David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 3:1-19

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. ² And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” ⁴ And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?”But they were silent. ⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

Have you ever had an enemy who is onerous that you would do anything to get rid of him? I have actually been such an enemy once. In a church I previously served one family was distinctly and deeply scandalized by my actions. I had spearheaded some decisions that were troubling to this family and they were greatly troubled. One day, in a conversation with two of these family members, I said, “It seems to me that I can do nothing right in your eyes.” The reply, “I believe you have raped and pillaged this church!”

That extreme example is nothing, however, compared to the response of the Pharisees who sought to destroy Jesus. For their intent was not just figurative – though would be a sin against the 8th Commandment. They intended, desired, and began plotting literally to destroy Jesus. It would end in his arrest, abuse, trial, and death. They would have their way when Jesus was crucified.

But understand this: Their way was not the whole story, and Jesus’ death was part of God’s larger plan. For Jesus is ushering in the Kingdom of God. And while it will require his death to bring it about, he will be exonerated three days after his death, ushering in a new Sabbath by his resurrection from the dead.

Jesus’ question still calls us to lives of love and humility. Rather than getting upset when someone does something good – healing, moving a church forward in mission, or growth – we must seek God’s Kingdom first and always. While it is incomprehensible to me that anyone could be scandalized at Jesus’ actions, truth is people are. Better we should rejoice whenever God’s Kingdom advances – even when our comfort is sacrificed or our sensibilities are challenged in the process. For this King reigns forever. And his Kingdom brings healing and life.

Mark 3:1-19

Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. ² And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. ³ And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” ⁴ And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?”But they were silent. ⁵ And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. ⁶ The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

⁷ Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea ⁸ and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. ⁹ And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, ¹⁰ for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

¹³ And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. ¹⁴ And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach¹⁵ and have authority to cast out demons. ¹⁶ He appointed the twelve: Simon (to whom he gave the name Peter);¹⁷ James the son of Zebedee and John the brother of James (to whom he gave the name Boanerges, that is, Sons of Thunder); ¹⁸ Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Zealot, ¹⁹ and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.