Living Without Law

based on Mark 2:23-28

2^nd Sunday after the Pentecost – June 18, 2006

Pastor Richard Mau

Immanuel Lutheran Church – Des Plaines, IL

Today’s Scripture

Psalm 142 Deuteronomy 5:12-15 2 Corinthians 4:5-12 Mark 2:23-28

Introductory notes: At Jesus’ time, there were many “rules” of the church. As we note Jesus and the disciples walking on a Sabbath one of the rules is brought to our attention. Overlooked here is another one of those rules, how many steps a person could take on a Sabbath. Even the number of steps one could walk was limited as determined by the distance to walk to the synagogue and home again. More than that was considered “work.” Taking grain from a neighbor’s crop was allowable under normal conditions. As there were no restaurants as we are accustomed, one traveling could eat some heads of grain for nourishment as he passed. But gathering those heads of grain was harvesting was “work” on the day of rest.

Well, it looks on the surface that Jesus and the disciples are breaking the 3^rd commandment, of keeping the Sabbath holy as the seventh day, the day of rest, the day God rested from his work of creation. Would I be breaking some “Sabbath laws” if I should stray from the pulpit to give today’s sermon?

Wilfred was on his way to the Men’s Club dart-ball game with St. Peter’s. He pulled up to the stop sign at the end of the road. There was no traffic in sight. As he made the turn and started to accelerate, a car on the shoulder turned on its lights. Yes, it was the sheriff’s police and Wilfred was being pulled over. When the officer walked up to Wilfred’s window Wilfred asked, “Did I slide through that stop sign?”

“No,” replied the officer. “I just wanted to commend you. There was no traffic and you could have easily slid through. But you did stop as you should. Thank you for being a safe driver and enjoy your evening.”

How did Wilfred feel when he saw “the law” coming at him? How did Wilfred feel when he found out he was “clear of the law?”

Do you rest on the Sabbath? Do you find rest on the Sabbath? Or is your life a run here, run there type of thing? Families, how about keeping up with all of the activities, the special practices, tournaments, late night finishing the homework with the kids, even trying to sit down and eat a meal together? Or is it work and the position next to you not being filled which means…you are getting another stack on your plate. Just wait until retirement when…this activity and that grandchild’s thing and my obligation to do this and…

Do you take time to rest and when you do, do you rest? How do you feel when you get an extra day and you use it for rest?

Let’s think about Wilfred at the stop sign again. What was going through his mind as he pulled over and waited for the officer’s visit? “I broke the law. I am going to get a ticket. I will have to go to traffic court. I won’t have my license but this slip of paper and what if something really significant happens, will that make a difference then? What will happen to my insurance? Will Evelyn be upset when I tell her? They print my name in the paper and now the whole county will know I got a ticket. I’ll not hear the end of this from the neighbors or at the coffee shop for a while. It was no different from how the Pharisees were trying to heap guilt up on Jesus and the disciples in today’s account in Mark. But Jesus had the Gospel answer.

You see, it isn’t just the law alone, but how it builds up? Isn’t that it with sin? There is no rest for the wicked and we are the wicked! There is no rest from sin. Satan keeps digging up the old ones in your memory and then he adds a couple of new ones on the front end. The burden gets heavier.

Another thing about Wilfred again. Just a few yards down the road from his lane was a flowing artesian well. Wilfred had plugged this well with a pipe that was always running. A metal cup hung on a nail on the fence-post. At any time and all year long, anyone could stop at that spot and have a cup of fresh well water. Think of how refreshing it would be today (over 90⁰) and having that refreshing, fresh, cold, clean water? And it is free and is always there.

Before you is the cross with Jesus dying on it. Before you is the table prepared with his precious body and blood for you for a great reason. In the front of the church is the baptismal font. It is always there and we keep it there for a good purpose. Yes, some baptisms are family only. But we prefer to celebrate baptisms as a congregational family because the font is there and it tells you something each time you see it, each time you pass by it, each time it is used for another person no matter what the age. Reach ahead and pick up the pew Bible or your own if it is next to you in the pew. What is the message in that Bible from Genesis 1:1 through Revelation 22:21? The message is all about Sabbath. The message is all about one of our opening hymns, “There Is A Balm In Gilead.” The message is about cure and rest. The message is that God has done everything for you, the labor is over. In one of the prayers at funerals we give thanks for “those who now rest from their labors.”

Rest. Sit back. Roll your shoulders, get comfortable and…rest. (aside: don’t fall asleep during the sermon J)

Rest. I forgive your sins in the name of the Father, † Son and Holy Spirit.

Rest. The waters of baptism have washed all your sins away.

Rest. As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. [Palm 103:12]

Rest. In your love you kept me from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins behind your back. [Isaiah 38:17]

Rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light." [Matthew 11:29-30]

Rest. Jesus said to the woman, "Your faith has saved you; go in peace." [Luke 7:50]

Rest. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God-- [Ephesians 2:8]

Rest. "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." [Luke 23:43]

Rest. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give your rest. [Matthew 11:28]

Rest. There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God; for anyone who enters God’s rest also rests from his own work, just as God did from his. [Hebrews 4:9-10]

Rest. “So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." [Mark 2:28]

And this peace that transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.