What Jesus Did! 'Lord!' — Matthew 12:8

For the Jewish people, there was not more important symbol of identity than the Sabbath. Rules, laws, traditions, and respect grew up around the original law concerning the Sabbath and encrusted it with layers of a combination of inconsequential, restrictive, and harmful traditions. So when Jesus took on his opponents over the issue of the Sabbath, we shouldn't be surprised by their bitter opposition and hostile criticism. As Jewish self-identity became fused to the Sabbath, the traditions and attachments to it became more important for the religious aristocracy than the people who celebrated Sabbath or even than the reasons God provided a rest for his people and demanded that the Sabbath be honored. Like a bolt of thunder, Jesus' simple words, "For the Son of Man is Lord, even over the Sabbath," raised their confrontation and hatred of him to a fevered pitch. He drove them to the point of decision. He left them no option but to believe or scheme to get rid of him. They chose the latter. What do we choose? Are we ready to let him define the heart and hope of our worship?