Did Jesus Break the Law When He Healed on the Sabbath?

Why do so many Christians try to pray away suffering instead of praying for God given strength and endurance. That's just one of the questions will be answering on today's addition of core Christianity hi this is Bill Meyer along with Pastor Israel Sanchez and this is the radio program where we answer your questions about the Bible and the Christian life every day and you can call us right now with your question. At 833 the core that's 1-833-843-2673 also email us with your question at questions at core, Christianity.com and you can post a question on our Instagram or Facebook accounts as well. First up today.

What you do when you're college hockey season gets canceled by the coronavirus well you go rollerskating a pair of collegiate hockey players recently embarked on a multistate fundraising journey and they did it all on rollerskates over the course of 10 days.

University of Massachusetts teammates Andrew Walker and Jacob Adkins traveled nearly 900 miles on rollerskates from Boston to Lansing Michigan as they raised money for the American Cancer Society. The men departed for Massachusetts on July 13 keeping their supporters up-to-date with their travels on their men in blades Instagram account and by the end of July.

They had reached their final destination. Pretty cool that is very cool scary for me though I don't do well. I mean a hard time walking sometimes built this way to putting wheels for blades on my feet and ice-skating. I think twice in my life and it was one of the most painful experiences right next to skiing and I try to go skiing once and it was an absolute disaster. So I feel like I'm just not meant for the extreme supports like rollerblading about you. I'm not real good at rollerskating I have. I skated a few times but I am pretty good skier. I mean II can hold my own on the slope. Now my kids are starting to bypass me because I been skiing since there were like three because we introduced him early. So, yes, but I know I'm not going be rollerskating to Lansing, Michigan. That's not on my door first question of the day. Elma posted this on our website. She says, when Christ died on the cross, why was he in hell for three days. Well, I think you're probably referring to that clause. That sentence in the apostles Creed. Now a lot of people might not be familiar with the apostles Creed. There are many churches they don't really use it in their worship anymore, but it's a creed used by Western Christians. Dates from about the third or fourth century, and it articulates really essentially core Christianity. I just want to read it because as I said there a lot of people who are not familiar with.

This is really core Christianity is, as I believe in God the father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ his only son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried. He descended into hell. That's a cluster I think referring to the third day he rose again from the dead he ascended into heaven and sits on the right hand of God the father Almighty. From thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost, the holy Catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body and the life everlasting. A man at one other thing that a lot of times people have questions on regarding the apostles Creed is that that phrase, the holy Catholic Church, will the word Catholic actually only means universal. I believe in the universal body of Christ is this another way to put it but what about that clause and is probably the most controversial and all of the apostles Creed. He descended into hell.

Well, the earliest way that this was understood by Christians was that it referred to the suffering that Christ bore on the cross, Jesus went through hell essentially was the idea for us. He bore our punishment, our curse on the cross and the only way to describe the magnitude the severity of what it was that he experienced was to use a word like that.

There also are there was also an early belief that Jesus descended into hell to release the captives who were in a sort of holding tank prior to his redemptive work.

You see that in some of the writings of the church fathers that he was essentially proclaiming victory over Hades and releasing those who were captive in Hades while here's what it isn't and and this is one thing that you can be sure of and I think this is why there's so much confusion on that clause is that the people here that they think was that saying that Jesus went to hell for three days and then we conjure up in our minds. Those images those graphic images of hell you know burning fire. You know demons with pitchforks and in thinking about Jesus there suffering or something like that will that's not it all. What the apostles Creed is getting on. That's just the sort of absurd idea, but I think a lot of times people are confused by that phrase because when they think about hell that's what they think of.

And so when you hear it you know.

He descended into hell. That's why it's so alarming know it's probably all referring to the fact that Jesus bore our suffering are paying our curse on the cross. The reason we don't have to be afraid of God's judgment.

God's wrath is because on the cross, Jesus bore it for us. That's precisely with the New Testament teaches he himself is the propitiation for our sins. John said in first John and not only for our sins, but also for those of the whole world and that word propitiation refers to a wrath removing sacrifice. Jesus by his sacrifice removed God's wrath from us, we turn to Jesus. We don't have to be afraid of punishment, not enduring. God's wrath because Jesus is taking our curse. And that's the good news of the gospel and I think that's what's being referred to there in that phrase in the apostles Creed.

