I’m guessing it’s one of the most helpful perspectives of the Bible.

Admittedly, because all of the words of the Scriptures are God-breathed, it’s important not to emphasize one text at the expense of others.

But it looks to me as though there is one statement that might help us take a second look at the rest.

The words I’m referring to are spoken by Jesus on a seventh day of the week, which in first century Israel, under the blue laws of Moses, was a strictly enforced “no work” day.

It happened in an agricultural setting as Jesus was walking through a “corn” field with his disciples. They were hungry and began picking some of the grain to eat. Their actions, however, did not escape the notice of religious leaders who asked Jesus why his followers were doing what was not allowed by Sabbath law (Mark 2:24).

In response, Jesus asked them whether they had read in the Scriptures what David had done when he and his hungry men went into the house of God and ate “holy bread” that according to the law was to be eaten only by priests (Mark 2:25-26).

Then the Teacher said it. He said that people were not made for the Sabbath, but the Sabbath was made for people (Mark 2:27).

To further illustrate his point, “the Lord of the Sabbath” went into a synagogue and intentionally did “the work of God” by healing a man with a withered hand. His bold challenge of “no-work sabbath law” made the religious leaders so angry they went out and plotted to kill him (Mark 3:1-6).

In light of what Jesus said, can we then say that:

1. People are more important than the laws of our society?
2. People are more important than the processes and policies of our work places?
3. People are more important than church doctrine, programs, and authority?

We are now in deep and dangerous water. But hasn’t our Lord brought us here? Wasn’t it Jesus himself who explained that he came not to “destroy the law” but to “fulfill it” (Matt 5:17).

Seems to me that everything our Lord did answered the question, “What do truth and grace require in the presence of broken, ignorant, lost people?”

By watching very carefully how he interacts with both “insiders” and “outsiders”– all of whom he died for–  can’t we see why he is the ultimate example of “tough love” with Pharisees…and the ultimate example of patience and gentleness with those who had lost their way.

Don’t the words and example of our Lord give us good reason to think about what each situation requires in order to show the attitudes of Christ (Matt 5:1-12), the fruit of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23), and the marks of real wisdom (James 3:13-17)?

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