I’ve been preaching through Mark’s Gospel and several times Jesus has had a confrontation with the religious leaders about His ‘work’ on the Sabbath. This has led me to two questions that need to be answered. Is Sunday the Christian Sabbath? Should Christians worship on Saturday?

Jews (including Jesus) worship God on the Sabbath (Saturday). Yet, now most Christians worship God on Sunday. Let me see if I can explain the change.

The Sabbath commemorated the completion of God’s creation. It was a special day but no commandment was given to rest on the Sabbath at that time.

However, following God’s deliverance of the Israelites from Egypt, He commanded them to rest on the Sabbath in commemoration of this deliverance. Sabbath worship became a Jewish distinctive that set them apart from their pagan neighbors.

After Jesus rose from the dead on the first day of the week (Sunday) the early disciples would meet on that day to remember His resurrection. As Jews, they often met at the synagogue on the Sabbath and then met on Sundays as believers in the risen Jesus. As the customs of the Jews began to be discarded, Christians met only on Sundays for worship.

Sunday is not the Christian Sabbath. The Sabbath rest was a weekly Jewish holiday. Christianity is not a reformed Judaism. It is a revolutionary way to worship God through His Son Jesus Christ. Most Christians join together on Sunday to celebrate the risen Lord.

However, Paul explained that Christians are free to worship God on Sunday or Saturday or every day.

“One person considers one day more sacred than another; another considers every day alike. Each of them should be fully convinced in their own mind.” (Romans 14:5)

There is no command for Christians to rest or worship on Sunday, as the Jews had for Saturday. Yet, there is nothing wrong with rest or worship on Sunday if that is how a believer wants to commemorate God’s salvation.

As a matter of fact, every time a Christian prays, they are commemorating the risen Lord. As you close your prayer ‘in Jesus’ name’ it is a faith response that you believe your prayers are heard by ‘Our Heavenly Father’ because your living Lord is at His right side interceding for you.

My only encouragement is that you give God at least one day of service, worship, and honor every week. If giving God one day a week was commanded under the Law, should we do less under Grace. It’s not a rule, but it is a reminder to me that God is worthy of my worship.

My advice has always been, if you can take Sunday off work to honor God and meet with His people, do it. Don’t let social pressure or financial greed, force you to ‘forsake the assembly of ourselves together.’ But if you are forced to work, give it your best and find an opportunity to worship anyway. That’s why we still have Sunday night service.

What do you think?