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The Sabbath in Jesus’ Day, Part 3
Was Jesus Guilty for Breaking the Sabbath?
Those who hold that Christ abolished the law teach that He broke
the Sabbath and justified His disciples in doing the same. Thus they are really
taking the same ground as did the caviling Jews. In this they contradict the
testimony of Christ Himself, who declared, “I have kept My Father’s
commandments and abide in His love.” John 15:10.
Neither the Saviour nor His followers broke the law of the Sabbath. Christ was
a living representative of the law. No violation of its holy precepts was found
in His life. Looking upon a nation of witnesses who were seeking occasion to
condemn Him, He could say unchallenged, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” John 8:46.
The Saviour had not come to set aside what patriarchs and
prophets had spoken; for He Himself had spoken through these representative
men. All the truths of God’s word came from Him. But these priceless gems had
been placed in false settings. Their precious light had been made to minister
to error. God desired them to be removed from their settings of error and
replaced in the framework of truth. This work only a divine hand could
accomplish. By its connection with error, the truth had been serving the cause
of the enemy of God and man. Christ had come to place it where it would glorify
God, and work the salvation of humanity.
The Lord’s Day—A Day of Blessings
“The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath,”
Jesus said. The institutions that God has established are for the benefit of
mankind. “All things are for your sakes.” 2 Corinthians 4:15.
“Whether Paul or Apollos or Cephas, or the world or life or death, or things
present or things to come—all are yours. And you are Christ’s, and Christ is
God’s.” 1 Corinthians 3:22, 23. The law of Ten
Commandments, of which the Sabbath forms a part, God gave to His people as a
blessing. “The Lord commanded us,” said Moses, “to observe all these statutes,
to fear the Lord our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us
alive.” Deuteronomy 6:24. And through the psalmist the
message was given to Israel, “Serve the Lord with gladness; come before His
presence with singing. Know that the Lord, He is God; it is He who has made us,
and not we ourselves; we are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter
into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise.” Psalm 100:2-4. And of all who keep “from defiling the
Sabbath,” the Lord declares, “Even them will I bring to My holy mountain, and
make them joyful in My house of prayer.” Isaiah 56:6, 7.
“Wherefore the Son of man is Lord also of the Sabbath.” These
words are full of instruction and comfort. Because the Sabbath was made for
man, it is the Lord’s day. It belongs to Christ. For “all things were made
through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.” John
1:3. Since He made all things, He made the Sabbath. By Him it was set
apart as a memorial of the work of creation. It points to Him as both the
Creator and the Sanctifier. It declares that He who created all things in
heaven and in earth, and by whom all things hold together, is the head of the
church, and that by His power we are reconciled to God. For, speaking of
Israel, He said, “I also gave them My Sabbaths, to be a sign between them and
Me, that they might know that I am the Lord who sanctifies them,”—make them
holy. Ezekiel 20:12. Then the Sabbath is a sign of
Christ’s power to make us holy. And it is given to all whom Christ makes holy.
As a sign of His sanctifying power, the Sabbath is given to all who through
Christ become a part of the Israel of God.
And the Lord says, “If you turn away your foot from the Sabbath,
from doing your pleasure on My holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the
holy day of the Lord honorable, . . . then you shall delight yourself
in the Lord.” Isaiah 58:13, 14. To all who receive the
Sabbath as a sign of Christ’s creative and redeeming power, it will be a
delight. Seeing Christ in it, they delight themselves in Him. The Sabbath
points them to the works of creation as an evidence of His mighty power in
redemption. While it calls to mind the lost peace of Eden, it tells of peace
restored through the Saviour. And every object in nature repeats His
invitation, “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give
you rest.” Matthew 11:28.
The Desire of Ages, pp. 287-289
Next part: God’s Unchangeable Law
All Scriptures are quoted from the New King James Version,
including those originally quoted by Ellen White from the King James
Version.—Editors
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