Mark 3:1-35 

Isn't it interesting how we can completely miss the point?  

At the start of this chapter, Jesus entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and encountered a man with a deformed arm.  Nearby, a group of Pharisees were watching, looking for an excuse to condemn Him.

Jesus picked up on their scheme, and asked them a question that exposed their intentions.  When they didn't respond, He went ahead and healed the man.

The section closes out with a remarkable sentence:

6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.    -   Mark 3

So, let's set the two sides in this interaction:

Jesus

• Wants to heal an ailing man
• It is the Sabbath and, by performing this healing on the Sabbath, it could possibly be a violation of a strict interpretation of the fourth commandment
• Regardless of the known risk, He chooses to be an incredible blessing to the man

Pharisees

• Want to find an excuse to accuse Jesus of a sin
• Ignore the sick man and his needs
• Plot to kill Jesus (violation of the sixth commandment) for possibly violating the fourth commandment

On the surface, it's easy to condemn the Pharisees for their obvious hypocrisy and blatant lack of compassion.  The Pharisees are a perfect example of missing the point.  However, like them, we too have to rely on Christ so that we might extend grace rather than the legalism to which we are drawn.

What Does This Tell Me About Myself?

It's interesting how this passage can be a metaphor for our own hearts and attitudes toward the lost.

While the Pharisees had a total lack of compassion for a man in need of Jesus' physical healing, so often we have a total lack of compassion for those who need Jesus' spiritual healing.

Some things to consider:

• Is your heart broken for those far from God?
• Do you mourn the lostness of Hutto?
• Do you judge the lostness of this world with a condescending attitude, or do you realize that you would be just the same without the grace of God? 

It's so easy to point fingers at the Pharisees for their blatant lack of compassion, but it's equally as easy to fall into the same trap.

 

 

   SEAN CHANDLER  |  Associate Pastor