What did Jesus do customarily on the Sabbath? He went to the synagogue.

Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.

What did Jesus do on the Sabbath? He taught people. Jesus observed the seventh day Sabbath. Are we to follow the example of Jesus or do something different?

1 Peter 2:21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: 22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:

What did Jesus do? He left us an example so that we can follow in the same things that he was doing. What should we do with the example of Jesus?

1 John 2:6 He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

What are we to do? We are to walk in the same way that Jesus walked. Jesus kept the seventh day Sabbath and so should we.  Did the new testament mean the seventh day Sabbath?  Did some changes happen along the way? Did it mean something else other than the seventh day?

Luke 23:52 This [man] went unto Pilate, and begged the body of Jesus. 53 And he took it down, and wrapped it in linen, and laid it in a sepulchre that was hewn in stone, wherein never man before was laid. 54 And that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on. 55 And the women also, which came with him from Galilee, followed after, and beheld the sepulchre, and how his body was laid. 56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

Notice it says and that day was the preparation, and the Sabbath drew on.  We have a timeline of each day and that the Sabbath was drawing.

The Sabbath was drawing close and notice just before the Sabbath it says that day was the preparation. It talks about a day of preparation. The day before was the preparation day. Which day is the preparation day?

Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath,

The preparation day is clearly a day for the Sabbath. As the Sabbath is drawing on, the day of preparation is the day before that day.  What else happened there? Notice the latter part of;

Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

What does it say? The day of preparation was there and as they buried Jesus they went and did more preparation and when the Sabbath came they rested on the Sabbath.

Why did they rest? According to the commandment. What commandment were they keeping? The one in Exodus:

Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day [is] the Sabbath of the LORD thy God: [in it] thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that [is] within thy gates:

The seventh day is the Sabbath according to the commandment. They kept the Sabbath according to the commandment and rested on that day.

Mark 15:42 And now when the even was come, because it was the preparation, that is, the day before the Sabbath, 43 Joseph of Arimathaea, an honourable counsellor, which also waited for the kingdom of God, came, and went in boldly unto Pilate, and craved the body of Jesus.

When did Joseph of Arimathea want the body of Jesus? On the preparation day.

Jesus was crucified on the day that is called the preparation day.

Mark 15:44 And Pilate marvelled if he were already dead: and calling [unto him] the centurion, he asked him whether he had been any while dead. 45 And when he knew [it] of the centurion, he gave the body to Joseph. 46 And he bought fine linen, and took him down, and wrapped him in the linen, and laid him in a sepulchre which was hewn out of a rock, and rolled a stone unto the door of the sepulchre. 47 And Mary Magdalene and Mary [the mother] of Joses beheld where he was laid.

On the preparation day Jesus was buried. Notice;

Mark 16:1 And when the Sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, had bought sweet spices, that they might come and anoint him.

The Sabbath was over. They went to continue what they left off on preparation day. On preparation they were working with the spices and then rested according to the commandment. When the Sabbath was over they went and got more spices so they could finish their work.

Mark 16:2 And very early in the morning the first [day] of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun.

Here on the first day of the week at the rising of the sun they came to the sepulchre. What do these verses tell us? Firstly they rested on the Sabbath. Secondly Jesus was placed in the tomb the day before the Sabbath on the preparation day.

The first day of the week begins when the Sabbath is over. When the Sabbath is over only then do we come to the first day.

The first day of the week is simply called the first day of the week and takes place when the Sabbath is over. If the first day of the week is when the Sabbath is past, then which day is the Sabbath?

We can see clearly that the seventh day is the Sabbath. That is the Sabbath when the women rested according to the commandment.

Another question we can ask is what about 40 years after the crucifixion? Did the Christians still keep the Sabbath?

Matthew 24:1 And Jesus went out, and departed from the temple: and his disciples came to [him] for to show him the buildings of the temple. 2 And Jesus said unto them, See ye not all these things? verily I say unto you, There shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.

Mark 24:15 When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) 16 Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: 17 Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: 18 Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. 19 And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! 20 But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the Sabbath day:

This is speaking about the time of the destruction of Jerusalem.

