“Then Jesus entered the synagogue again, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched Jesus closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they could accuse him. So he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Stand up among all these people.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath, or evil, to save a life or destroy it?”
But they were silent. After looking around at them in anger, grieved by the hardness of their hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. So the Pharisees went out immediately and began plotting with the Herodians, as to how they could assassinate him.” —Mark 3:1-6
I love the way Jesus responds to these accusers. Fully aware of the opposition’s thoughts and intents in searching for ways to accuse Him, Jesus here openly gives them what they are looking for–a front and center healing on the Sabbath. But as our Lord confronts these religious leaders’ authority, their vengeance against Him is fanned into a roaring flame.
No healing permitted on the Lord’s Day unless it was a life threatening circumstance–this was the rule for these pious Pharisees. I suppose they also made the decisions as to what constituted a life threatening circumstance. If the problem could wait a day or so, it should wait a day or so–at least according to their interpretation of the law. If Jesus healed the man with the shriveled hand, He would certainly be worthy of death in their eyes because He would have violated their Sabbath rules. Never mind that our Lord’s actions promoted this invalid’s welfare. Never mind that our Lord’s actions were inherently good and virtuous. Jesus’ character stood in stark contrast to the Pharisees’ tyrannical rule. What they considered breaking the Sabbath law, God considered doing good. They took the commandment in Exodus and added to it–tweaking it to suit their fancy:
“So you must keep the Sabbath, for it is holy for you. Everyone who defiles it must surely be put to death; indeed, if anyone does any work on it, then that person will be cut off from among his people. Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the LORD; anyone who does work on the Sabbath day must surely be put to death. The Israelites must keep the Sabbath by observing the Sabbath throughout their generations as a perpetual covenant. It is a sign between me and the Israelites forever; for in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, and on the seventh day he rested and was refreshed.” —Exodus 31:14-17
Never deterred from His mission by the threats of the religious elite, Jesus told the man to stretch out his stand in front of everyone. There would be no hiding of the good deed performed–the light would be on the miraculous. The Sabbath was made for restoration and restoration about to occur at the hands of the Master. The glory would go to God. I am reminded of the words in Jeremiah’s prayer:
“You did miracles and amazing deeds in the land of Egypt which have had lasting effect. By this means you gained both in Israel and among humankind a renown that lasts to this day.” —Jeremiah 32:20
Our Lord sets up the healing by asking the Pharisees two rhetorical questions: “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” They were speechless! Deeply distressed over their hardened and stubborn hearts, Jesus heals the man.
Take It to Heart
Jesus came to refresh the weary and satisfy the faint-hearted. He came to do good. He came to heal. He came to bring hope. Sadly for these Pharisees, they would have none of it. It is a great grief indeed for our Lord to see people bent on their own destruction and ruin. Like our Master, we must never deny ourselves the satisfaction of serving God and doing good, even though offense may be wrongly and unjustly taken by our actions.
“I, the LORD, probe into people’s minds. I examine people’s hearts. I deal with each person according to how he has behaved. I give them what they deserve based on what they have done.” —Jeremiah 17:10
Further Reflections
“Pride not only withdraws the heart from God, but lifts it up against God.” —Thomas Manton