Tuesdays Together

Welcome to Tuesdays Together in the Word.  We are a group reading the bible together and sharing each week the nuggets that the Lord's Word has left with us.  Join in with us, wherever you are.  Please  visit DeeDee for more Tuesday Together posts!!

I felt as if I was visiting with an old familiar friend while reading the Psalms from our reading list.   It has only been a month since I posted about a heartfelt step into Psalm 34.  A few of you have read it, but if you have not and wish to take a quick peek, please visit here.

Recycling is always good, but I wanted to share something new from this week as well. It is from Mark chapter 3.

Verses 1-6

 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there.  Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath.  Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone."  Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?  But they remained silent.  

He (Jesus) looked around at them in anger and , deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand."  He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.  

Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

We don't pay much attention to this man mentioned here.  This man with the shriveled hand.  Who was he?  He braved the crowds and went to the synagogue.  Did he go there to wait on Jesus?  Scripture just says he was just "there".  Had he heard all the stories about this man called Jesus?   What must it have been like to witness Jesus, the SON of God looking around in "anger" and "distress"?  And then to have him tell YOU to "stand up" and make a point to the stubborn Pharisees using your ailment?  Whoa!!  When angry Jesus tells you to "stretch out your hand" you had better stretch out your hand!!  But then there IS an implied faith here.  He stretched out his hand on the Sabbath because there was authority in the voice that told him to do so, the voice that heals.  He stretched out his hand because he was incomplete.  He stretched out his hand because he BELIEVED that Jesus could help him, even if it meant being on the Pharisees list.  He stretched out his hand in obedience and HOPE.  It was HIS moment, and in that moment, that singular moment,  there can be found a life-changing obedience, hope, and restoration!  As far as I know, we don't hear anything else about this man with the shriveled up hand.  Did he take his restored hand out into the world and proclaim the good news?  I hope so.  He really makes me think......  Did you notice that the scripture never even mentions Jesus physically touching the man? We assume that he did, but could it have been even simpler than that?   When was the last time you stood up, stretched out, obeyed and experienced life changing Jesus?  .........just something to chew on......I know I need to......