What was to be their prayer for forty years all the way until 70AD? It was the prayer of the early Christians that they would not flee on the Sabbath day.  What were they doing the early Christians? They were praying that their flight would not be on the Sabbath day.  Another important thing in regards to the two covenants;

Hebrews 9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions [that were] under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance. 16 For where a testament [is], there must also of necessity be the death of the testator. 17 For a testament [is] of force after men are dead: otherwise it is of no strength at all while the testator liveth.

In the testament that Jesus had, he had the testament in regard to the way we receive salvation, when was the testament confirmed? On Calvary. When Jesus died the testament, the will was now in force.

All that was done before hand was given out by promise but now it is confirmed, it is finished. Can you change a will after someone has died? Is that legal? Absolutely not.

After Jesus was dead, there could be no change in the will, if here was to be a change in the document, the Sabbath, the change must take place prior to this preparation today. This must happen beforehand and not afterwards.

For the very first Sabbath of the New Testament era, from here begins the new testament and in the new testament, the very first Sabbath, they kept it according to the commandment.  The commandment was still in force. What about forty years later? For forty years it was not changed. There was no change in the law for those forty years.

What was the Sabbath in the New Testament? Clearly it was the seventh day of the week. What about Paul? What did he do during the week and on the seventh day?

Acts 18:1 After these things Paul departed from Athens, and came to Corinth; 2 And found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, lately come from Italy, with his wife Priscilla; (because that Claudius had commanded all Jews to depart from Rome:) and came unto them. 3 And because he was of the same craft, he abode with them, and wrought: for by their occupation they were tentmakers.

So he worked as a ten maker in this place. What did he do on the Sabbath?

Acts 18:4 And he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath, and persuaded the Jews and the Greeks.

What was he doing? On the Sabbath day, in the new testament, the apostolic church went to the synagogue and they worshipped on the Sabbath day. They reasoned from the scriptures on the Sabbath. You may say, oh that was only when there was a synagogue and obviously when there was a synagogue obviously they would go on the Sabbath to try to reach them.

What did they do when there was no synagogue? What did the apostles do when there was no synagogue?

Acts 16:12 And from thence to Philippi, which is the chief city of that part of Macedonia, [and] a colony: and we were in that city abiding certain days. 13 And on the Sabbath we went out of the city by a river side, where prayer was wont to be made; and we sat down, and spake unto the women which resorted [thither].

What did they do when there was no synagogue there? They went by the river side. They did not continue their labours, they did not work their work regular work of the week. They went by the river side and they saw people coming and they took advantage to speak the word of God.

More examples:

Acts 13:14 But when they departed from Perga, they came to Antioch in Pisidia, and went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and sat down.

Here they came again and they went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day.

Acts 13:44 And the next Sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God.

Who came? Almost the whole city. Who was this almost the whole city? They were the gentiles. Even gentiles came when? On the seventh day of the week.

Acts 17:1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

What did he do? He came to them and spent three Sabbaths with them.  Quite a few people were converted by their Sabbath preaching’s.

Are there any examples in the New Testament commanding to observe the first day of the week? Keep in mind It would be contrary to how God operates as once Jesus died it would be able to change the law. He would have to have changed it prior and if he did not change it prior, there is no way that change could be affected.

What happened on the very first day of the week after Jesus died;

Luke 23:56 And they returned, and prepared spices and ointments; and rested the Sabbath day according to the commandment.

What did they do? They rested.

Luke 24:1 Now upon the first [day] of the week, very early in the morning, they came unto the sepulchre, bringing the spices which they had prepared, and certain [others] with them.

On the first day of the week it was a day of labour. When we are talking about the New Testament era, we are talking about this period of Christian history. We find the first day of the week was simply another work day. They rested on Sabbath and now they went to work.

Here is a record of Jesus meeting together with the disciples.

John 20:19 Then the same day at evening, being the first [day] of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, and saith unto them, Peace [be] unto you.

This was the day of resurrection. This was the day of resurrection and in the evening what did he do? He met with the disciples. Someone tells me he had a meeting which means he’s sanctifying Sunday. It doesn’t mean that he’s getting together with them and saying peace be unto.

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.

He did the same thing when? After 8 days. Let’s look back, first he met with them once on the first day of the week.  Then after 8 days;

One – second day

Two – third day

Three – fourth day

Four – fifth day

Five – sixth day

Six – seventh day

Seven – first day of the week

Eight – second day of the week

After eight days. What day is the second day of the week? Monday. The first day is Sunday.  It didn’t say the eighth day, it said after eight days.

