Jesus and His disciples were walking through a field. The disciples were hungry and pulled off a few heads of wheat to chew on as they walked. Those who were devout followers of the Law had determined that what the disciples did was called work and it is a sin to work on the Sabbath. They confronted Jesus and the disciples with scathing judgment. In that process, they totally missed Jesus, the Messiah! He tried to tell them, “There is one here who is even greater than the Temple! But you would not have condemned my innocent disciples if you knew the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath!”
Then, Jesus went on to push a few more buttons for the religious leaders. They asked Him, “Does the law permit a person to work by healing on the Sabbath?” They had already made a judgment. Healing was determined by them to be work. Jesus tried to help them re-frame that judgment. He asked them if they wouldn’t be merciful and rescue a farm animal that was in distress even if it was the Sabbath, and they all knew they would. And He continued then to tell them that a person is ever so much more valuable than a farm animal. Of course, the law would permit a person to do good on the Sabbath – including healing a man with a deformed arm! And He proceeded to heal the man. And the religious leaders proceeded to condemn him and plot how to kill Jesus! How dare He question their interpretation of the law? Again, they missed Jesus, their Messiah!
Yes, self-righteousness is a nasty business. It keeps us from seeing Jesus! We look at others through the eyes of judgment and condemnation – interpreting the law from our perspective and visiting it on others around us. We condemn them, look down our noses at them, and avoid them.
But Jesus!
Cornelius was not a Jew. He was a Roman officer. Yet he was a devout believer in God. He prayed. He gave to the poor. God sent an angel to him with specific directions to ask Peter to come. At the same time, God had some work to do in Peter to get him ready to go. He gave Peter a vision inviting him to feast on unclean animals (animals the Jewish law forbade them to eat). Three times Peter saw the same vision. In dream interpretation, that means it is God’s final answer and it is going to happen immediately. Peter was puzzling over that when Cornelius’ party arrived at Peter’s door. Now Peter understood. There was no question what God was asking him to do. He was to go with the men and preach the gospel – to Romans who were considered by the law to be unclean! Peter went and Cornelius and his family and friends he had invited to join them were all saved! And just to make sure Peter didn’t waver, the Holy Spirit came upon Cornelius and all who were with him and there was no question that they were also saved and citizens of God’s kingdom!
God does not follow our rules. He does not dwell within the walls we have built! What he wants is our repentance and a personal encounter and relationship with each one of us. If we are willing, He wants to dwell inside us! He is Lord even over the Sabbath! When He says come, we are to come. When He says go, we are to go. Yes, He gave us the Bible to guide us. But that is not enough. He wants to guide us and He can only do that through a personal relationship with Him. When we see our own need for His mercy, we are free to give mercy to others. Instead of spreading condemnation, we are filled with His Holy Spirit and begin to spread love and grace. We encourage others and teach them who God is and then let God work in them – just as He has worked in us to bring us to a place of deep, abiding, fruitful relationship with Him!
Lord, in your mercy, fill me with your love for others that I can be an agent of healing and grace in their lives. Amen.
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