23One Sabbath he was going through the grainfields, and as they made their way, his disciples began to pluck heads of grain. 24And the Pharisees were saying to him, “Look, why are they doing what is not lawful on the Sabbath?” 25And he said to them, “Have you never read what David did, when he was in need and was hungry, he and those who were with him: 26how he entered the house of God, in the time of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the bread of the Presence, which it is not lawful for any but the priests to eat, and also gave it to those who were with him?” 27And he said to them,“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28So the Son of Man is lord even of the Sabbath.”
1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2And they watched Jesus,a to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man with the withered hand, “Come here.” 4And 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. 5And 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. 6The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him. (Mark 2:23-3:6)
How to Be a Pharisee
1. Miss the Point
The Pharisees missed the point of the Sabbath. They surrounded it with additional rules, transforming it from a “get to” to a “have to.” One can worship and serve Christianity rather than Christ.
2. Miss the Word
The Pharisees knew the passage to which Jesus referred, but they misunderstood it. Furthermore, that day as they stood in the wheat field with Jesus, they hear the word from the Word and still didn’t get it. One can have an open Bible without an open heart.
3. Miss People
They ignored the man with the withered hand while they accused Jesus. They might as well not have even seen him. One can be diligent about religion without loving people.
4. Miss Yourself
The Pharisees worked hard on the Sabbath to accuse Jesus of working on the Sabbath. One can give his life to the pursuit of holiness and be blind to his own sin.
5. Miss Jesus
The Pharisees were in the field with Jesus, but they were not following him. They were in the synagogue with Jesus, but they were not learning from him. One can be near Jesus and not know him. Proximity does not equal relationship.
Jesus is Good
In a bad world full of hunger, withered hands and religious hypocrisy, Jesus is really, deeply good.
Jesus cares about people with regular needs. He cared that his disciples were hungry. He cares about our everyday hunger, exhaustion, confusion, etc.
Jesus cares about people with huge setbacks. He cared about the man with the withered hand. Likewise, he cares about our disability, injury, illness, financial woes, family turmoil, etc.
Jesus care about Pharisees. He was grieved by their hard hearts. Likewise, he grieves over ours.
Jesus truly is the good shepherd of Psalm 23.
1The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
for his name’s sake.4Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
they comfort me.5You prepare a table before me
in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows.
6Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
forever.
Just as he told the man with the withered hand, “Stretch out your hand,” he tells us, “stretch our your soul.” As he restored the withered hand, so he restores the souls of those who trust and follow him.
Yes, Jesus is good.
