Another Grace Test

Luke 6:6-11 On another Sabbath he went into the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was shriveled. 7 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal on the Sabbath. 8 But Jesus knew what they were thinking and said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Get up and stand in front of everyone.” So he got up and stood there. 9 Then Jesus said to them, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” 10 He looked around at them all, and then said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He did so, and his hand was completely restored. 11 But they were furious and began to discuss with one another what they might do to Jesus.
 
THE Pharisees always challenged Jesus’ grace. On a Sabbath day, they were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus. There was no specific law that prohibited Sabbath healing. But the Pharisees considered it unlawful to care for minor injuries or illness. Imagine their response to Jesus healing a debilitating disease! This was a greater “work” that the Pharisees believed could wait until the next day. Yes, it could, but Jesus’ work here was more about healing the shriveled soul. Jesus wanted to free the Jews held captive to man-made Sabbath rules
    Jesus encountered this Sabbath-healing opposition often in his ministry. He had this very same conversation with other Pharisees in Luke 14:3 Jesus asked the Pharisees and experts in the law, “Is it lawful to heal on the Sabbath or not?” 4 But they remained silent. So taking hold of the man, he healed him and sent him away. Note, when Jesus asked the question, the Pharisees had no answer. They feared to confront the Truth.
    Isn’t this remarkable? God’s creation power had come to earth “to release the oppressed” (Luke 4:18c). Here is the One who spoke the heavens and the earth into existence. He is the One who established a Sabbath: Genesis 2:1 Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array. 2 By the seventh day God had finished the work he had been doing; so on the seventh day he rested from all his work.  
    In his grace, the God of heaven and earth reveled his power to give new, restored life to mankind. How sad for the Pharisees to say, “Not today.”
    Are you aware of the gracious ways God adds to your life? What is your response?
 
Prayer: Open my eyes, Lord, to see and know the many ways you so graciously heal me. In Jesus’ name. Amen.