“What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?”~~Jesus

It was the Sabbath. The religious leaders of the day are watching Jesus. Will he heal the man with the crippled hand? They just knew he would and then they could condemn him for breaking the Law. They were excited for the wrong reason.

Jesus knows how to handle this. He won’t be trapped. He stops, looks them in the eye and asks “What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” It is silent. Perhaps for a long time because Jesus is waiting on an answer. He didn’t ask it rhetorically.He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. Jesus got angry. Very angry. Furious.

He wanted someone to speak up. No one did.

Getting no answer, He did the right thing. He healed the man. The religious leaders got out of there fast. No after service meet and greet today.

“What kind of action suits the Sabbath best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?”~~Jesus (Mark 3:4 The Message)

“Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” ~~Jesus

Jesus has the authority to heal. And He does. When He says something, you can take it to the bank.

For this man, who was crippled and couldn’t walk, it was a simple get up and start walking. The man took action on what Jesus said. His belief and action did it. He was healed.

“Get up, take your bedroll, start walking.” ~~Jesus (John 5:8-9 The Message)

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“You look wonderful! You’re well!” ~~Jesus

He had been crippled for 38 years. Now that is a long time. Jesus healed him. Not a problem. He is perfectly aligned with His Father. He has a new plan. It is a new agreement. And when Jesus heals us, we look wonderful.

And, it is Good News all the time. God has a goal for us. We should listen to Jesus and not miss it. Who knows what could happen.

“You look wonderful! You’re well! Don’t return to a life of missing God’s goal or something worse might happen.” ~~Jesus (John 5:14 The Message)

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“Do you want to get well?” ~~Jesus

Jesus can ask us direct and stunning questions. Imagine you have been an invalid and crippled for 38 years. Now it is not like you don’t believe in miracles because every day you go to place where miracles occur. You believe for sure.

Jesus comes up to you but He doesn’t ask “Can I drive you to the Doctor?”, or “Can I get you some crutches?” or “Can I pray for you?”. There were lots of questions that Jesus could have asked. What he did ask is “Do you want to get well?”

It was a pretty direct question. It seems almost harsh but I don’t think He asked it harshly. The man didn’t answer yes or no. Many times when Jesus asks us a question, we don’t answer directly either.  The man simply explained that he had a problem. Jesus knew that.

Jesus isn’t about the problem. Jesus is the solution.  So, no offer of going to the Doctor or crutches or prayer. Just a command to get up and walk. The man, acting in faith, did just that. The man believed Jesus and acted.  Jesus healed him. It all started with a stunning question.

“Do you want to get well?” ~~Jesus (John 5:6 The Message)

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“Stand here where we can see you.”~~Jesus

Jesus is in church. He found a man with a crippled hand.

The Deacons (Pharisees) had their eyes on Jesus to see if he would heal him, hoping to catch him in breaking a church rule. Jesus knows this. And so He is deliberate. He says to the man, “Stand here where we can see you.”

Then he spoke to the people: “What kind of action suits Sunday best? Doing good or doing evil? Helping people or leaving them helpless?” No one said a word. Imagine, they were completely silent. This is stunning that they can’t answer this question.

He looked them in the eye, one after another, angry now, furious at their hard-nosed religion. He said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out—it was as good as new! The Deacons (Pharisees) got out as fast as they could, sputtering about how they would join forces with Herod’s followers and ruin him.

Jesus is deliberate. His challenge to us is clear. He wants everyone to know the rules aren’t helpful if they don’t focus on doing what God wants.

“Stand here where we can see you.”~~Jesus (Mark 3:3 The Message)

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Who messed up here?

Who missed God’s goal? Somebody did and it will help me if i can blame them. That can be the assumption. I am wounded. I am hurt. I suffer. I want to blame someone. Surely someone messed up. Who, we ask?

But Jesus doesn’t allow this. God has something He wants to do. He brought healing and salvation into our fallen world. He loves us. He is good. He doesn’t do evil.

When Jesus and the disciples were on the road one day, they came upon a man who had been blind since birth. “Rabbi, who missed God’s goal, this man or his parents?” they asked him. “Neither this man nor his parents messed up,” said Jesus, “but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life.” And with that, Jesus spat on the ground, made some mud to place on the man’s eyes, and healed him. John 9

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“The children get fed first. ” ~~Jesus

Jesus challenges us to understand certain realities. The wise person doesn’t argue with him. The wise person has insight.

A woman who had a disturbed daughter heard where Jesus was. She came and knelt at his feet, begging for help. The woman was Greek, Syro-Phoenician by birth. She asked him to cure her daughter. Jesus didn’t respond the way we thought he would. She knows he is right. She knows her place in this world. She knows children get fed first. She also knows if there is anything left from the meal, the dogs will get fed as well. That is how she responds.

Jesus is impressed. He heals her daughter. God is in a good mood and that extends to all, not just the children. No matter what our place in this world, we have a place of honor in His world.

“The children get fed first. ” ~~Jesus Mark 7:27 (The Message)

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How does the story end?

