12 May. Continuing our study of God. He is Lord of the Sabbath. Lord, from Latin word Dominus, sounds like One who dominates. Think of a triumphalist wrestler after a televised match, fist bumping his chest and bouncing around the ring. Domination like we expect when our football team plays against the team in last place, at the bottom of the ladder. Domination, like we want when we sit an exam, taking the SAT, and come out with a high score. We 'killed it,' we shout. Domination.
Except that's not how God is. Every other conqueror throughout history, after a victorious thumping of the losers, demands payments, tributes, taxes, honor from the conquered. But God is not like that at all. He OFFERS to be our Lord. What???
Yes, He is Lord of heaven and earth. Yes, He can dominate. Yes, He will establish His kingdom and HIs ways. Yup...that's all correct.
However, unlike any other ruler in history or in the future, He OFFERS Himself to us, to be our God, for us to be His servants, and even His friends. Who does that?
The Lord of the Sabbath could give us regulations and demands. He could sit back, behind a desk of angels, with rings of layers of separation from us, and require our compliance. Maybe He would turn and notice, but that's unlikely.
Nope, the Lord of the Sabbath actually came and walked among us. He showed us what Sabbath (rest) was about. It's about sharing life together. He healed the broken on the Sabbath; He brought life where there was only death and insignificance.
He cured the disabled man. (John 5:6, 8); the man with the withered hand (Matthew 12:13); the infirm woman (Luke 13:13); the man with dropsy (Luke 14:4). When He healed the blind man (John 9), the world turned upside down. No one shouted, "Hallelujah!" which is seriously sad. Not the man's parents, or his neighbours, or the Pharisees -- all of them should have rejoiced.
Yeshua who performed those and dozens of other miracles, offered Himself to the man born blind. And then and only then, did Yeshua become Lord of the Sabbath and Lord alone, for the former blind man.
God has done amazing things on the planet, and in your world.
He offers Himself to you, to be your Lord, today on the Sabbath, and any day. Will you turn your life and your will over to the care of this God, to Yeshua, made in His image and likeness, the Messiah, the Lord of all, the Lord of Sabbath?
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