Luke 6:1-11  "Now it came about that on a certain Sabbath... "   Everything that Jesus did.. as we were reminded before.. came from the Father.  It was not an accident that Jesus and His disciples walked through the field of grain while they were hungry.  It was not necessary for them to go that way.. on the Sabbath.. but it was for God's purposes.  The disciples weren't really laboring in the field.  They simply took some ripe grain and rubbed it in their hands and threw it in their mouths.  Yet, the Pharisees took issue with these simple actions. 

Jesus.. as always.. had a lesson to teach the Pharisees and His disciples. The lesson was this.. " The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." (v5) The Sabbath belongs to Him. He has the power to decide what should or should not happen on the Sabbath.  He was the One who gave the Sabbath to Israel in the first place! They were the ones who failed to understand that it was a gift to enjoy, not a hammer to smash down on others. 

The Pharisees were very focused on the Law.  It was their god.. more so than the true and Living God, it seems.  Jesus seems to deliberately act in ways on the Sabbath that would show them their wrong assumptions about the keeping of this Holy day.  The next Sabbath day Jesus entered into the synagogue. He began teaching and the scribes and Pharisees  were watching Him closely.  Perhaps they had even enticed the man with the withered arm into the synagogue to test Jesus.  They wanted to see with their own eyes.. if Jesus would "heal on the Sabbath".   But.. Jesus "knew what they were thinking.. "  and He called the man to come forward  and to stretch out his hand..  Jesus spoke these powerful words, "I ask you, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good, or to do harm, to save life, or to destroy it?"  This man's withered and useless right hand was completely restored!  What an amazing miracle! 

The religious leaders were more bent on destroying life.. particularly the life of Jesus.. than they were in helping this man.  Jesus was revealing such an important truth to them and they were so enraged that they missed it altogether.  They missed an incredible miracle because they were obsessed with their own opinions. 

What lesson can we learn from this passage that Luke records for us?  Let us think deeply about what Jesus is showing His people...    Jesus is the Lord.. of the Sabbath.. and of all creation.  Everything belongs to Him.. "For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities - all things have been created by Him and for Him." ( Colossians 1:16)   It is up to Him alone to decide what is good.. what is right.. what is acceptable.. and He chooses life. He chooses to heal, to provide, to bless and to give good gifts to people.. for His own purposes and to His own glory.  Hallelujah! What a Savior! Let us not miss it because we have our own opinions and obsessions.. 

Father in heaven, how holy and awesome is Your Name! We praise the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Blessed Son who came to teach us Your True character. You are good.  You are kind.  You are merciful.  You do not bow to the opinions of men.  You are King and You have given all things into the hands of Your precious Son. Thank You for being a good, good Father.  Thank You Jesus for choosing life and grace and love.  Let our hearts abide in You and in Your great love and grace today we pray. Help us to understand the greatest of Your Name as Lord of all!   Amen.