Unexpected


Mark 3:1-6
1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. 5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Mark tells us of a healing that Jesus performs in the synagogue on the Sabbath. This story is interesting for several reasons.

  1. Jesus knows that He is being watched by the religious leadership
  2. Jesus purposely gathers everyone’s attention so that He can explode their ideas about “working on the Sabbath”
  3. Jesus isn’t asked by the man with the withered hand for healing
  4. The hardness of their hearts deeply saddens Jesus
  5. The Pharisees are worried about life-restoring activity on the Sabbath, yet they begin plans actually to kill someone—on that very Sabbath

Now, put yourself in the position of the man with the withered hand. There you are – on the outside of the action because your physical defect keeps you away from people in the synagogue. Chances are this guy was standing in the back, against a wall. This was probably a defect that occurred during his birth and had followed him throughout his life. Imagine the condition of that arm. The muscles are atrophied and this is pretty much a useless appendage. Jesus doesn’t even touch the man to accomplish this healing. He only speaks restoration into his life and as he tries to stretch out the arm, he is able to do so, possibly for the first time in his entire life. Rather than celebrate his restoration, the Pharisees instead plot to kill Jesus.

While Jesus was indeed seeking to make a point for the Pharisees, I cannot help but focus on the man whose life was handed back to him by this healing. Jesus saw his need and answered it – just like that. For me personally, I find encouragement in that fact. Sometimes there are things in our lives that seem overwhelmingly big – like there are no good answers for our problems. But Jesus sees those problems and has answers that we could never even imagine. I’m counting on that today. I don’t even know what to ask for and Jesus is already working to fulfill His good and perfect will. That guy with the withered hand didn’t even see his miracle coming and yet he received full restoration. Indeed, I am encouraged.

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