John 20:26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: [then] came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace [be] unto you.

He did the same thing again on the Monday.

The first time was a Sunday and we may say oh, because Jesus met with them Sunday is a holy day. The second time he met with them on the Monday. It doesn’t mean now Monday was made a consecrated day. That is an impossibility.

1 Corinthians 16:1 Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye. 2 Upon the first [day] of the week let every one of you lay by him in store, as [God] hath prospered him, that there be no gatherings when I come.

What happens here? On the first day of the week, what should you do? It’s not an offering collection.  On the first day of the week lay by HIM in store. It doesn’t say take it to church. On the first day of the week you need to separate some funds that you are going to give so when Paul comes there is no gathering as all the money is gathered.

This verse is not telling us that Sunday is a sacred day. Could you imagine making Sunday a sacred day because of a sacred day? Does collecting offering make a day sacred.

This says lay by HIM in store. It was kept at home. This is why the Jewish people when they received their wages at the end of the week, they didn’t have time to work out what they were going to give on Sabbath. Instead of figuring it out during the Sabbath hours they left it to the next opportune time which was Sunday.

This is why when it comes to proper Sabbath keepings, we do not write out cheques out on Sabbath, we do not decide how much offerings we are going to give on Sabbath.  It must be done on Sunday as it was the very next work day and that was the day that decided to disperse all their offerings.  This is another statement in favour of Sabbath keeping and more stricter observance than we had imagined.

Acts 20:5 These going before tarried for us at Troas. 6 And we sailed away from Philippi after the days of unleavened bread, and came unto them to Troas in five days; where we abode seven days. 7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight. 8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.

What was going on in these verses?  We have the days of the week. Specifically the first day or Sunday.  Paul had gone to visit these people and spent seven days in that area and they had a meeting until that night and the next day Paul had to journey. They had to spend allot of time together on the Sabbath.

Acts 20:7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread,

What does that mean? They were having the Lord’s supper? And because they were having the Lord’s supper it makes it a sacred day?

Acts 2:42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

This continued this breaking of bread practise.

Acts 2:46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart,

The same terminology is here they were breaking bread every single day.  Does that mean that every single day we are to have the Lord’s supper and go to church every day? This is not what it means go to church every day.

This day is not called the Sabbath as it is not what it means. It is not called the New Testament Sabbath. It is called the first day of the week. Read the bible cover to cover and you see only two days named.  The Sabbath day and the day of preparation day named. The day before the Sabbath is called the preparation day.

They had this meeting at night.

Acts 20:8 And there were many lights in the upper chamber, where they were gathered together.  7 And upon the first [day] of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread, Paul preached unto them, ready to depart on the morrow; and continued his speech until midnight.

He preached till midnight and then what happened?

Acts 20:9 And there sat in a window a certain young man named Eutychus, being fallen into a deep sleep: and as Paul was long preaching, he sunk down with sleep, and fell down from the third loft, and was taken up dead. 10 And Paul went down, and fell on him, and embracing [him] said, Trouble not yourselves; for his life is in him. 11 When he therefore was come up again, and had broken bread, and eaten, and talked a long while, even till break of day, so he departed.  

When did he depart? He spent the entire night. He preached until midnight, he helped resurrect this young man and continued talking all night long as he had to travel the next morning and because of that they were making the most of the time spent together. On which day did they have this meeting? On the first day of the week. Till when? Midnight. Midnight of which day? Midnight of the first day of the week.

Wait a minute, when is midnight of the first day of the week? I and the bible did not say midnight Sunday. It says midnight of the first day of the week. When is midnight of the first day of the week? When God created the day, when was the night part and when was the day part?

Genesis 1:5 And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

When God created the day, he did not create it at midnight to midnight. God’s day was totally different. You have the day in two parts. This one day, the very first part of the day was the evening part. The evening, the night was the first part of the day. The second part of the day is the daylight part.

Leviticus 23:32 It [shall be] unto you a Sabbath of rest, and ye shall afflict your souls: in the ninth [day] of the month at even, from even unto even, shall ye celebrate your Sabbath.

From even unto even. This ceremonial Sabbath was kept from evening until evening. That was one day.

Nehemiah 13:22 And I commanded the Levites that they should cleanse themselves, and [that] they should come [and] keep the gates, to sanctify the Sabbath day. Remember me, O my God, [concerning] this also, and spare me according to the greatness of thy mercy.

