Scripture

Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So he held out his hand, and it was restored just like the other one. Then the Pharisees called a meeting to plot how to kill Jesus.

Observation

Jesus goes to the synagogue where He sees a man with a deformed hand. The Pharisees ask Him if the law allows a man to be healed on the Sabbath. Jesus replies that it is fine to rescue a sheep from a well on the Sabbath. He then heals the man.

The Pharisees start to plot how to kill Jesus, so He leaves that area. He heals all the sick, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about the servant who brings justice for the oppressed,

Application

Jesus brings life, but religion brings death.

It is after Jesus heals on the Sabbath, bringing joy and new life to a man with a deformed hand, that the Pharisees start to plot His death.

As the cynical saying goes, “No good deed goes unpunished.”

The Sabbath was given to protect labourers from being oppressed, not to stop people from enjoying God’s life. But the Pharisees and other religious leaders took the law to an extreme so that what was meant to bring freedom in fact brought misery.

The fruit of a life dedicated to the Lord is life- spiritual renewal, hope, joy, love. Where these things are present, the Spirit of God is moving.

Where there is misery, condemnation, death and fear, we can be sure that the spirit of religion is active.

Our worship, family life, work and leisure should all be opportunities for life.

Prayer

Thank you Lord for setting us free from deadly religion. May I always know the joy of the Holy Spirit. Amen.