Mark 3:1-6 (daily bread of 23/10/17)

key verse: 5

JESUS HEALS A MAN WHO HAD HIS HAND WITHERED

Jesus heals a man who had his hand withered. Jesus heals our interior and exterior disability (Mt 8:17)

1. Come up here, to the front (1-3)

Among the crowd in the synagogue there was a man that everyone knew. It was a man who had his hand withered. Because of a disease or a an accident, his arm muscle of the arm was paralyzed, his hand became dry and all the activity of the hand was stopped. We don't know why this ill man was in the synagogue, maybe to panhandle or to be healed by a powerful word of a servant. But the assistants only looked at Jesus and the ill man without providing any remedy nor any word of consolation. They observed him to know if Jesus will heal of not. The people who don't engage with a cause participate in the meetings as observer. They don't have any power to convey to the decision not any obligation to follow the decision. Today people are used to taking this position. Jesus knew the problem of the ill man and he demanded that he stand up in the front. Jesus also knew why the people observed him. But he didn't care. He wanted to heal the fundamental problem of his man which was shame in his life.

2. Stretch forth your hand (4-6)

Jésus said to them: "is it lawful on the Sabbath day to do good, or to do harm ?". Jesus had declared that he is the master of the Sabbath. Therefore he can use it as he thinks best. But first Jesus questions the people about right and wrong. God gave mankind a conscience to discern right and wrong. But, because of wickedness this conscience was paralysed. Because of the people's deceit Jesus was angry. He was saddened by the hardening of their heart which is a paralysis of the heart. Jesus defied the shy man so that he stretch his hand which means that he confessed his problem of inferiority. The man overcame his giant ego and he stretched his hand. Jesus saw his obedience, said a word and his hand became healthy. The religious leaders gnashed their teeth because he broke the law in public, so he publicy defied the religious authority.