Recently I received a question from a member of my congregation concerning God’s original design and Jesus’ teaching on the Sabbath. Here is the question:
l was studying book of John 5 and come up with another question, l know the principle of God’s word never change. In what positive ways could the application of God’s original directions and Jesus attitude concerning the Sabbath affect our society?
It is true to say that God’s Word never changes. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Heb 13:8). But in the application of his word, some things have changed. Christians are no longer bound by the law of the Jewish religion (with the exception of those things that have been repeated in the New Covenant, which actually covers a great deal of the Old). For example, we’re no longer bound to the law of animal sacrifice, though the concept of sacrifice is still present in our giving on the first day of the week (1 Cor 16:1-2). Another Law that we are no longer bound by is that of the Sabbath, and often when thinking of the Sabbath with regard to the New Testament, my mind is often drawn to teaching in Mark 2:27, that the “Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath.” Jesus teaching shows us that while the Sabbath was the Law, it was not some arbitrary law that God just made up, but there was a reason for it. The Sabbath was created so that man could have a day of rest from his regular work ( a concept that any expert will tell you still applies today. We need to take time off to rest). Nowhere in the New Testament are we commanded to keep a Sabbath Law, that is, we aren’t required by God’s Law to keep a day of rest. (Of course we are still required to set aside a day for worship, but it is no longer required by God that we do no work on that day (though a Sunday afternoon nap is rarely a bad idea)).
With regard to Jesus teaching, in John 5, as well as other places we see Jesus confronting the Jewish leaders (mostly Scribes and Pharisees) regarding his working of miracles and doing good works on the Sabbath. In John 5:17, Jesus says to those who are questioning him on this occasion, “My Father is working until now, and I am working (ESV).” Again this is not the only time we see Jesus doing this (Matthew 12:1-14; Luke 14:1-6). It seems that Jesus confirms that not only was it allowable to do a good deed on the Sabbath, but that it was the right thing to do.
God’s original plan for the Sabbath was to give man a day to rest from his regular work. I’ve already mentioned that many experts will say that a day of rest each week is a good idea. Throughout years of Jewish traditions the concept of the Sabbath was corrupted by Jesus’ time, legalistically forbidding what was not intended to be part of God’s plan for the Sabbath. This is why Jesus confronts the Jewish leaders on this so often. They had neglected the true matters of the Law for the sake of their tradition (Matthew 23:23; Mark 7:11).
Jesus teaches that it is lawful to do good on the Sabbath (which was still in effect since the New Covenant had not been sealed by his blood). In fact, we might say that Jesus commanded that we do not let the concept of a day of rest interfere with our doing good for people. In today society, certainly we should take days where we rest from our regular work, but we should never let that trump any opportunity we have to do good. If we would adopt those two concepts we might find they would have a great effect on society.
Many children today have troubles because their father and/or mother are so busy working that they don’t take time for the family. Imagine if we all set aside one day a week to refrain from working and just spend time with are families. Many members of the Lord’s body are forsaking the assembly (Heb 10:25). What if we put God in his proper place as number one in our lives, instead of putting work first?
Jesus’ teaching about doing good on the Sabbath should extend to every day of the week. We should never miss an opportunity we have to do the Lord’s work and do good for our fellow man, whether he be a brother in Christ or someone outside the body. What if we all stopped to help one another in times of need? What if we set our minds to being like Jesus and doing good for those who need it, regardless of what day of the week it is?
Keep Christ in The Christian 
If we do not stop and consider from time to time we tend to lose focus of how good life is. Rest allows us time to remember why we work and for whom our work is done.