Mark 3:1-6 from today's Spoken Word Bible Reading Plan!
3 Again Jesus went into a synagogue, and a man was there who had one withered hand [as the result of accident or disease]. 2 And [the Pharisees] kept watching Jesus [closely] to see whether He would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might get a charge to bring against Him formally]. 3 And He said to the man who had the withered hand, Get up [and stand here] in the midst. 4 And He said to them, Is it lawful and right on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to take it? But they kept silence. 5 And He glanced around at them with vexation and anger, grieved at the hardening of their hearts, and said to the man, Hold out your hand. He held it out, and his hand was [completely] restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and immediately held a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might [devise some means to] put Him to death.
Notice that what caught the eye and heart of JESUS was the man with the withered hand! His first response was to set free this one who had been bound by the enemy! Now notice the focus of the Pharisees, the religious leaders of the Jewish nation! THEY kept watching JESUS because they wanted to find SOMETHING that they could accuse Him of aso that they could get rid of Him! Instead of being the ones who operated fully under their own Covenant with Almighty God COULD have done what JESUS did! Remember Namaan? HE was set free from leprosy under the OLD COVENANT! But these religious leaders were NOT focused on helping the people, but on protecting their positions from this ONE Who was healing the sick, raising the dead, cleansing the lepers and preaching the Kingdom of God in the exciting way that it should have been preached! Jealousy will always lead to bitterness and envy and hatred and plots, plans and strategies to overthrow the ones who make one look bad! Refuse to be a 'naysayer'! Appreciate other ministers of God who are going about our Father's business! Support them and pray for them and encourage them and then YOU will be supported, prayed for and encouraged by those whom JESUS will call upon to do so! AMEN! Here is Hillsong Young and Free with "Alive":
Shalom in Him!
