ὑπερνικάω

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Mark 3:1-6
1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.
2 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.
3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."
4 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.
5 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.
6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

We learn from this that Jesus cared more about people, than observing rules and traditions.

Don't get me wrong and think that I am advocating disobedience to the law. No. Jesus of all people submitted to the law.

What was it then that made Him upset? That the Pharisees were being too law abiding?

No. It was because they prided themselves in the law; they put themselves above others because of how "law abiding" they were.

But in the process of it, they failed the fundamental truth to the law; love.

Many times we are guilty of that, especially if you are in a position of authority. Having the right to order someone, or having the right to demand something because it is rightfully yours. Or you could pride yourself in the fact that you are doing something "right" and look down on someone else who isn't.

There's a non-biblical but very wise saying, "If you cannot put your heart in it, take yourself out of it." If you know that you are not walking in love through an action, be humble enough not to do it even if your pride tells you that you have the right to.

I'll end with this.

"People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel."
- Carl W. Buechner