Daily Devotion

 

By this time, the opposition to Jesus was open. He was teaching in the synagogue on the Sabbath Day, and the scribes and Pharisees were there with the purpose of watching Him so that if He healed, they could charge Him with breaking the Sabbath. There is this interesting touch. If we compare the story in Matthew 12:10-13; and Mark 3:1-6 with Luke's version, we find that only Luke tells us that it was the man's right hand which was withered. The doctor, interested in details, speaks. In this incident, Jesus openly broke the law. To heal was to work, and work was prohibited on the Sabbath day. True, if there was any danger to life, steps might be taken to save the life. However, this man was in no danger of his life; he could have waited until the next day without danger. Jesus laid down the great principle that whatever the rules, and regulations say, it is always right to do a good thing on the Sabbath day. Jesus asked the piercing questions, "Is it legal to save life, or to destroy it on the Sabbath?"

 

That must have struck home; while He was seeking to help the life of the man, they were doing all they could to destroy him. In this story there are three characters: (1st) THE MAN; he had a withered hand. He was a man who wanted to work. He was a man who was prepared to attempt the impossible. He did not argue when Jesus told him to stretch out his useless hand; he tried, and in the strength Jesus gave him, he succeeded. "Impossible" is a word that should be banished from the vocabulary of the Christians. A famous scientist said, "The difference between the difficult, and the impossible is only that the impossible takes a little longer to do." (2nd ) JESUS; there is in this story a glorious atmosphere of defiance. Jesus knew that He was being watched, but without hesitation, He healed. He told the man to stand out where people could see him. This miracle was not going to be done in a corner. (3rd ) THE PHARISEES; Here were men who took the extraordinary course of hating a man who had just cured a suffering man. They are the outstanding example of men who loved their rules and regulations more than they loved God. There is an ever-present danger of
setting loyalty to a system above loyalty to God.

Life Application: Are you the kind of person who is looking for Jesus to do the impossible? As a pastor, I love that kind of person. I believe Jesus wants all His followers to expect the miraculous. He wants the world to know that He is alive.

Praise/Prayer: Hallelujah! Our God is a God of miracles, and He sent Jesus into the world for the world to know that our God lives, and has never changed! Dear Father, thank You for sending Jesus into the world to show us what You are like - a life-giver, the God of miracles. What a Great God You are! Blessed be the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY! Amen!