I’m preaching on Mark 2:23-3:6 this coming Sunday (Feb 25, 2007). Its the daily Bible Reading scheduled for February 20. I really do want to hear from you! Even just one thought, one comment, one question. It does help me organize my thoughts for the sermon. Click on 
Comments to leave your thoughts.
Pastor Norm
God truly desires to meet our needs from our basic physical needs to our spiritual needs. This passage reminds me how God promises to always provide for us. Mathew 6:26 comes to mind where Jesus reminds us that if the Father provides for the birds of the air, how much more He desires to provide for us. Did Jesus not feed the five thousand with five, small barley loaves and two fishes? He physically provided for so many with so little. This parallels his spiritual provision, how one man can provide a spiritual connection and satisfaction for so many!! Jesus is the “bread of life” (John 33 & 35). Jesus is our bread and water, physically and spiritually. In this passage Jesus recognized his disciples physical needs and did not rebuke them for picking the grain heads.
Some churches have long recognized the necessity of meeting the physical needs before meeting the spiritual eg soup kitchens, food banks and feeding the homeless. Also, we are most often grateful for a day of rest, a family day or a day to enjoy fellowship with other Christians. This too is meeting a physical need, so we can carry on with our spiritual focus throughout the coming week. (Mark 2:27 “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”)
It is never wrong to do good or save life, even on the Sabbath. Jesus clearly demonstrated this by healing the man with the shriveled hand. (… Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life of kill? Mark 3:4) How distressed Jesus was when the Pharisees could not understand this and that they did not rejoice in His healing the man’s hand. Instead in all their stubbornness and determination to fulfill the letter of their human laws, they ignored this amazing miracle and plotted to kill him.
Heavenly Father, help me to remember not to worry about the basic necessities of life. You are so trustworthy and faithful and have always provided for me physically and spiritually. I am so very thankful for your abundant blessings each and every day. I thank you for the “bread of life”. Help me to give priority to nourishing my soul, before I physically start my day. Amen.
When I was growing up Sunday was family day. Church in the morning, lunch in the living room by the fire (which was a special treat) and listening to religious music on the radio and later a family dinner around the dinning room table. These are fond memories for me. I don’t remember it being a special day centered around Christ. We didn’t read the bible or talk about God or pray but it was a day filled with love for one another. It taught me about loving, sharing and helping my mom in the kitchen. Now that I am a grownup I know the importance of attending church weekly to be with fellow believers and praise God. I also try to read my bible daily and attend bible studies to learn more about what God wants from me. The first part of my story is based on family tradition . The second part is having a personal relationship with Jesus. I understand the importance of “a day of rest” but does it have to be Sunday? Some people must work on Sunday ie doctors, nurses etc. Jesus was meeting the needs of his disciples regardless of the day. I guess my point is family day is tradition and every day I spend with Jesus is special.
I am glad that the Lord instituted the Sabbath, since working seven days makes one Iweak. That day must set aside for our good since it was created for our good. it is not a day set with rules and regulations of dos and don’ts so that it becomes a drudgery. Neither is it a day where we are able to do what we desire to do. It is a day for renewal, experiencing the mercies of the Lord our God. The focus must not be on ourselves, but on God. What am I doing to further my relationship with the Lord? I need Him ever hour. How do I stretch out my hand to Him so that He will lead me and guide me in all that I do. When I start the week with Him, and when I start each day with Him, that will direct my journey of the day. How you start the day will influence your travels. TGIF = Today God Is First. That must be the focus on each day of the week, including Sonday. I am alive because He lives in me. I serve a risen Saviour, Christ Jesus my Lord. Therefore, I want to join His people when they gather together to praise Him, to worship Him, to thank Him for all that He has done for me.
Come, now is the time to worship
Come, now is the time to give your heart
Come, just as you are to worship
Come, just as you are before your God
Come
One day every tongue will confess You are God
One day every knee will bow
Still, the greates treasure remains for those
Who glady choose You now