Easter 2025

God wanted us to have a rest day to enjoy his creation and his relationship with us. The Sabbath was just that. However, the ruling priesthood (The Pharisees) made rules that gave them power over the people. Jesus said “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath”.

In the passage below (Mark 2:23 to 3:6) is the moment he had to die.

Jesus Is Lord of the Sabbath

²³ One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain. ²⁴ The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”

²⁵ He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need? ²⁶ In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”

²⁷ Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. ²⁸ So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shrivelled hand was there. ² Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. ³ Jesus said to the man with the shrivelled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

⁴ Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

⁵ He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. ⁶ Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

The Pharisees were not happy with Jesus telling what God truly intended and it was an affront to their authority and their rules.

But they thought by killing him they had the power to silence him forever.

How wrong they were. Jesus conquered death, for us all, and they became nothing.

Enjoy Easter as we reflect on what it means to us all.