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“AND Jesus entered again into the synagogue, and there was a man there who had a withered hand. And they watched Him whether He would heal on the sabbath days; that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man who had the withered hand: Stand up in the midst. And Jesus saith to them: Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy? But they held their peace. And looking round about on them with anger, being grieved for the blindness of their hearts, Jesus saith to the man: Stretch forth thy hand. And he stretched it forth: and his hand was restored unto him. And the Pharisees going out, immediately made a consultation with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.”
My dearest beloved brethren, this controversy in today’s Bible reading over a man with a withered hand seals Jesus’ fate. For Jesus, religion meant service, doing good, and restoring life. This shocks the Pharisees who did not agree with Jesus and who believe that religion meant observance of rules and rituals. In the face of Jesus’ ways, their hearts are rigid and unbending. The Pharisees hated Jesus and wanted Him dead.
Jesus did not allow evil to win over righteousness. He did not allow wicked and evil plans and unhealthy rigid laws to win over good and godliness. Jesus, therefore, did not keep quiet instead He challenged the rigid laws and rituals and He was victorious all the ways.
I pray for us to speak up and never keep quiet or remain silent over societal laws and rituals that negate God’s authority and commandments and may we never observe such ungodly laws and rituals so that evil and ungodliness will not triumph over good and God’s ways, through the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ I pray. Amen.
Even when everyone looks away from you when you need help and even when they do not want to associate with you because you serve God and sometimes because they are hiding under the blanket of societal laws and rituals that offend God, God Himself always runs to bless you and keep you company, dear God’s children.
The man with withered hands in today’s Bible reading needed help but got none from people around. He was not an obstacle to his healing, instead, he made himself available to Jesus to heal him. When Jesus came to give him his much-needed help and healing on the Sabbath day, the Pharisees who were hiding under the cover of their wicked laws and rituals plotted against Him and sought to destroy Him.
Perhaps when we are in difficulty and looking for help people sometimes might not always go out of their way to help us; instead, they hide behind Satan-influenced societal laws, rules, regulations, and rituals and remain silent. But Jesus cuts through all these and like He did here in the synagogue Jesus is always available and willing to help us and is ready to solve our problems for us.
I pray for us not to be our own obstacles but for us to open up to God’s help so that He can heal us, cure us and solve our problems for us, today and every day of our lives, through the Mighty Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth I pray. Amen.
Be courageous and fearless in the Lord; for God is with you. You’re blessed; remain blessed!!!
