I wonder what the man with the withered hand expected when he went to the synagogue that Saturday?
He would, at least technically, have not been permitted into the temple, into the very presence of God, because of his disability; but he could come to the synagogue and hear God’s laws and learn of God’s ways.
And this Saturday, the visiting speaker was the rabbi from Nazareth.
He was quite controversial. There had been a heated debate about some of the things that Jesus and his followers were doing on the Sabbath.
And maybe Jesus was speaking about the Sabbath.
Maybe he read from Exodus 20, and he spoke of how God gave the Sabbath as a day to celebrate His creation and as a day to rest, a day for restoration.
Maybe he read from Deuteronomy 5: about how the Sabbath was a day to remember how the people of Israel, who had been slaves, were set free; and how it was to be a day when their servants, their slaves were set free from doing any work.
Or maybe he spoke from Leviticus 25 (well, some people do!): about the Sabbath of Sabbaths, the Jubilee, when all things will be put right.
And maybe Jesus was speaking about the Sabbath.
Maybe he read from Exodus 20, and he spoke of how God gave the Sabbath as a day to celebrate His creation and as a day to rest, a day for restoration.
Maybe he read from Deuteronomy 5: about how the Sabbath was a day to remember how the people of Israel, who had been slaves, were set free; and how it was to be a day when their servants, their slaves were set free from doing any work.
Or maybe he spoke from Leviticus 25 (well, some people do!): about the Sabbath of Sabbaths, the Jubilee, when all things will be put right.
And then it got interesting because this rabbi sees the man with the withered hand. He calls him to come forward. He tells him to stretch out his hand.
And he not only speaks of the Sabbath, but because he is the Lord of the Sabbath, he does the work of the Sabbath. He is the presence of God on earth, and he restores the man’s hand.
I could talk about the opposition to Jesus, because ‘they’, the Pharisees, had already decided against Jesus, and were looking to get him, and this gave them the ammunition they needed. From now on, as early as Mark 3, they are out to get Jesus, to destroy him.
But I want instead to simply say that we are desperately in need of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath
Maybe we feel cut off from God
Maybe we are withered up, struggling with disability, sickness or just getting older. Perhaps we are exhausted with the burdens we have to carry, or the tensions we have to live with.
Or maybe we are shrivelled up by jealousy, anger and the desire for revenge. A few days ago, Alison and myself watched the Count of Monte Cristo (2024), which tells the story of .. I haven’t got time to go into that now! But it is the story of a man who wants revenge and of how that desire for revenge eats him up). Or maybe we are shrivelled up by resentment with how things have worked out, or by the pride and arrogance which closes us off to others.
And he not only speaks of the Sabbath, but because he is the Lord of the Sabbath, he does the work of the Sabbath. He is the presence of God on earth, and he restores the man’s hand.
I could talk about the opposition to Jesus, because ‘they’, the Pharisees, had already decided against Jesus, and were looking to get him, and this gave them the ammunition they needed. From now on, as early as Mark 3, they are out to get Jesus, to destroy him.
But I want instead to simply say that we are desperately in need of Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath
Maybe we feel cut off from God
Maybe we are withered up, struggling with disability, sickness or just getting older. Perhaps we are exhausted with the burdens we have to carry, or the tensions we have to live with.
Or maybe we are shrivelled up by jealousy, anger and the desire for revenge. A few days ago, Alison and myself watched the Count of Monte Cristo (2024), which tells the story of .. I haven’t got time to go into that now! But it is the story of a man who wants revenge and of how that desire for revenge eats him up). Or maybe we are shrivelled up by resentment with how things have worked out, or by the pride and arrogance which closes us off to others.
We are shrivelled up, dried out, withered and the best we can do is simply to turn up.
But Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, of restoration, liberation, who can and will put all things right, also turns up and he calls us forward.
He invites us into the presence of God: “Draw near with faith” (however little that faith is). And he invites us to stretch out our withered hands.
And he feeds us. He restores us. He sets us free. And he gives us a glimpse of how the Lord of the Sabbath will one day make all things right.
But Jesus, the Lord of the Sabbath, of restoration, liberation, who can and will put all things right, also turns up and he calls us forward.
He invites us into the presence of God: “Draw near with faith” (however little that faith is). And he invites us to stretch out our withered hands.
And he feeds us. He restores us. He sets us free. And he gives us a glimpse of how the Lord of the Sabbath will one day make all things right.
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