What did he want the Levites to do? Keep the Sabbath holy. When did he station them? When were they to stop everything at the gates. Midnight?

Nehemiah 13:19 And it came to pass, that when the gates of Jerusalem began to be dark before the Sabbath, I commanded that the gates should be shut, and charged that they should not be opened till after the Sabbath: and [some] of my servants set I at the gates, [that] there should no burden be brought in on the Sabbath day.

When it began to be dark before the Sabbath.  Read the first chapter of Genesis which says the first eve and morning and you find that the Sabbath begins at evening. The night part of the Sabbath is first.  The night part is the first part and the day part second, they are all one day together.  First the evening and then the morning, that makes up the day.

This whole thing of midnight to midnight came by the Papal Rome.  Midnight on our Sunday night is the midnight of Monday night. It has to be a first day midnight. When the Sabbath was past, which would be sunset of the seventh day and then after sunset there is midnight. That midnight is the midnight of the first day of the week. He meeting was Saturday night. They had the meeting on sat night not Sunday night.  Today we have our days mixed up. We have midnight to midnight, as a day.

It was the Saturday midnight night they were having a meeting. Paul preached Sabbath. They spent the night Saturday night and spent the whole night talking. On Sunday morning Paul went travelling. They did not go to a meeting, they went on a journey. They continued their itinerary on the first day of the week. This is speaking of the Christian church.

Revelation 1:10 I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet,

Which day is the Lord’s day? Which day is this day which john in revelation calls the Lords day. It does not say it in this verse specifically. He takes it for granted we know which day is the Lord’s day. It doesn’t say first day, or Sunday it simply says Lord’s day. Which day is the day of the Lord. Which day is specially called the Lord’s day?

Mark 2:27 And he said unto them, The sabbath was made for man, and not man for the sabbath: 28 Therefore the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

Jesus mentioned this prior to his crucifixion. He mentions here that he is the Lord of the Sabbath. Which day is the Lord’s day? Obviously the Sabbath.  Which day is the Sabbath of the Lord?

Exodus 20:10 But the seventh day [is] the Sabbath of the LORD thy God:

Which day is the Lord’s day? Obviously the Sabbath, the seventh day belongs to the Lord.

Isaiah 58:13 If thou turn away thy foot from the Sabbath, [from] doing thy pleasure on my holy day;

Who’s holy day? The Lord’s holy day.

When we read Revelation 10 in the spirit of the Lords, it’s not talking about Sunday, it doesn’t exist in the bible to call it that. The bible identifies which day is the day of the Lord and my holy day is called the Sabbath.  The seventh day Sabbath is the Lord’s day. The Sabbath is a memorial of day of Gods creative power.

Exodus 31:13 Speak thou also unto the children of Israel, saying, Verily my Sabbaths ye shall keep: for it [is] a sign between me and you throughout your generations; that [ye] may know that I [am] the LORD that doth sanctify you.

The Sabbath is a sign that we may know that the Lord sanctifies.  Are you going to keep this day of the Lord? Are you going to make a covenant relationship with the God that changes not?

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.

This is the new covenant.  Are you prepared to reason with the Lord? You look at the bible from cover to cover and you are not going to find anything but the seventh day bible Sabbath as the day of the Lord as the sign between his people that are his.

God is calling you to make a decision to make a choice that you will accept the New Testament Sabbath.

Variations in Practice

The specific ways Christians observe Sunday vary across denominations. For some, attending church, participating in prayer groups, or studying scripture might be the focus. Others might prioritize spending time in quiet reflection, prayer, or acts of service to the community.

The Sabbath Principle and Modern Relevance

The core principle of the Sabbath, setting aside dedicated time for rest and spiritual renewal, holds deep meaning for Christians. In our constantly connected world, prioritizing a day to disconnect from work and technology allows for rejuvenation and a deeper connection with faith.

Making Sunday a Sabbath

Carving out dedicated time for the Sabbath in our busy lives can be a challenge. However, planning time for worship, reflection, or simply slowing down can offer significant benefits for a Christian’s spiritual and overall well-being. Whether attending church services, volunteering in the community, or simply enjoying quiet time with loved ones, finding ways to make Sunday a day of rest and refocus can be a transformative practice.