they” were sanctioning doing evil on the Sabbath. Sadly, “they” are also doing something else unlawful on the Sabbath which is planning to destroy Jesus (v.6).
Here, Jesus shows everyone the true meaning of the Sabbath. Healing the man is giving him rest from his affliction. Jesus also enables the man to work again and therefore glorify God by resting on the Sabbath.
Unfortunately for some in Jesus’ time and even today, “religion” is just following rules mindlessly. Jesus shows the true purpose of God’s rules. The principle behind the Sabbath was to bless people by allowing them to rest from the labors. In Jesus we have the new Sabbath because He perfectly followed the rules even though we don’t (Hebrews 4:9-11). Today when we assemble, some see it as just a rule. They don’t see the joy the early disciples possessed by coming together on the Resurrection Day. They, like these early Jews are missing out on the deeper meaning. Coming together is a blessing, not a burden; and a time for spiritual healing, like all of God’s rules.
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