Following Traditions

Mark 1:32-34

 

I.    Introduction.

A.     First establish the miracles on the Sabbath day – Saturday. 

1.       Scriptures: 

a.       Mark 1:21 states, And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 

b.       Mark 1:29 states, And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 

2.       Comparing with Mark 1:21, it appears both these miracles occurred on the Sabbath day, which would later bring condemnation to Christ by the self-righteous Pharisees. 

B.     Jesus Christ had no problem performing miracles on the Sabbath day. 

1.       The people, however, had major problems with those miracles being performed on the Sabbath. 

2.       A lack of understanding of the scriptures led to this difficulty. 

C.     This message is about our lack of understanding of scriptures, or our viewing things from our background which leads us to false conclusions about what God expects, demands, or desires of us. 

 

II.    The message.

A.     Every gospel account reveals that after the sun did set - the next day after the Sabbath, many brought their sick folks to Christ for healing. 

1.       Matthew 8:16 - When the even was come…

2.       Mark 1:32 - And at even, when the sun did set… 

3.       Luke 4:40 - Now when the sun was setting… 

B.     Peter's mother in law was, no doubt, present for all the healing, and gave testimony of her healing as well. 

1.       When a person is healed, it gives comfort and assurance that I can be healed as well. 

2.       This is what happened to the people the woman at the well witnessed to. 

a.       John 4:29-30 states that she told others about Christ. 

b.       John 4:41-42 relates the conversation between the newly saved people and the woman at the well, who confessed they now believed because of a personal relationship with Christ, not because of what they had heard. 

 

III.    It is easy to see how religious tradition hinders the true working of Christ - even today. 

A.     These folks were very earnest in their desire to see their loved ones healed, but they did not bring them to Christ on the Sabbath day, as they believed them being healed would be working, and they did not want to be condemned by the Pharisees. 

1.       We ought to be extremely careful that we not become like the Pharisees in our desire to be faithful to God, yet yield ourselves to God completely, always obeying his revealed word (the Bible), and never doing that which is right in our own eyes.  Always do what God declares in his word, not what men say is right. 

2.       Be very careful of following the traditions of men, thinking we are worshipping God.  Example:  Southern gospel (my favorite) is not the only singing style that is pleasing to God. 

3.       Often, people follow what they have seen in the past instead of believing what God's word declares to them. 

B.     A few examples of wrong thoughts. 

1.       Often people believe they should "pray through" because that is something they have seen done. 

2.       Often people believe they should come to the mourners bench because that is what they have seen done. 

3.       Often people believe they must be saved in a special meeting or revival service because that is what they have seen done. 

4.       Often people believe that salvation must come only after much weeping, wailing and gnashing of teeth because that is what they have seen done. 

5.       The right way?  Come to Christ as he beckons to you. 

C.     It is strange that the people knew Christ had healed on the Sabbath day, and knew that must be OK with God yet did not feel comfortable bringing their sick loved ones to Christ.  It is very difficult to make our minds think correctly (as God thinks). 

1.       It is good for us to pray that God open our eyes that we might see his power and will. 

2.       Sometimes we hinder, or put off the blessings of God because we our thinking or our actions. 

 

IV.    Christ is master of the Sabbath, not the other way around. 

A.     Mark 2:23-28 declares, And it came to pass, that he went through the corn fields on the sabbath day; and his disciples began, as they went, to pluck the ears of corn. 24 And the Pharisees said unto him, Behold, why do they on the sabbath day that which is not lawful? 25 And he said unto them, Have ye never read what David did, when he had need, and was an hungred, he, and they that were with him? 26 How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and did eat the shewbread, which is not lawful to eat but for the priests, and gave also to them which were with him? 27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath. 

1.       The Pharisees and the people in Jesus’ day would have condemned David for eating the showbread, because it was against their law. 

2.       It was not against the law of God, as God never condemned David for this action. 

B.     Luke 5:17-26 reveals that Christ is also LORD of words:  And it came to pass on a certain day, as he was teaching, that there were Pharisees and doctors of the law sitting by, which were come out of every town of Galilee, and Judaea, and Jerusalem: and the power of the Lord was present to heal them. 18 And, behold, men brought in a bed a man which was taken with a palsy: and they sought means to bring him in, and to lay him before him. 19 And when they could not find by what way they might bring him in because of the multitude, they went upon the housetop, and let him down through the tiling with his couch into the midst before Jesus. 20 And when he saw their faith, he said unto him, Man, thy sins are forgiven thee. 21 And the scribes and the Pharisees began to reason, saying, Who is this which speaketh blasphemies? Who can forgive sins, but God alone? 22 But when Jesus perceived their thoughts, he answering said unto them, What reason ye in your hearts? 23 Whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Rise up and walk? 24 But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power upon earth to forgive sins, (he said unto the sick of the palsy,) I say unto thee, Arise, and take up thy couch, and go into thine house. 25 And immediately he rose up before them, and took up that whereon he lay, and departed to his own house, glorifying God. 26 And they were all amazed, and they glorified God, and were filled with fear, saying, We have seen strange things to day. 

1.       Here Christ reveals he can cure invisible sins. 

a.       People cannot see the healing or forgiving of invisible sins, but they can see the healing of a diseased body. 

b.       Jesus uses the healing of a diseased body to show he can heal invisible sins. 

2.       The lesson is that we often get accustomed to certain words, which are the truth, yet are not able to discern the truth when those exact words are not used.