23/05/2026
*DAILY ENCOUNTER WITH GOD (NBC)*
*SUNDAY, MAY 24, 2026*
*BH 116: Jesus Shall Reign Wherever the sun*
*Golden Text:* Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”Mark 2:27-28, NIV
*Text: Mark 2:18-28*
[18] Now John’s disciples and the Pharisees were fasting. Some people came and asked Jesus, “How is it that John’s disciples and the disciples of the Pharisees are fasting, but yours are not?”
[19] Jesus answered, “How can the guests of the bridegroom fast while he is with them? They cannot, so long as they have him with them.
[20] But the time will come when the bridegroom will be taken from them, and on that day they will fast.
[21] “No one sews a patch of unshrunk cloth on an old garment. Otherwise, the new piece will pull away from the old, making the tear worse.
[22] And no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the wine will burst the skins, and both the wine and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new wineskins.”
[23] One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and as his disciples walked along, they began to pick some heads of grain.
[24] The Pharisees said to him, “Look, why are they doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?”
[25] He answered, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry and in need?
[26] In the days of Abiathar the high priest, he entered the house of God and ate the consecrated bread, which is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.”
27 Then he said to them, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.
28.So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”Mark 2:27-28, NIV.
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The Sabbath is often viewed in different and conflicting ways among people. For some, the Sabbath is a set of rules meant to restrict them from having fun. For others, it becomes an excuse for self-indulgence, living without regard for God or His purpose. However, Sabbath is neither a burden nor a licence for selfish living, but a gracious invitation to rest in God.
In today's passage, Jesus' critics questioned His disciples concerning fasting. Jesus responded by stating that His disciples are to rejoice. Explaining further, Jesus used a parable of an unshrunk patch to illustrate the fact that He came to completely transform the lives of His followers – not merely patch up their old lives.
When the Pharisees queried Jesus on why His disciples were picking a handful of grain to satisfy their hunger on a Sabbath day, Jesus emphasised that the Sabbath was not meant to restrict necessities; that meeting true human needs and compassion takes precedence over custom, ritual, ceremony and tradition. Jesus declared Himself "LORD of the Sabbath," thus freeing His disciples from legalism and affirming His authority.
By redefining Sabbath rest, Jesus shifts focus from ritual observance to a relationalu connection with God. As Christians, let us embrace Jesus' teachings on rest, recognising Sabbath rest as a gift. You are to balance work and leisure. Prioritise self-care, embracing flexibility in your schedules.
Use rest to refocus on God's presence, especially on Sundays. Jesus' lordship frees us from guilt and legalism, allowing us to delight in rest. You will experience renewal, rejuvenation, and a deeper connection with God by embracing this.
This teaching, if adhered to, will transform your understanding of rest, empowering you to live life fully.
*Wisdom:* Truth is always constant.
*Food for Thought:* In what areas of your life do you raise Sabbath tradition above God's Word?
*Follow-up Action:* Identify some Sabbath traditions in your life that you have raised above God's Word.
*Prayer:* O LORD, deliver me from every tradition of men about the Sabbath that cripples the move of the Holy Spirit in my life.
*Prayer:* LORD, let me experience the power of Your name all the days of my life.
*RBT: Nehemiah 11-13*
