Think of the word, 'Holiday'.
HOLIDAY > HOLI-DAY > HOLY-DAY > HOLY DAY
Holiday is a contraction of 'holy day'.
It is A DIFFERENT DAY FOR REST.
What do you like to do to rest?
I like to, lie down, sleep in, or have a nice breakfast (croissants, bacon and eggs). Or I would like to walk the dog with my wife, or have a nice lunch, or read a book, watch TV, or do a hobby.
Things I don’t like on my day off:
I don't like having to get up and work, or being sick or unable to do what I want. I certainly don't like being hungry.
Having a day off, a rest day, a holiday, was and is God's idea.
8 Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. 9Six days you shall labor and do all your work, 10but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God, … nor your manservant or maidservant or livestock, nor the foreigner within your gates. … 11For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth and the sea and all that is in them, but on the seventh day He rested. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy. (Exodus 20:8-11 NIV)
Remember that you were a slave in the land of Egypt, and that the LORD your God brought you out of there …. (Deuteronomy 5:15)
God was the first the union representative. He wanted his servants to have a day off a week. He was the first animal protectionist. He wanted even the animals to rest. He was the first environmentalist, because he even wanted the fields to rest.
The Pharisees responded to God’s commands by providing even more commandments to be sure to keep it. One rule was not to look at a mirror on the Sabbath, because you would then be tempted to pluck a grey hair. Another rule was not to pluck grain on the sabbath. But it was quite legal to pluck a neighbour's grain with the hands, and to eat it:
“When you enter your neighbour's grainfield, you may pluck the heads of grain with your hand, but you must not put a sickle to your neighbour's grain.” (Deuteronomy 23:25 NIV).
The was ancient fast food. People in Israel would rub the grain in their hands, gently toss it in the air to separate the chaff and allow it to blow away, and then eat the grains. It was quite legal to walk through the grainfields on the sabbath, and
Though it wasn't illegal according to the law of Moses, there was precedent for even eating what was even reserved for the priests. Jesus wants them to look at what David did (2 Sam 8:17). He was not of a priestly family. Yet he ate the priest’s bread when he and his men were chased by Saul and were hungry.
This shows us what the Sabbath is for. It was for people’s benefit. The Pharisees were men trying to protect the Sabbath, but the point of the Sabbath is to protect humans.
Jesus makes the debate about the sabbath all about him in verse 5: “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”
In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. … He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshipped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. (Daniel 7:13-14 NIV)
The Pharisees are now opposed to Jesus. healing is work, and working on the Sabbath is unlawful, so therefore if Jesus heals on the Sabbath, he is breaking the law.
Jesus, however, will do on the Sabbath. First, he goes to church. Second, he sees a man with a shrivelled hand. That man may be there because the religious leaders want to test Jesus, but to be sick and crippled on the Sabbath is horrible. And Jesus wants everyone to know that he is doing good on the Sabbath. So he says to the man in verse 8, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” This man will be healed in front of them all. For that is good on the Sabbath, recreation, that is, RE-CREATION.
Moreover, it is hardly what we would consider 'work'. Jesus simply commands, and it happens, just as God speaks and creates at the beginning.
What is Good to Jesus?
The healing is good, that it can save life, and restore functioning.
Jesus shows what he thinks is good by what he does on Saturday. The good for Jesus is to heal.
What is Good to the Pharisees?
The good they do on their Sabbath is to plot to kill Jesus. Verse 11:
11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
IRONY… Shouldn’t the Pharisees—so concerned for the Sabbath law—organize their contract killings during business hours?
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)