Monday, July 27, 2015

Mark 3:1-5

THE COMMON ENGLISH BIBLE
Jesus returned to the synagogue. A man with a withered hand was there. 2 Wanting to bring charges against Jesus, they were watching Jesus closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 3 He said to the man with the withered hand, “Step up where people can see you.” 4 Then he said to them, “Is it legal on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they said nothing. 5 Looking around at them with anger, deeply grieved at their unyielding hearts, he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” So he did, and his hand was made healthy. 6 At that, the Pharisees got together with the supporters of Herod to plan how to destroy Jesus.

MY SPIN
The Sabbath drama continued when Jesus returned to the local synagogue. The religious elite were wanting to bring him up on charges, so they were watching Jesus like a hawk -- just in case he decided to heal someone on the Sabbath. He didn't disappoint.

Jesus engaged a man with a deformed hand, asking him to stand in an open place where everyone in the synagogue could see him. Then he asked the congregation, "Which is more in keeping with the law handed down by Moses -- to do good or to do evil? To restore life or to destroy life?"

No one said a word.

Jesus began to feel anger as he looked around and sensed the darkness in their resistant hearts. It made him sad -- really sad. So, he turned to the man and commanded him, "Hold out your hand."

As he obeyed, the deformed hand was suddenly better than new -- perfectly healthy and normal.

That was it! The Pharisees convened a side-meeting with the supporters of Herod, who were not their normal allies, and they began to plot Jesus' demise.