The Change of the Sabbath

The Law Honored by Christ

We may well inquire at this point, Why should any person suppose the Son of God would desire to change the creation Sabbath? This day was a memorial of the Creator, given to man as he was made, to be kept, and was perpetuated through all the patriarchal ages. Placed in God’s moral law of Ten Commandments by the Creator himself, proclaimed by his voice and written by his finger in the imperishable tablets of stone. Deposited in the ark under the mercy-seat, the very center of that whole system of worship, in the most holy place of the sanctuary and temple: honored as God’s day for four thousand years. Why should Christ desire to change it for another day? Was there lack of sympathy and union between the Father and the Son? Jesus says, “I and my Father are one.” John 10:30. He prayed that his disciples might be one as he and his Father are. John 17:11, 21. This oneness is not in personality, but in purpose, in effort. They are perfectly united in all they do. Would the Son then set aside his Father’s memorial, and institute another to take its place? ChSa 48.1

The prophet declares that the Messiah “will magnify the law, and make it honorable.” Isaiah 42:21. The Sabbath was an important part of that law. Could he make the law honorable by abolishing the Sabbath, which was a part of it, or changing it to another day? Such changes would disgrace rather than honor it. It would be a strange way to make a thing honorable, by putting it out of existence. ChSa 48.2

When the Messiah came, he declared that he did not come to destroy the law. “Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever, therefore, shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least [be of no esteem, as Whiting translates it] in the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:17-18. Therefore every portion of the law shall continue till the heavens pass away. This must include the Sabbath which that law enjoins. Thus our Savior magnified every part of the law. ChSa 48.3

Christ declares he “kept his Father’s commandments.” John 15:10. Is not his example to be followed by all his disciples? He declares himself “the Lord of the Sabbath,” and says it was “made for man.” Mark 2:27, 28. The word “Lord” here must be used in the sense of protector or guardian, and not destroyer. Sarah called Abraham “lord” (1 Peter 3:6); she certainly did not mean that he was her destroyer. We call Christ “our Lord;” we mean he has authority over us, cares for us, and looks after our welfare. This was what he intended to do for the Sabbath, according to this statement. Most assuredly, then, he did not abolish it, or change it for a secular day. ChSa 49.1