One Day at the Synagogue
I often like to reflect on how Jesus spent his days (during his three-year ministry) walking through various towns and villages, simply making himself available to people – sometimes stopping and spending good quality time with them. On this particular day, we have read that Jesus entered the local synagogue, and ran into a man who had a hand that had been ravaged by disease. From what we know of Jesus, it would be very likely that Jesus would be kind to this man, and probably heal his hand. But … there is something else also going on! Jesus was being watched. We are very early in Jesus’ ministry here, and already there is a plot to get rid of him.
How could this be so? Jesus was threatening the status quo! There were certain people who had a vested interest in keeping things the way they were – keeping religious practice under human control. This is why we should be very careful who we rely on, who we attach ourselves to in the world, and who we trust in – for we can easily have our purposes compromised. Our only leader, and true reference point, is Jesus! We need to make sure we stay on the side where God’s Spirit is leading. The leader of the church must be Jesus, and the author of all our activities must be the Holy Spirit! And because the religious leaders of the time were NOT focussed properly, this is why they had a problem with Jesus.
In the history of Israel, kings and priests alike resisted God and God’s true prophets … all too often … to the whole nation’s ruin! Now we have the Pharisees (and other religious rulers) resisting Jesus … as he seeks to show the world what God is really like – as opposed to all the legalism that had been brought into the life of the synagogue. The Pharisees were also offended that Jesus forgave sins … something only God could do – refusing to consider that this might indeed mean that Jesus was actually God. And, they didn’t like much … that Jesus was hanging around with those they considered the worst of ‘sinners’.
It was the Sabbath, and one of the rules brought in … was a ban on any work on the Sabbath. Now I reckon that this probably started with the best of intentions – based on the commandment to keep the Sabbath holy and as a day of rest. However, now, this meant a ban on the mildest of activity, and, of course, any sort of benevolent act including healing would be against the religious law. [The Pharisee tradition listed thirty-nine particular works banned on the Sabbath (with six sub-categories each).] Worse still, this was being used as a method of trapping Jesus and posing him as a law-breaker.
Instead of discerning and accepting that Jesus, in his very life, was explaining and fulfilling the law as the Son of God, the religious leaders were outrightly rejecting Jesus. They were described as “hard-hearted” – because they were both resisting their visitation from God, and also, they were using a poor and needy man as a pawn in a game. This incident from the Gospel, portrays a deep difference between the hard-heartedness of certain individuals, as against the open-handedness, compassion and generosity of Jesus.
And the question being asked of us … is – what will we choose? A defence of our comfort zone, ingrained worldview, and preferred method of operation – or, a Spirit-led emulation of Jesus’ ministry of open-handedness, compassion and generosity?? Jesus was NOT daunted, even though he knew (down deep) where this was heading. Jesus basically ignored the threat, and the arrogance, and called the “man with the withered hand” to him … “Come forward” (v 3)! I sense here … the deep consideration and empathy carried in these words, “Come forward”!
For one moment, despite the antagonism around this scene, Jesus only saw a man in need. God wanted to connect with this man in a redemptive and recreative way. Jesus simply loved him. And with this in mind, Jesus then challenged the religious leaders about their hard-hearted ways (v 4). This could NOT continue. Saving his life might be allowed, but not being allowed to offer him a helping hand – this did NOT make sense. This was an offence to God. Could they really insist that bringing healing in such a situation was sinful?! Actually – they could not … their silence said it all!! Jesus had, well and truly, shown them up!!
Yet, there was still NO evident change of heart (in these religious leaders) – no concession that Jesus was right and they were wrong. Their views were too ingrained – this proven … as we see them, in verse 6, take their plot to destroy Jesus forward! Ironic that the Pharisees immediately went off … to advance their plot – which you would think would constitute work under their definition; the point being, how hypocritical and ‘blind’ and selective … humans can be at times. You notice that Jesus was angry at these Pharisees (v 5) – can we see how he would have good reason to be?!
