Restoring a Hand, Respecting the Sabbath

Today I returned to Morning Star Assisted Living for chapel services. I had an interesting 24 hours as far as my City Council campaign. There is no drama, like political drama! I covert your prayers for ongoing direction and confirmation in the days ahead.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And 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.”  Mark 3:4,5 ESV

In Jesus day, a mangled or deformed hand was a permanent disability. No corrective surgeries, no artificial limbs. All you could do was to try to hide your deformity to look as normal as possible and not make it obvious to others.

Such is the natural tendency for all of us. We don’t like to be reminded of our imperfections, so we cover them up and attempt to keep them from being noticed and obvious to ourselves and others. So, when Jesus commands this man to “stand forth and stretch forth” it took vulnerability and courage. So often we don’t receive the healing that we need because we don’t want to expose that which is wounded and crippled in our lives.

This miracle took place on the Sabbath. For the righteous Pharisees any “work” was not lawful. That included the “work” of healing. Jesus asks, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” The Pharisees would probably say neither, it is unlawful to do “anything.” Unless we make up the rule.

And that could be at the heart of this miracle. A Bible researcher traveling in the Holy Land, came across some documentation and information that shed some possible light on this miracle. Apparently the Pharisees forced local Jewish workers to lay stone for building the Synagogue on the Sabbath. But then to justify their actions, when the workers were finished they took a hammer and broke their hand for a penalty for working in the Sabbath. Their right hand, which speaks of power, strength and ability to work. They were no longer able to fully ply their trade.

Perhaps this man was one of the Synagogue workers. Perhaps that is why scripture says, “Jesus looked at them with anger, grieved at the hardness of their heart.” In Jesus performing this miracle, He not only restored a man physically, but He condemned and reversed the actions of the Pharisees. The Pharisees used the Sabbath for bad, Jesus used it for good.

When the man stretched out his withered hand, it was healed. That took courage and a willingness to overcome any embarrassment. What we often find, is just the other side of putting self aside and becoming willing to recognize our wounded life, we find the healing and restoration that we need and desire.

Prayer for today…. Lord, it can be challenging and hard to feel that our need is “exposed” to others. But allow us to stretch out to You that which is wounded and weak, that it might be strong and restored.