Many times Jesus healed not only for the sake of healing but for the greater lessons and truths He would teach. Take the day Jesus went into the synagogue and encountered a man with a deformed hand.
It was the Sabbath, the day everyone ceased from all work. The Pharisees were watching Jesus carefully these days to see where they could catch Him in conflict with The Law. This day was no different as Mark tells us in the third chapter of his gospel.
Jesus challenges them, asking if the Sabbath should not be used to do good. He asked questions of them which they refused to answer:
- “Does the law permit good deeds on the Sabbath or is it a day for doing evil? “
- “Is this a day to save life or destroy it?”
The questions He asked were meant to bring them to a change of heart but instead they remained quiet, not listening to His reasoning, for to do so would mean they were in the wrong. Scripture tells us something very interesting at this point:
“He looked around at them angrily and was deeply saddened by their hard hearts. Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” So the man held out his hand, and it was restored! At once the Pharisees went away and met with the supporters of Herod to plot how to kill Jesus.” (Mark 3:5-6, NLT)
The condition of their hearts saddened Jesus deeply. They were hardhearted and stubborn. The word insinuates that their hearts were petrified – deadened, calloused, and unable to be responsive. They were more bound to the letter of the law than they were to the Spirit.
Those who opposed Jesus would not listen to reason or logic. Instead of changing their attitudes and responding to the words of Jesus, they began to plot to kill Him. It was easier to plot than to admit they were wrong.
The Law was meant to reveal our shortcomings and our great need for the Savior. But the Law cannot save us. We must be careful not to think that perfectionism makes us holy.
How very sad that instead of owning up to their own wrong and receiving forgiveness and life from the only One able to give them life, they now turn on Him.
God longs for us to come to Him and be responsive to His Word from a heart that wholeheartedly loves Him:
“And I will give you a new heart, and I will put a new spirit in you. I will take out your stony, stubborn heart and give you a tender, responsive heart. And I will put my Spirit in you so that you will follow my decrees and be careful to obey my regulations.” (Ezekiel 36: 26-27, NLT)
In His hands,
our stony and stubborn hearts become
tender and responsive,
ready to serve Him fully from a
spirit of obedience.
Today I am joining …#DreamTogether and Moments of Hope and Soul Survival and #SmallWonder .
Beautiful post! I find myself saying that about the Spirit not the letter of the law, often! Blessings!
Never too old to have a heart transplant.
Is that not the truth! Sometimes it can be a repeat procedure too š
I have to remind myself of this–> “We must be careful not to think that perfectionism makes us holy.” Too often we equate the two, but you’re right; they’re not the same thing. Thanks, Joanne!
Lisa, I think many of us equate the two. It was most interesting for me to think on a bit.
Beautiful post, Joanne. I’m so glad God loves us and forgives and gives us a “heart of flesh.”
Blessings to you! I’m your neighbor at #SmallWonder.
So thankful for the truth of the New Covenant. I know myself all too well to think that I could live the following life without major heart surgery!
Yes, Michele, me as well. A heart transplant and maybe a few arteries unblocked over the years š
Oh, that picture at the end was such a memory bringer for me! Many years ago, on a day when the stoniness of my own heart became so overwhelming that I felt I could never find any tender place again, my son brought a rock inside, and asked me if I would clean it off for him. As I washed the sandy coating away, there was a beautiful heart on the top of the stone. I knew it was God’s answer to me, that HE would bring the tenderness as I simply chose Him, again and again. Thank you for stirring up these sweet thoughts today!
Bettie, such a precious story! Only God could bring our hearts back to life. Spiritual CPR of sorts!
Love this, Joanne. Until we get to the heart issue, we will fail to solve our problems. I’m so thankful for that insight God will provide us and the chance to trade our hardened one in for his softer version!!
Thanks, friend, for sharing His hope with us at #MomentsofHope!