He descended into hell. Thanks for the editor of this is core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez and if you have a question for us. You can call us anytime at 833-843-2673. That's 833. The core from. Recently I heard from a pastor who said that God broke the law to save us, and I had a friend point out the fact that Jesus worked on the Sabbath, not just in healing the man's hand, but also with the servant, the disciples talking grade I was ordering her to go to clarify that a little bit. Thank you Gala You to clarify for you. I would be concerned anything is wrong for anyone to say a pastor to say Jesus saved us by breaking the law. It's the exact opposite. Actually Jesus Christ was born under the law, so that he might perfectly fulfill the righteous requirements of the law so that in him we might be justified. You and I break God's law were lawbreakers we receive through imputation that means Jesus credits to us the righteousness of Jesus Christ his perfect obedience so that you and I can stand justified before God's judgment seat. And so when we talk about Christ's saving work. It's not that Jesus broke the law so that we might be saved.

It's that he perfectly obeyed the law so that you and I fail to obey God's law might be saved as that's a really really important point.

Teresa gets into the doctrine of justification this idea imputation us receiving Jesus is perfect obedience that we might be confident before God's judgment seat because God knows that in and of ourselves we can have no confidence. God is perfectly holy and every day we sin against God and thought, word, and indeed if you're trusting in yourself to be justified before God's judgment seat. You are in trouble, you can only trust in Jesus in his work for you. That's the only hope that we have.

But then the question is will what we do with these passages that make it seem like Jesus broke the law and certainly the Pharisees were accusing Jesus of being a lawbreaker mean they call them all sorts of things. He's a glutton he's a drunkard he's he's a lawbreaker. He deserves death while Jesus never broke the law. The Pharisees might've accused Jesus of breaking the law, but he never broke the law, not in Mark chapter 2 verses 23 and following where it talks about Jesus plucking the heads of grain and not Mark chapter 3, at the very beginning where Jesus heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath.

With regard to the healing of the withered man it's absolutely clear that what Jesus is doing is fulfilling the Sabbath. The essence of the Sabbath by doing good to his neighbor. Jesus said to the man with the withered hand come here and he said to them, is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm to save life or to kill another words look Jesus is saying what's really lawful on the Sabbath of the Pharisees that the religious leaders kept silent and he looked around at them with anger grieved at their hardness of heart, and he said to the man stretch out your hand and stretched it out in his hand was restored and just what amazing pictures as man with this withered hand.

Jesus heals him right there in front of everyone. Imagine the joy the shock that must've filled this man and the Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodian's against him, how to destroy him to get this you have this this really ironic contrast here between Jesus actually is keeping the Sabbath by helping in healing this man and the Pharisees who are accusing Jesus of breaking the Sabbath, committing murder in their hearts, seeking to destroy and kill Jesus on that very day Jesus actually kept alive and even with regard to that the text earlier that you refer to Luke or Jesus on the Sabbath was going to the grain feels this is Mark chapter 2 verse 23 Pharisees were saying to him, look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath 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 how he entered the house of God in the time of the bias are the high priest and ate the bread of the presence which is not lawful for any but the priest to eat and also he gave it to those who were with him and he said to them, the Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath so the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath mean what what an amazing claim that Jesus made there but essentially he says look David dear member when David in the Old Testament ate the shewbread it was unlawful for him to eat if it was okay for him while I am the Lord of the Sabbath Jesus is God, the eternal high priest of God's people there in that green field, the Lord of the covenant is walking plucking these heads of grain and distributing them to his disciples. There is priestly cohort, we could call them. This is in Jesus breaking the law. This is the Lord of the Sabbath distributing bread heads of grain to his disciples so on both occasions, Luke, there is no disobedience on Jesus's part, actually. He perfectly fulfills the law in all places, even in those two places so that we might be justified. Thanks for your question. Your listing to core Christianity with pastor Israel Sanchez.

I'm Bill Meyer and today we are offering our new 100 page softcover workbook for the gospel of John and April. Can you explain what makes this particular study so special but I think a lot of people want to read their Bibles and find wisdom for how to live but they have a hard time knowing where to start or you know they get bogged down in the process of searching for scripture and tax to look at and how to understand these passages and and their relevance for today for my life with the gospel of John, Bible workbook, you can have a reliable guide that engages you from the very beginning.