12 years is a long time. She had tried everything. No one could help. They all tried but it was useless. Nothing else to be done so it seemed. Without hope and condemned to a painful future.

That is until she heard about Jesus. She knew he could heal her. All she needed to do was to touch him and tap into the power of the Holy Spirit in Him to be healed That is what she did and that is what happened. End of the story. She would now live in peace because of the healing power of Jesus.

And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. ‘Who touched me?’ Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, ‘Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.’ But Jesus said, ‘Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.’ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.’ Luke 8:43-48

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“Ephphatha!—Open up!” ~~Jesus

Jesus was on a roll. A mighty move of God with healing everywhere. So, He left the region of Tyre, went through Sidon back to Galilee Lake and over to the district of the Ten Towns. Some people brought a man who could neither hear nor speak and asked Jesus to lay a healing hand on him. Such faith in Jesus. They knew he could heal anyone and that nothing is impossible with him. He is plugged into what God wants to do. God is in a good mood and wants to heal us.

So what does Jesus do? He took the man off by himself, put his fingers in the man’s ears and some spit on the man’s tongue. Really? That is how he did it? Yes it is. I can see why he took him off by himself. 🙂

Then Jesus looked up in prayer, groaned mightily, and commanded:

“Ephphatha!—Open up!” ~~Jesus (Mark 7:35 The Message)

And it happened. The man’s hearing was clear and his speech plain—just like that.

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“Your daughter is no longer disturbed.” ~~Jesus

Does our faith impress Jesus? Jesus challenges us to have that kind of faith.

This woman came to Jesus and her faith was “over the top”. Jesus sent her home with the promise her daughter was well.

She didn’t argue with Jesus. She went home and found her daughter relaxed on the bed, the torment gone for good.

 

We serve an amazing God!!

Your daughter is no longer disturbed.” ~~Jesus Mark 7:29

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“Go home. Your son lives.” ~~Jesus

You come to Jesus. You beg him to personally come and heal your son who is dying. Jesus puts you off. Won’t go see him and heal him. Jesus makes a blunt statement that all you are interested in is miracles. Jesus challenges you. Will you be put off? Will you slink away? Do you have faith?

This man did not slink away. He had faith and kept at Jesus. He begged. He pleaded. He knew Jesus could heal his son. So, Jesus says to him:

“Go home. Your son lives.” ~~Jesus (John 4:51 The Message)

He went home. His son was healed. Just as he believed and just as Jesus said.

Jesus challenges us. Do we really believe?

“Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague.” ~~Jesus

You have  suffered a condition of hemorrhaging for twelve years—a long succession of physicians have treated you. Your treatment hasn’t gone well.  The doctors have taken all your money. You are now worse off than you were before you started getting medical help. You’ve heard about Jesus. You slipped in from behind and touched his robe. You’re thinking to yourself, “If I can put a finger on his robe, I can get well.” The moment you do it, the flow of blood dried up. You can feel the change and know your plague is over and done with.

When that happened, Jesus felt energy discharging from his body. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?”  His disciples say, “What are you talking about? With this crowd pushing and jostling you, you’re asking, ‘Who touched me?’ Dozens have touched you!” But Jesus is persistent and  went on asking, looking around to see who had done it. The woman, knowing what had happened, knowing she was the one, stepped up in fear and trembling, knelt before him, and gave him the whole story. She took a huge risk. Jesus knows when we do that. He actually demands that we have courage and take risks of faith. For ourselves and for others. When we take risks of faith, we will be healed. That is just the way He is.

So Jesus says to her.

“Daughter, you took a risk of faith, and now you’re healed and whole. Live well, live blessed! Be healed of your plague.”

“Who touched my robe?” ~~Jesus

Jesus is wired with the power of God. God’s energy flows through Jesus continuously. So much so, when a sick woman touches His robe, the energy flows out. What happens? She is healed instantly.Jesus senses this has happened. He knows it is an act of faith.

We have the same Holy Spirit in us. Are we in tune with His power, His energy?

May it be so.

At the same moment, Jesus felt energy discharging from him. He turned around to the crowd and asked, “Who touched my robe?” (Mark 5:30 MSG)

“Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” ~~Jesus to the paraplegic

The man believed Jesus could heal him. His friends believed it so much that when they couldn’t get in the front entrance, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Now that got Jesus attention. Jesus still, after all this, has one more thing he wants the man to do. He allows the man an opportunity to demonstrate his faith. And he does. And he walks out of there. And those who doubted Jesus rubbed their eyes. They found it hard to believe.

“Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”

“Why are you so skeptical?” ~~Jesus to religious scholars (and now, Page 2)

Jesus had said to a paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.” This infuriated the religious scholars. They whispered “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” Catch that? Blasphemy. Who is Jesus to forgive sins? Jesus asks them why they are so skeptical. There He is, the Son of God. He can forgive sins. God has given Him that authority. He also knows that may be a tough pill to swallow. So, he says “Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”

They started out skeptical and ended up praising God. That is Jesus and that is us some days. Starting out skeptical. Ending up praising God. It is our choice.

