Luke 6: 6-11 Jesus just keeps stirring the pot!

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

6On another Sabbath day, a man with a deformed right hand was in the synagogue while Jesus was teaching. 7The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees watched Jesus closely. If he healed the man’s hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.

8But Jesus knew their thoughts. He said to the man with the deformed hand, “Come and stand in front of everyone.” So the man came forward. 9Then Jesus said to his critics, “I have a question for you. Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil? Is this a day to save life or to destroy it?”

10He looked around at them one by one and then said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! 11At this, the enemies of Jesus were wild with rage and began to discuss what to do with him.

We’re talking about the Sabbath again, and again Jesus’ enemies want to use the Sabbath against him. But look what Jesus does, he turned it around on them again. He points out what the Sabbath is really all about, and then they become enraged.

Jesus on the one hand it’s clear about why. Yes Jesus is all about the why. Why does the Sabbath exist? Why was he there? And why his enemies were going to be so critical of him. In reality it is the why that makes all the difference all the time.

It is clear that Jesus came to love and to save. It is clear that his enemies were there to kill and destroy. Isn’t it amazing that something so good as healing a man with a deformed hand can be looked upon so wickedly by another person. Isn’t it amazing that they care more about a rule then they do about a person. Isn’t it amazing that anyone can be that wicked.

And yet sometimes all of us are that way. Think about the times you’ve seen something really good happen to somebody, even someone you love, and you didn’t celebrate it. You were jealous.

Now look at Jesus. Jesus was willing to take great risk to be good to another person. Jesus’ love for that person was far greater than his fear of the world in any way shape or form. Jesus love for that person was greater than Jesus love for himself. Isn’t it amazing that someone can be that awesome.

And yet sometimes all of us are that way. Think about the times that God has move your heart to be good when you didn’t think you could. Think about the times I Jesus has used you in ways you couldn’t have imagined. Maybe you didn’t even know it was Jesus.

That is the greatness of our God?

Lord help me to be like you. Give me the courage to be good and not because I am good but because you are alive in me. Give me the courage to love like you love Jesus.