Each weekly lesson includes selected passages from John's gospel reflection questions and explanations of the key lessons that I believe we believe every Christian should know about John's gospel. This study is to help you gain a deeper understanding of what the Bible teaches other relevant historical Christian doctrines, and we were talking about the apostles Creed earlier.

The key themes and in the gospel of John and how they relate to your life. So head over to core Christianity.com/Gospel of John to get your copy of our new Bible study today and one of the cool things that happened is that one of our long-time supporters are core Christianity was so encouraged by this Bible study that he gave us a special gift. He said I want to get this out to more people and that's we want to do. We want to give you the gospel of John study workbook for free as a special gift from all of us here at core Christianity take advantage of this by heading over to core Christianity.com/Gospel of John again just core Christianity.com/Gospel of John, get your copy today or if you want to call us for that.

Here's the phone number is 833-843-2670 3833. The core Federalist get back to another question. This is an email we received from Jessica, and Jessica says I've seen Christians lay hands on a person and pray down heaven and the healing power of Jesus because they said it was God's will to heal that person's illness or addiction or whatever. Yet when I read Jesus and Paul. They say there will be trials of many kinds in this life.

Why do so many Christians try to pray away suffering instead of praying for God given strength and endurance. I know God can and does heal us through prayer.

I've experienced this myself but not always. How do I bring this truth to my brothers and sisters in Christ with love and respect and God bless you Jessica I really appreciate your question industry desire to be balanced on this issue does not that God doesn't or can't heal but it's also not that we want to presume upon God's grace and goodness and just assume that every time were sick. It's God's will to heal us, and if were not healed is not God's fault, it's our fault is because I don't have enough faith or something like that.

There is a lot of confusion in the church did anything on one side, the confusion might be.

Yet God just he cannot. He doesn't we don't have a big view of God's power while James chapter 5 makes it absolutely clear that we can pray for miraculous healing. Is anyone among you suffering James that an James chapter 5 verse 13.

Let him praise anyone cheerful let them sing praise. Is anyone among you sick let them call for the elders of the church and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord and the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven.

We were told right there and this is something I think a week we ought to be doing in our church is if somebody is to go to the elders of the church us in the lay hands on you to pray for you pray in faith that God would heal and yet you're totally right, Jessica.

It's clear from Scripture that were not always healed Paul writing to Timothy tells him to drink a little bit of wine because of his frequent stomach ailments. Eight. Drink some wine Timothy to help settle your stomach doesn't tell Timothy is not God's will for you to have an upset stomach you to pray harder pray with more faith know the reality is, is the people of God throughout redemptive history, even in that apostolic age didn't always experience healing because it's not always God's will to heal so hot we bring this truth to Barrett. I think part of it is just pointing out that the relevant scriptural passages that make it absolutely clear that sometimes God's children, the beloved of the Lord to suffer and and even immense suffering is experienced by God's children. Think about show think about Paul, not necessarily because of some evil that they had done.

But just because an in God's providence it. It's what took place you think about what Paul said in Romans chapter 8. He talked about all the sufferings that the children of God, experience, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, and yet he said in that through those things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. They don't separate us from the love of God. Not too long ago I had a conversation with the dear brother in the Lord and older brother in the Lord who had just been diagnosed.

I think in the previous year with the type of cancer and incurable cancer. He was given. I think something like two years to live. We talked and prayed together, but I was taken aback by his attitude. He said you know God is really use this cancer to chip away at the sin in my life and I just will usually something like this happens and obviously it's devastating. There's fear and and whatnot but he had this attitude, this the substance of I know that God is in control and one of the things he settle on never forget it easy said we always talk about how we want to grow in the Lord. This older brother having been walking with the Lord for so many years. He said I'm finding in my life that we don't ever really get greater or bigger in Jesus, but God grows in us.

In other words, God is magnifying himself.

He's growing in and through his people and sometimes he can even do that in our suffering.

He does in our weakness. This is why Paul says you know throughout the test and I am in a boast in my weaknesses because it's in my weaknesses that Christ's strength and grace are magnified. We often we want to grow. Jessica want to be great in Jesus we want to put our gifts on display in and growing the Lord in such a way that that you know the attention. The eyes are on us. That's not what God wants. God wants to use us to grow us if you will, in a way that magnifies Jesus, God is becoming great in and through his people and that's what the focus needs to be is not the victorious Christian life.