This was explained in terms of being “grieved” at their attitude (v 5). It was NOT only a poor man with a disability … they were denying care to, they were also destroying their own spiritual well-being. This anger Jesus felt … was a combination of frustration and regret. In any case – Jesus was going to do his thing – God’s ministry (to a person in need) would have the final say!! Jesus, with all compassion, and the generosity that comes out of God’s abundant love, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand”. And when he did stretch it out – and we could sense here a moment of trust, even faith (in the person of Jesus) – we read that “his hand was restored”!!!
The Challenge to Us
This is NOT just a wonderful story of healing. This is a challenge to us about our attitudes, and how we do life. We see “hard-heartedness” try to get in the way of God’s best intentions; but on the other hand, compassion and generosity make a real difference in someone’s life. Jesus leaves us in absolutely in NO doubt about where he stood – God’s love completely trumps any overreach into formal rigid rule-making that tries to establish religion for its own sake. After all, the Sabbath (or a seventh day of rest) was designed for the health and blessing of people and communities, for a chance to celebrate, worship and rest – NOT as a weapon to restrict our joy.
How can we live generously? This is NOT just a matter of giving generously in a material and financial sense. The Bible does speak repeatedly about this, and we should definitely take notice [– e.g. Deuteronomy 15:7-11]. However, that is only a part of it. We give financially because we feel concern for our neighbour and compassion for the poor. But there is more to generosity than this. Living generously also involves how we think about people. Living generously means living in a way that helps others embrace the possibilities of God in their lives. Living generously is about bringing people closer, rather than pushing them away.
Love is what God is made of – love is what God is! God created in love, God guided His people in love; and despite love being thrown back in His face – God sent and sacrificed Jesus in love … all suggesting (rather strongly) that our language should always be the language of love. Yet, hard-heartedness toward others can creep up on us, take us by the hand, and infect us a little … or a lot. How can we tell? What are the (warning) signs?
For example, the Pharisees in Mark chapter 3, were very apathetic towards a person in need – caused by failing to see the wonder and glory in Jesus. Maybe, like them, we find ourselves not caring as much as we used to … when we see someone upset or in trouble?! Maybe our own personal agendas have become too predominant, or perhaps the hurts we are carrying are blocking God’s gracious ministry to us. Maybe we know we have hurt someone else, but find ourselves resistant to apologising.
Maybe we don’t celebrate other people’s success anymore, or celebrate anything really!? This might happen because we’ve had too many disappointments ourselves, or are even a touch jealous. Maybe everything has become a bit mechanical, all passion has dried up, and our emotions have been repressed. We know we are supposed to rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep (Romans 12:15) – but we might be finding this a bit too challenging.
Maybe even friendships are hard, and family life has become tense. If we allow this to persist, and even become the norm, we are then on a downward path to hard-heartedness! The clearest sign of a hard heart … is when we no longer think the best about people, but rather continually see fault, judge their motives, and be cynical for no good reason. Sure people let us down – but as Jesus-followers … purposefully set on helping others know the Lord and grow in their spirit, we all need to see people the way Jesus sees them.
If we allow our hurts and disappointments, and the past shortcomings and failures of others, to continue to affect how we generally view and interact with people, this, according to pastor and writer Carey Nieuwhof, “is a sure-fire way of sabotaging all future joy and possibility”. As I said last week, we need to be fully committed to the spiritual well-being of others – starting with a genuine (Jesus-like) love and appreciation for them, then letting God speak through us!
We need to be actively building bridges from our open hearts to the hearts of others … a bridge that Jesus can walk across (R Warren). We need to be ready to listen ... in an endeavour to understand where other people are at. But this will require an unhindered generous love. As Rick Warren says, “You can’t really get to know spiritually lost people unless you love them; you’ll hold them at arm’s length and never spend the time to get to know them”.
So, as we walk the streets like Jesus did, are we on God’s wavelength? Are we ready to love people, build bridges, and see Jesus travel across such bridges into other people’s lives. Jesus ignored the criticism around him, and proceeded to connect with people, discern their need, and advance their future. Or, could it be that we have been infected with “hard-heartedness” … even just a little – and this is holding back our good ministry to others?! Now, today, we have unearthed and recognised some of the sources of “hard-heatedness”, what can we do about it? This is a matter for deep and concerted prayer – and this will be our theme next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment