What is the meaning of Mark 2:28? Therefore • This word ties verse 28 directly to Jesus’ prior statement, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27). • Jesus reasons from creation order (Genesis 2:3) and Mosaic command (Exodus 20:8-11) to show the Sabbath is a gracious gift. • The logical flow: if the Sabbath exists to bless people, and Jesus perfectly represents humanity (Hebrews 2:17), then His authority over that gift naturally follows. • Similar “therefore” moments appear in Matthew 12:8 and Luke 6:5, where the same conclusion caps the account of the disciples plucking grain. the Son of Man • Jesus’ favorite self-designation points back to Daniel 7:13-14, where “One like a son of man” receives dominion from the Ancient of Days. • By using the title, He joins His complete humanity (Mark 10:45) and His divine authority (John 5:27) in one phrase. • The title also signals His redemptive mission: “For the Son of Man came to seek and to save the lost” (Luke 19:10). • Those hearing Him would recall the messianic hope tied to that title, intensifying the claim He is about to make. is Lord • “Lord” (kurios) in Scripture identifies absolute ownership and authority (Psalm 110:1; Acts 2:36). • Declaring Himself “Lord” places Jesus on equal footing with God who instituted the Sabbath (Colossians 1:16-17). • His lordship carries practical implications: He defines legitimate Sabbath activity, as seen when He heals on that day (John 5:8-9). • Philippians 2:11 affirms the universal scope of this lordship: “every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.” even of the Sabbath • The Sabbath was the center of Jewish piety; claiming mastery over it confronts legalism head-on (Galatians 4:9-10). • By saying “even,” Jesus includes the Sabbath within all realms of His sovereign rule—nothing is exempt (Ephesians 1:22). • He protects His disciples’ simple act of eating grain (Mark 2:23-26), illustrating that human need outweighs ritual when He is present. • Hebrews 4:9-10 connects the Sabbath to the rest found in Christ; He fulfills what the day foreshadowed. • Colossians 2:16-17 cautions against judging believers over Sabbath observance because the substance belongs to Christ. summary Mark 2:28 declares that Jesus, as the incarnate “Son of Man,” wields full authority over the Sabbath itself. The “therefore” grounds His claim in God’s purpose for the day—human blessing—while His title and lordship reveal both His messianic identity and divine prerogative. By placing the holiest day under His rule, Jesus calls His followers to find true rest and freedom in Him, not in mere ritual observance. |
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