I'm always healed and and doing great and then just walking and in health and in victory and well that's not all. It is the thought about me it's about Jesus being magnified in and through me and in and through you and that's that's we want to show people it's about Jesus and the fact of the matter is this Jesus is put on display for the people around us. That's the best thing for us and for everyone because he's the savior he's the one who forgives our sin he is eternal life. So I think the way you do this the way you approach this.

Jessica is you talk about the beauty of Jesus, the glory of Jesus, the goodness of Jesus. Even in the midst of our weakness because it's in our weakness, that he is made strong. God bless you, this is Cora Christianity hi Bill Meyer, with Pastor Israel Sanchez. This is a question that came in through her Instagram account and it has to do with one of Jesus's parables. Mattie says I have a question in understanding.

Luke 818. In light of the parable of the lamp and the parable of the sower that proceeded it. Could you shed some light on what it means for quote.

The one who has to be given more, and why the one who has not even what he thinks he has will be taken away. It's a statement that Jesus makes actually frequently in his parabolic teaching you see it throughout the Gospels to the one who has, more will be given to the one who thinks he has another as he thinks he has, but he doesn't really have, even what he has will be taken away, and often times, Mattie, Jesus is rebuking the Pharisees here. They consider themselves to be the religious elite.

You know the that theologically savvy. They know everything about God's word and their holy and they follow God. They consider themselves to be pretty special.

In Jesus exposes that I think for example of Matthew chapter 13 verses 10 and following the disciples came and said to Jesus, why do you speak to them in parables and he answered them to you. It has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven that was that's been given to them. It has not been given both of them there. It's the religious leaders. Those who thought they knew, but they really didn't for to the one who has and here's that phrase again. More will be given, and he will have an abundance but from the one who has not even what he has will be taken away. And then of course we see it in that passage referenced in Luke chapter 8 verse 18 editing the idea there that tying it together with the lamp under the jar earlier, you know no one after lighting a lamp covers it with the jar puts it under a bed book puts it on a lampstand so that those who enter may see the light, for nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light. It's clear it has to do with how we hear the gospel and how the gospel shines in and through us. Jesus the light of Jesus that something the Pharisees thought they had a thought that they had the light of God, but they were the teachers of Israel, but in reality they didn't and who had the children disciples. The silly disciple so often those who came empty handed and longing for God's grace and God's mercy. Thanks for your question. Thanks so much Mattie federal, I think we have time squeeze one more question and this one is from Rochelle, who posted this on our twitter account. She says in Psalm 73 says truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart is God only good to those who are pure in heart. How can I ever find God's goodness, knowing that I still commit all kinds of sin in a Psalm 73 Psalm of Asaph is one of my favorite Psalms in all of the Psalter and you know what he does begin there a set startup I say I know God is good to those who are pure in heart, but that he makes it absolutely clear Rochelle that he wasn't very pure in heart. He talks about how he almost fallen. He was angry at the Lord because he'd experience suffering chastisements and he looked around at the we kid around him and he felt like they were prosperous they had enough to eat. They were proud and arrogant and and it seemed like everything was going good for them in 80s questioning God's goodness he sang. Why is it that the week it is so often prosper and yet the people of God are often in want. Asaph here a godly man looks around and says it seems like the wicked are the one the ones who have everything you have the health and the wealth and and everything good. While the righteous suffer, and he began to question God, and yet God was still good to him. Asaph goes on to say in Psalm 73 that he went into the temple of God, and he realized the end of the wicked, and then Asaph realizes really what life is ultimately about. He says whom have I in heaven but you and on earth. There is none that I desire besides you my flesh in my heart may fail but God is the strength of my life and my portion forever. Another was here's what you have what we have is the people of God sinful as we are. We know that God is portion our inheritance. Through Jesus Christ we been adopted into the family may not always have health and wealth, but we have eternal salvation in a relationship with the true living God, and that Michelle is the source of our joy. Thanks for listening to Cora Christianity to request your copy of today's special offer.

Visit us@corachristianity.com and click on offers and the menu bar or call us at 1-833-843-2673 that's a 33, the court when you contact us.

Please let us know how you been encouraged by this podcast and be sure to join us next time.

As we explore the truth of God's word together