“The Pharisees and some of the teachers of the law who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus ² and saw some of his disciples eating food with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. ³ (The Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they give their hands a ceremonial washing, holding to the tradition of the elders. ⁴ When they come from the marketplace they do not eat unless they wash. And they observe many other traditions, such as the washing of cups, pitchers and kettles.) ⁵ So the Pharisees and teachers of the law asked Jesus, “Why don’t your disciples live according to the tradition of the elders instead of eating their food with defiled hands?” ⁶ He replied, “Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written:

“‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.
⁷ They worship me in vain; their teachings are merely human rules.’

⁸ You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to human traditions.” Mark 7:1-8

I remember, when I was growing up, my sisters constantly argued about whose turn it was to do the dishes. No, this was not one of my chores—I had others like taking out the trash. This text reminds me of those days when two teenagers argued about washing dishes. Jesus and the Pharisees are having a similar argument – an argument about the cleanliness of hands, and dishes and the futility of the argument. For you see, Jesus says, our concern should not be about whether outside things are clean and how they may affect the body, but it is the things that come from the heart inside the body that will determine how clean we are. In other words, we may argue about how clean a dish is, or whether a dish should be cleaned, or whose turn it is to clean that dish, but in the end, if only filth comes to be served on the dish, what good does it do to clean the dish. Or, in other words, it is what comes from inside us, our words, actions, and deeds of love that define our faith – not how good looking, or well dressed, or pious we appear to be.  “Create in me a clean heart O God, and renew a right spirit within me.”  (Psalm 51)

Pastor Dave

“The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. ³¹ Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even have a chance to eat, he said to them, “Come with me by yourselves to a quiet place and get some rest.” ³² So they went away by themselves in a boat to a solitary place. ³³ But many who saw them leaving recognized them and ran on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. ³⁴ When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things. ³⁵ By this time it was late in the day, so his disciples came to him. “This is a remote place,” they said, “and it’s already very late. ³⁶ Send the people away so that they can go to the surrounding countryside and villages and buy themselves something to eat.”

³⁷ But he answered, “You give them something to eat.” They said to him, “That would take more than half a year’s wages! Are we to go and spend that much on bread and give it to them to eat?” ³⁸ “How many loaves do you have?” he asked. “Go and see.” When they found out, they said, “Five—and two fish.”  Mark 6:30-38

The disciples return from their tandem mission, and they report all that they were able to do. Jesus listens to their stories, and he sends them to a deserted place so they can rest. Ministry is hard, and we need to take time to refresh and renew. Then Jesus feeds the 5000, and he sends the disciples off in a boat while he goes up a mountain to pray. Jesus not only gave the disciples time to rest, but he models for them how necessary that rest is, even for the teachers. The work of Jesus Christ is demanding and tiring and requires the individual to find time for Sabbath. 

What is Sabbath time? Yes, Sabbath time is worship on the Sabbath. But Sabbath time is also taking time throughout the week for spiritual renewal: time for prayer, time for rest, and time for devotions is required of all disciples if we are to continue to do the work of Jesus Christ. How good are your efforts to find Sabbath time for yourself? Don’t wait until you are face down and fractured: find the time in your life for Sabbath.

Pastor Dave