Daily Devotional
By Pastor Jerry Teboe
A Closer Walk with Christ in 2026
A Walk with the Master Series
Lord of the Sabbath
Mark 2:23-28
One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. Mar 2:24 And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” Mar 2:25 And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: Mar 2:26 how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” Mar 2:27 And he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. Mar 2:28 So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
Jesus had to teach another lesson on the difference between the old and the new that we saw yesterday. This time it was in relation to the Sabbath day. That day was a special covenant with the nation of Israel which began following the Exodus from Egypt. The following are some interesting facts about the Sabbath according to the religious leaders of that time.
The Sabbath was cherished by the Jews as a sacred institution. God gave the people of Israel the Sabbath after they came out of Egypt (Exo_20:8-11; Neh_9:14), and it was a special sign between Israel and Jehovah (Exo_31:13-17). There is no record in Scripture that God ever gave the Sabbath to any other nation. So, when Jesus began openly to violate the Sabbath traditions, it was like declaring war against the religious establishment. He began His campaign by healing a man who had been sick for thirty-eight years (Joh_5:1-47), and then followed with the events recorded in this section.
Jewish tradition stated that there were thirty-nine acts that were strictly forbidden on the Sabbath. Moses had prohibited work on the Sabbath, but he did not give many specifics (Exo_20:10). It was wrong to kindle a fire for cooking (Exo_35:3), gather fuel (Num_15:32), carry burdens (Jer_17:21), or transact business (Neh_10:31; Neh_13:15, Neh_13:19). But Jewish tradition went into great detail and even informed the people how far they could travel on the Sabbath (200 cubits, based on Jos_3:4). In short, the Sabbath Day had become a crushing burden, a symbol of the galling religious bondage that had captured the nation. (copied)
Jesus made it clear to the Pharisees who were questioning Him that the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath. Then He made a statement that totally blew their minds. Jesus told them that He was in charge of that day. So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.
When Jesus rose from the grave, the Sabbath day was set aside as the day of worship, which it had been for the Jews; now we worship on Sunday, the first day of the week. Since that was the day of the resurrection, it is the day we congregate in church to worship and praise the Lord. Let’s be careful to take advantage of Sunday, and not miss a chance to come together and worship our Lord.
Bible Reading for the Year
March 4th, Numbers 32-33; Mark 10:1-31
Prayer Needs
Please pray for family members of Phylis Whitley who have some medical issues that will require surgery. Her grandson has surgery at Duke on today, March 4th. He will require 10-12 weeks of recovery. Her son also will have back surgery soon.
Please pray for Robbie Harvey, Barbara Teboe’s nephew, who has MAC lung disease, and antibiotics are no longer working. Pray for healing!
Pray for Dr. Joe Jordan who will be having an angioplasty on March 12th.
Please continue to pray for Jennifer Teboe Buchamer. Praise the Lord! Her pain is better. Pray for her healing.
Please pray for the cousin of Sarah Crandall, Margo Fields, who is doing chemo now for colon cancer.
Please pray for Madison Bowers Millwee. She is now at 27 weeks and is doing well. Everything is relatively stable at this point. She will continue modified bedrest until she delivers
Please pray for Phil Corey in his continual dialysis treatments.
Please continue to pray for Marvin Silverthorne for his eyesight to improve.
Please continue to pray for Beth Buchta that her hip will completely heal soon, and that she can do a little more each day.
Please continue to pray for Jackson Broome. The transplant took place on February 11th. He came through it well, but is having some trouble with his medication.
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Pray for our Missionaries!
Sue Singleton and the mission in Cambodia
Dr. Joe Jordan and the CBM (Cross and Bible Ministries)
Travis and Caroline Fennessy – IBM missionaries to Southeast Asia