September 15 Why Blind?

Luke 6:6-12 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.
 
HERE again, as in our previous lesson, the Pharisees challenged Jesus’ grace. On a Sabbath day, they were waiting for Jesus to heal, “looking for a reason to accuse Jesus”. There was no specific law that prohibited Sabbath healing, but many religious leaders opposed offering minor cures on that day. To some, healing a debilitating disease was a greater “work” that could wait until the next day. Surely, if healing were to happen, what difference would one day make?
    This “healing-on-the-Sabbath” opposition occurred often in Jesus’ ministry. He had this very same conversation with other Pharisees in Luke 14:3-4 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 didn’t have one specific rule against healing; yet, many condemned Jesus.
    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. Our Lord graciously was demonstrating his power to graciously bring new, restored life to mankind. Yet, the Pharisees said, “Not today. Do this at a more appropriate time.” Do you think if they had stood with the Living Word at the dawn of creation they would have said, “Let’s wait a bit. The time isn’t right.”
    How could the Pharisees be so blind to God’s grace? We’ll answer that tomorrow. In the meantime, consider this: Do you believe the Lord of Creation can and does make you to be new?  How do you respond to the gracious ways God acts to heal your life?
 
Prayer: Open my eyes, Lord, to see and know the many ways you so graciously heal me. In Jesus’ name, amen.