It says, departing from there, He went into their synagogue, and a man was there whose hand was withered. And they questioned Jesus asking, "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath?" so they might accuse Him.
Talk about majorly missing the point. It is interesting the progression the Pharisee's make from things (picking the wheat), to people - the man with the withered hand. If they could have only heard themselves. "Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath"? How many healings had they seen during the rest of the week that it became a big problem that they had to make a law about it? Obviously then too many people are getting healed on the Sabbath so that we never get to the preaching in the Synagogue? There's no law. They haven't had to deal with this before! They're making it up as they go. They saw an opportunity once again to trap Jesus. As I read the account, I'm thinking they're really only looking for a yes or no answer and then enter into this long protracted debate of what constitutes work. How true is it that it is so much easier to talk 'about' what can or can't be done - which leads to never really getting around to do it because we can't agree on how--which in a very sophisticated way, means we don't have to anything. Jesus has already pointed out that the priest work all the time on the Sabbath and yet they have been careful to make sure the rules that trapped everyone else didn't apply to them – because, THEY are doing God's work. It is a good thing that we never fall into that trap ourselves, where we expect one thing from ourselves, and something different from others.
In their 'knowledge' adherence to the faith they completely lost sight of the 'heart' of God. So much so that it caused them to be blind to the very purpose to which God had called them – to be instruments of His truth, grace and compassion. The disabled man is objectified by them. I find it ironic that the man with the withered hand is sitting at the doorway of the synagogue, of the very place that was to bring him hope, help and healing. Yet, he sat outside the community, looking in. A recipient of occasion acts of pity, having a few coins tossed his way. Here's the problem as I see it. We can be completely blind to the obvious. Because we're used to the way that we've always done things, or see things from a narrow perspective, we can miss the critical compassionate need right in front of us.
"He said to the man…" Jesus humanizes the man by directing his attention toward him. He invites the man to participate in the healing "stretch out your hand" He asks. All others have quickly passed him as he sat on the ground, likely on a small mat which a few people might take pity on by throwing a penny or two on to. There activity did not engage the man, it was not inviting. Their actions primarily buy their way out of the responsibility of compassion.
As the man stretches out his hand, it is "… made like the other" - his hand is restored, but so much more. The man's capacity to engage in community, to enter into the synagogue as a person is restored. But here's the point as I see it. The man's worth, value, personhood has not change one iota. God's love and image has neither been increased nor decreased, it remains the same. What has changed is how he is perceived by others. We need to carefully consider how we judge and value those around us. So many remain outside of the places that are to bring them hope, help and compassion because of the opinion of others. The Pharisee's are in a quandary. The man is healed, he did not work, Jesus did, and thereby took the unmerited blame and anger completely on himself. Are we willing to take blame and anger when we do the compassionate thing, though it may not be the 'acceptable' thing? Are we willing to place God's value on those the world devalues. Anyway I was just thinking.
Neil
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