“Why are you so skeptical?~~Jesus to religious scholars

Am I moving Jesus to compassion like this man?

This man came begging to Jesus. He wanted to be healed like nothing else. He knew Jesus could heal him. This moved Jesus deeply. He healed him.

Am I moving Jesus to compassion? Am I desperate for Jesus’ touch?

A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.” Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to heal you. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.

“When you enter a town, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!'” ~Jesus

Jesus doesn’t make it complicated for us. He wants us to replicate what He is doing. He sends us out. We do the same things He is doing. The message to share? God’s government and complete rule is here. Our prayer? Our Father’s will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

It’s all about God. He is in charge. Completely. He is God, good and great!!

“When you enter a town and are received, eat what they set before you, heal anyone who is sick, and tell them, ‘God’s kingdom is right on your doorstep!’~~Jesus (Luke 10:8-9)

Am I offended by Jesus?

In His hometown, the people He grew up with were offended by Jesus. While they knew Him, they didn’t see what He was doing now. They saw Him for who he was, not who He is. They were stubborn and refused to open up to Him in His fullness of power.

May I see Jesus for who He is today!! May I see what He is doing, not what He is not doing.

Jesus told them, ‘A prophet has little honor in his hometown, among his relatives, on the streets he played in as a child.’ Jesus wasn’t able to do much of anything there—he laid hands on a few sick people and healed them, that’s all. He couldn’t get over their stubbornness. He left and made a circuit of the other villages, teaching. Mark 6:1-6

Provoked to sarcasm

Am I one Jesus brings into the room with Him or am I the one provoked to sarcasm and left out of His presence? This is an essential question. Imagine telling Jesus he didn’t know what he was talking about. Oh my goodness.

Peter, James and John got in. I want to be one of the ones who goes in with Jesus. I don’t want to be sarcastic with what our Lord can do. Nothing is impossible for Him!!

He permitted no one to go in with him except Peter, James, and John. They entered the leader’s house and pushed their way through the gossips looking for a story and neighbors bringing in casseroles. Jesus was abrupt: ‘Why all this busybody grief and gossip? This child isn’t dead; she’s sleeping.’ Provoked to sarcasm, they told him he didn’t know what he was talking about.

But when he had sent them all out, he took the child’s father and mother, along with his companions, and entered the child’s room. He clasped the girl’s hand and said, ‘Talitha koum,’ which means, ‘Little girl, get up.’ At that, she was up and walking around! This girl was twelve years of age. They, of course, were all beside themselves with joy. He gave them strict orders that no one was to know what had taken place in that room. Then he said, ‘Give her something to eat.’ Mark 5:39-43 

Crutches?

He didn’t cause anyone to be lame. It was never about character building. There was no lesson to be learned. No patience needed. They came to Him. All the time. He always healed them.

He didn’t give crutches to the lame. He commanded them to stand. They did at His word.

What an amazing God we serve. He makes us whole again.

 …    the lame came to Him in the temple , and He healed them.  Matthew 21:14

 

 

 

Maturity!!

There is a suffering that is for a great reason. It is a suffering for Jesus and it leads to healing and salvation. Now that doesn’t make sense to the world we live in but it is true. Our culture believes that success is the “lack of hard times”. Jesus led the way. His suffering led to our salvation and healing and so it is true for us too.

We all share in the good and tough times in Jesus. None of us are immune and why should we be? Jesus did it for us and we must share in it together. That is a sign of our maturity that we know that nothing can seperate us from God’s love. No matter what happens. When we exhibit this attitude, it shows we are going to make it. Without the willingness to endure the tough times, we would never know.

May I be unflinching in growing in Jesus.

When we suffer for Jesus, it works out for your healing and salvation. If we are treated well, given a helping hand and encouraging word, that also works to your benefit, spurring you on, face forward, unflinching. Your hard times are also our hard times. When we see that you’re just as willing to endure the hard times as to enjoy the good times, we know you’re going to make it, no doubt about it. 2 Corinthians 1:6-7

 

We've never seen anything like this!!!

Jesus has this way of baffling the religious community. The reaction is “He can’t talk that way” or “He can’t do that”.

When Jesus arrives on the scene, miracles happen and religious people can’t control what he is doing. When Jesus does His outrageous miracles, we rub our eyes. We’ve never seen anything like this. He is doing what He sees the Father doing. He is bringing heaven to earth. Wow!!!

We have never seen anything like what Jesus can do. May we believe that in our core.

Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.” Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, incredulous—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:6-12 The Message) 

She got dinner for them

It doesn’t matter why they asked Jesus to do something for Simon’s mother-in-law. They wanted Jesus to do something for her. They weren’t specific and that was ok.  He did the ultimate thing, probably more than they thought he would. He was very direct. He told the fever to leave. It did. Nothing is impossible with God.

And so, she got dinner for them.  

He left the meeting place and went to Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was running a high fever and they asked him to do something for her. He stood over her, told the fever to leave—and it left. Before they knew it, she was up getting dinner for them. Luke 4:38-39