October 2nd, 2026
by Riley Young
by Riley Young
Mark 3:1-6
"Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus."
This is a passage of Scripture many of us are probably familiar with, if nothing else, at least recognize. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he was always making the Pharisees upset and uneasy with the words He said and the healings He performed. Here, we have one of multiple instances where Jesus specifically is “reprimanded” for doing works on the Sabbath. Let’s talk briefly about why this matters.
The Sabbath was an important religious day to the Jewish people. Sabbath is observed and established by God in the creation story (Genesis 2:2-3), and commanded to be done so likewise by His people (Exodus 20:8). It was not just a highly wise suggestion to rest and make the day holy, it was law. It was such a serious law, in fact, that the penalty for not adhering to it was death (Exodus 35:2). As Jewish traditions and interpretations developed, it even became a popular belief that if the people did not observe the Sabbath as a whole community, that the coming of the Messiah would be delayed. Thus, it made sense to desire for communal obedience to the God-given commandment to observe the Sabbath.
What is ironic in this scene, though, is that the Messiah is standing right in front of them. Those who were concerned that Jesus’ “rule-breaking” would cause the Messiah to delay, were actually face-to-face with the King they had been waiting for. Instead of seeking wisdom from their Savior or falling at his feet in adoration and praise, their interaction with him ends in the scheming of His murder. How could they be so blind?
Well, before we give them too hard a time, I think many of us (if we’re honest) have this same condition at times: hardened hearts. It was their unwillingness to receive revelation that lead to their lack of recognition. It was their “made-up minds,” that left them in the dark, as the Light of the World shone before them. Because this King didn’t match their preconceived job description, their lips proclaimed not good news of restoration, but whispered desire for death. How often has that been the Church over the years? How often is that us still today?
It wasn’t too far back in history, that “protectors of the faith,” could not conceive God would ever speak through a black man. It still happens today, that many cannot fathom a woman declaring the Gospel (at least not to a man or without the accompaniment of a husband). And maybe those aren’t the groups in which you find yourself in contention with, but I’d say we all have our people and groups in which we demonize, saying there can be no good found in who they are or what they have to say and do.
May I remind you, though, that throughout all of the Bible, God worked through unlikely people. Of all the people in Jericho, God chose a prostitute named Rahab to aid His people (Joshua 2-6). In the midst of the Philistine oppression, God used Samson to begin the process of God’s ordained liberation (Judges 13-16). God spoke to Balaam through the mouth of a donkey, that ultimately saved Balaam’s life and lead to repentance (Numbers 22). Lastly, and certainly not least, God chose to send salvation in the form of a baby in a manger, rather than a warrior from the sky (Luke 2:7).
All this to say, sometimes, God speaks to us through people in places in which we would unlikely expect. Sometimes, God teaches us patience through the actions of a child. Other times, God reveals truth from someone on the opposing side of our political preferences. God can use unbelievers in our lives to reveal our own blindness and faults. You may even experience God from the mouth of a Baptist! (That was a joke, I love my Baptist friends)
May we not be like the Pharisees, who allowed their own pride and arrogance blind them to God’s miracles in front of their very eyes. May we acknowledge that God works all things for His glory and beyond our own understandings, and He has the freedom to use and call those different from ourselves to declare His truths in the world. May we find the blessing that is experiencing God through those who think differently from ourselves, so that our understanding of God can grow more fully and clearly. Be open to the Spirit in all places in all seasons and through all peoples, ready to experience the transformative power He offers.
This is a passage of Scripture many of us are probably familiar with, if nothing else, at least recognize. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he was always making the Pharisees upset and uneasy with the words He said and the healings He performed. Here, we have one of multiple instances where Jesus specifically is “reprimanded” for doing works on the Sabbath. Let’s talk briefly about why this matters.
The Sabbath was an important religious day to the Jewish people. Sabbath is observed and established by God in the creation story (Genesis 2:2-3), and commanded to be done so likewise by His people (Exodus 20:8). It was not just a highly wise suggestion to rest and make the day holy, it was law. It was such a serious law, in fact, that the penalty for not adhering to it was death (Exodus 35:2). As Jewish traditions and interpretations developed, it even became a popular belief that if the people did not observe the Sabbath as a whole community, that the coming of the Messiah would be delayed. Thus, it made sense to desire for communal obedience to the God-given commandment to observe the Sabbath.
What is ironic in this scene, though, is that the Messiah is standing right in front of them. Those who were concerned that Jesus’ “rule-breaking” would cause the Messiah to delay, were actually face-to-face with the King they had been waiting for. Instead of seeking wisdom from their Savior or falling at his feet in adoration and praise, their interaction with him ends in the scheming of His murder. How could they be so blind?
Well, before we give them too hard a time, I think many of us (if we’re honest) have this same condition at times: hardened hearts. It was their unwillingness to receive revelation that lead to their lack of recognition. It was their “made-up minds,” that left them in the dark, as the Light of the World shone before them. Because this King didn’t match their preconceived job description, their lips proclaimed not good news of restoration, but whispered desire for death. How often has that been the Church over the years? How often is that us still today?
It wasn’t too far back in history, that “protectors of the faith,” could not conceive God would ever speak through a black man. It still happens today, that many cannot fathom a woman declaring the Gospel (at least not to a man or without the accompaniment of a husband). And maybe those aren’t the groups in which you find yourself in contention with, but I’d say we all have our people and groups in which we demonize, saying there can be no good found in who they are or what they have to say and do.
May I remind you, though, that throughout all of the Bible, God worked through unlikely people. Of all the people in Jericho, God chose a prostitute named Rahab to aid His people (Joshua 2-6). In the midst of the Philistine oppression, God used Samson to begin the process of God’s ordained liberation (Judges 13-16). God spoke to Balaam through the mouth of a donkey, that ultimately saved Balaam’s life and lead to repentance (Numbers 22). Lastly, and certainly not least, God chose to send salvation in the form of a baby in a manger, rather than a warrior from the sky (Luke 2:7).
All this to say, sometimes, God speaks to us through people in places in which we would unlikely expect. Sometimes, God teaches us patience through the actions of a child. Other times, God reveals truth from someone on the opposing side of our political preferences. God can use unbelievers in our lives to reveal our own blindness and faults. You may even experience God from the mouth of a Baptist! (That was a joke, I love my Baptist friends)
May we not be like the Pharisees, who allowed their own pride and arrogance blind them to God’s miracles in front of their very eyes. May we acknowledge that God works all things for His glory and beyond our own understandings, and He has the freedom to use and call those different from ourselves to declare His truths in the world. May we find the blessing that is experiencing God through those who think differently from ourselves, so that our understanding of God can grow more fully and clearly. Be open to the Spirit in all places in all seasons and through all peoples, ready to experience the transformative power He offers.
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