The Early Church and the Sabbath
Jesus warned the Church leaders [apostles] about the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D. He instructed them to pray that their flight would not be on the Sabbath day, (Matthew 24:20). (This is the only commandment Jesus instructed us to pray to keep.)
When Jesus lay in the tomb, the disciples kept the Sabbath commandment, (Luke 23:56).
When the apostles taught at Antioch on Sabbath, the Gentiles begged them to return the next Sabbath to preach to the Gentiles. On the next Sabbath, almost the whole city came to hear the Word of God, (Acts 13:14–16, 42, 44).
In Philippi, on the Sabbath the apostles went to the riverside where prayer was customarily made and met with those who met there, (Acts 16:13).
In Thessalonica, Paul customarily went in to them for three Sabbaths preaching Christ, (Acts 17:2).
In Corinth, Paul taught in the synagogue every Sabbath, persuading both Jews and Gentiles. He continued there a year and six months, (Acts 18:4).
Jesus and the Sabbath
Jesus created the Sabbath. God created everything, (Genesis 1:1).
On the seventh day, God created the Sabbath, (Genesis 2:1–3).
Jesus is the God who created everything, including the Sabbath, (John 1:1–3, Colossians 1:16).
Jesus commanded the Sabbath. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy, (Exodus 20:8–11).
The God who wrote the Ten Commandments also delivered Israel from Egypt, (Exodus 20:1, 2).
The One who delivered Israel from Egypt was Christ, (1 Corinthians 10:1–4).
Jesus kept the Sabbath. As His custom was ..., (Luke 4:16).
Jesus commended the Sabbath. It is lawful to do good on the Sabbath, (Matthew 12:12).
Jesus confirmed the Sabbath. Pray that your flight be not on the Sabbath, (Matthew 24:20).
Jesus claimed the Sabbath. The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath, (Mark 2:27, 28).
It is impossible to accept Jesus and reject His day. Whoever abides in Him walks as He walked, (1 John 2:6).
The Sabbath, like a park, is a place of escape away from the noise and hustle of commercial activities, simply to take a chunk of time and spend it with the family. I don't recall ever seeing a clock at a park. A park is a place reserved (secular word for "made holy") for the family to enjoy without the encroachments of the busyness of surviving.
The Sabbath is a park in time. It is a chunk of very special time not to be intruded upon by the busyness of surviving. Those who honor its sacredness (spiritual word for "reserved") are saying that God is so good to them that they can enjoy one special day set aside for holy pursuits – knowing God, exploring His creation, enjoying family and friends, growing in spiritual dimensions that will affect eternity. God has blessed them so much that they can take a holiday (secular word for "holy day") every week and forget the worries and pressures of everyday existence. They can renew their physical (healthy) well-being, their spiritual (holy) well-being, and their mental (happy) well-being.
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