February 17, 2018 Saturday

“And He entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. So they watched Him closely, whether He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Step forward.” Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other. Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” (Mark 3:1-6 NKJV)

            There is so much sadness in this passage on so many different levels it becomes a pain within a pain.  There is so much hurt of which most is intentional that is more striking coming from “religious” people.

            First we see the man with a withered hand.  In those days there was no government or private disability provider and so a handicapped person had to find a job of limited means, depend on the generosity of family or beg.

            Second the leaders of the synagogue hoped Jesus would heal the man on the Sabbath so they could accuse Him!  What?  They depended on the kindness and the power of Jesus to heal even if it wasn’t a convenient day.

            Third Jesus challenged them on their heart attitude by pointing out the desperate need of the man and the meaning of Sabbath.  On the Sabbath should we do evil or good?  On the Sabbath is it lawful to save a life or to kill?

            Fourth we see the terrible hardness of their hearts as they remained silent.  Were they silent because they didn’t know the answer?  Were they silent so they wouldn’t have to reveal the hardness of their hearts?  Were they silent so the others couldn’t see their own hearts?  Were they silent so they could better implicate Jesus?

            They seem to know that Jesus would heal the man so they counted on His love and kindness to condemn Him.  What kind of hearts could see the healing of a suffering person as a way of condemning someone?

            Just as they expected Jesus responded in love and healed the man.  There were so many people Jesus didn’t heal and we are left to wonder could Jesus have backed off and not healed this man?  Some might even declare that Jesus incited them by healing this man and challenging their beliefs.

            It always amazes me that church people are more surprised by what God does than those who are hardhearted or evil.  They knew Jesus would heal out of love while we debate what is the loving thing to do and actually believe we know better than God what that is!

            Then comes a very remarkable part of this story and the power of good.

“Then the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”

As the saying goes the enemy of my enemy is my friend and here we see two religious enemies joining as friends against Jesus!  Just as we see groups today who fight against the Bible and Christian prayer being in school will actually fight for the Qur’an to be taught and for prayer rugs to be made available for Islamic students.  (I know some will find this statement to be unfair or unloving – BUT IT IS TRUE!  What does that say to you?)

            Religious leaders and people do not understand the power and glory of God.  It saddens me so much that those of the world believe in the power of prayer and the Bible more than we do!  Often church people have limited prayer and limited Bible reading while the world fears the power of prayer and the Bible and seek to limit its use!

            For why would you fight so hard to limit and curtail something you didn’t believe in?

            I slept better last night though it took me a little while to figure out the new configuration of the CPAP.  Rebecca’s friend Elizabeth McCrary is visiting with us this weekend and she and Rebecca will sing “Breathe on Me Breath of God” to the new tune Rebecca wrote.  I am so proud of Rebecca for using her talent in such a wonderful way.