Mark 2:23 - 3:6 Lesson

The transcript discusses the importance of observing the Sabbath day and finding ways to make it more meaningful. It references two experiences from the scriptures where the Pharisees accused Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, but he explained that the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. President Nelson's quote emphasizes that the Sabbath is a gift from God, meant for rest and spiritual renewal. Additional verses from the scriptures emphasize the importance of honoring the Sabbath and finding delight in it. President Nelson also shares his personal experience of understanding the Sabbath as a sign between him and God, which helped guide his choices. The listener is encouraged to reflect on their own Sabbath observance and consider how they can make it more meaningful and aligned with Heavenly Father's intentions. Okay, here are a few scriptures from the manual this week and a couple quotes to help you consider the Sabbath day and to ponder and get some revelation on how you might get more blessings from the Sabbath day. It's a gift that God's given us and so to use it in a way that will bless you the most. Here's the first experience. The Pharisees and Sadducees in both of these scriptures are going after the Savior for breaking the Sabbath day when he's not. The first one is Mark chapter 2 verses 23 through 28. And it came to pass that he went through the cornfields. That just means fields of grain. They didn't have corn in Jerusalem back then. That he went to the cornfields on the Sabbath day and his disciples began as they went to pluck the ears of corn or to get some grain. And the Pharisees said unto him, behold, why do they do that on the Sabbath day, which is not lawful? There's nothing wrong with that, but they thought there was. And he said unto them, have you never read what David did when he had need and wasn't hungered? He and they that were with him. He's now going to remind them about a story from the Old Testament. How he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar, the high priest, and did eat the shoe bread, which was not lawful to eat, but for the priests. And he gave also to them which were with him. And then Jesus said unto them, the Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is Lord also of the Sabbath. The second experience is Mark chapter 3 verses 1 through 6. And he entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there with a withered hand. And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the Sabbath day, and that they might accuse him. And he said unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. And he said unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath day, or to do evil, to save life or to kill? But they held their peace. And when he had looked round about on them with anger, and the footnote says with righteous indignation, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it out. And his hand was restored whole as the other. And the Pharisees went forth straightway, and took counsel with the Herodians against him, against Jesus, that they might destroy him. Here's the first quote from President Nelson. What did the Savior mean when he said that the Sabbath day was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath? I believe he wanted us to understand that the Sabbath was his gift to us, granting real respite or real relief from the rigors of daily life, and an opportunity for spiritual and physical renewal. God gave us this special day, not for amusement or daily labor, but for a rest from duty with physical and spiritual relief. That's from The Sabbath is a Delight, that's the talk. Here's one more verse for you, Doctrine and Covenants, section 59, verses 9-10. And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer, and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day. For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High. Here's one from Isaiah 58, verses 13-14. If thou wilt turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day, and call the Sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord honorable, and shalt honor him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words. Then thou shalt delight thyself in the Lord, and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken it. Here's the last quote to consider, also from President Nelson, and from the talk The Sabbath is a Delight. In my much younger years I studied the works of others who had compiled lists of things to do and things not to do on the Sabbath. It wasn't until later that I learned from the scriptures that my conduct and my attitude on the Sabbath constituted a sign between me and my Heavenly Father. He learned that from Exodus chapter 31. With that understanding I no longer needed this list of do's and don'ts. When I had to make a decision whether or not an activity was appropriate for the Sabbath, I simply asked myself, what sign do I want to give God? That question made my choices about the Sabbath days crystal clear. That's it. Now will you consider from what you've listened to here, maybe listen to it again and ponder, what might the Spirit be teaching you about the way you live the Sabbath day, the way you experience it? What tweaks or changes might you make that might help make it more delightful to you and make it so you receive the gift of the Sabbath day a little more, perhaps in the way Heavenly Father intended? All right, take care.