Saturday 5 October, 2019

6 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But the Pharisees and the teachers of the law were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.

Trust Luke, the doctor, to include this account in his gospel. I wonder if he would have been full of technical questions? Like “was the hand shrivelled from birth or the result of an injury? Was it muscular or skeletal? Was pain relief required? Were any unusual noises noted when the man stretched out his hand? Was there instantaneous movement or was it gradual?”

All these questions seem to be pushed aside by the doctor for this one remaining question…

“How could they miss the point?”

How did the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law miss this beautiful and amazing thing that Jesus did – before their very eyes?! How could their hearts be so dark and evil that they were more concerned with their rules and laws and themselves over the brokenness and suffering of someone else?

I wonder if I need a Dr Luke moment… a wake-up call to see the goodness and love and power of God when I’m only looking at myself and my own selfish agenda. What moments am I missing each day when all along God’s glory is right in front of me? What suffering am I turning a blind eye to when all along Jesus is calling me to minister and heal and rescue and love in His Name?

Lord, please help me to see those you would have me love and heal today. Please change my heart – to get my eyes off myself and fixed on the eternal task at hand.   Amen

Written by Boudy Van Noppen