Mark 2:16–20, 24, 27–28 (NIV) “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners… The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath.”

Religion Performs. Sons Walk in Purpose.

Too many men are stuck in performance mode—trying to earn God’s approval by doing religious things while missing the relationship He actually wants.

Jesus didn’t come to start another religious system. He came to call broken men home. His mission wasn’t about rituals—it was about redemption. He didn’t avoid sinners. He ate with them, sat with them, and called them into a new identity. That’s what He’s doing for you.

Jesus Doesn’t Need Your Performance—He Wants Your Surrender.

The religious leaders fasted to prove their devotion. Jesus’ disciples didn’t. Why? Because the Son of God was with them. Fasting is for grief, not a badge of holiness. Religious duty says “prove yourself.” Jesus says “be with Me.”

We’re not called to impress God—we’re invited to walk with Him. Jesus flipped the script. He declared the Sabbath was made for man, not the other way around. That means God designed rest, worship, and spiritual rhythms to serve your relationship with Him—not to chain you to religious rules.

You Are a Son, Not a Slave.

God didn’t send His Son so you could become a better rule-follower. He sent His Son to make you His son—a man whose identity is rooted in grace, not guilt. A man who leads not by performance but by presence. A man who walks with God as Father, not as taskmaster.

Religious men check boxes. Sons of God carry crosses.

And here’s the truth: You don’t need a holy day to worship. You don’t need a ritual to prove your love. You have access to the Father every day because Jesus made you clean—once for all—by His blood.

So, What Does God Want From You?

• He wants your trust more than your traditions.

• He wants your presence more than your performance.

• He wants your obedience as proof of your love (John 14:15).

• He wants your whole life—not just your Sunday.

Reflection for Men:

• Are you trying to earn what God already gave you through Christ?

• Are you living as a son or just acting religious?

• What’s one way you can trade performance for presence this week?