Mark 3:1-6
“I’ve got my eye on you.” This is an expression we have all either heard or used ourselves. If we suspect someone of being a troublemaker, or we anticipate problems with another, we will keep our eye on them, watch them closely for any opportunity to attack or correct them.
Such was the situation with Jesus. He had been stirring things up by performing healings and teaching concepts that the religious leaders may not have agreed with. Now they were watching him for any chance to attack.
What problem did “the man” in the synagogue have? How did Jesus handle the situation? What was the response to his question? How did they react to the healing?
It is interesting to note that one of the commentaries I have points out that those people in the synagogue who were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus were watching him closely, not to see if he could heal the man, but if he would heal the man. They knew he could. They were watching to see if it would happen on the Sabbath.
Jesus presents them all with the truth of the matter. Is it okay to do good on a holy day? Isn’t it better to help someone rather than harm?
But there was no answer, even though they knew and we know what the answer is. What is important is the fact that they were going to use whatever Jesus did as ammunition against him.
At the heart of it the question addresses our view of the cross. Is it important to do good and help others? Or is it more important to do things the “right way?”
Unfortunately, we have many people in our place of worship that have similar attitudes. They seem to overlook the goodness of the fact that other people are coming into the presence of God to worship and deepen their relationship with the Almighty. Instead they are caught up in who they are, what they are wearing, how they are behaving, and so on.
DAILY CHALLENGE: Jesus was “deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts.” How would he feel about yours?
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