Don't Wither Series

• tied to last week’s sermon, the disciples ate from grain field.

• lesson, Jesus is the Lord of Sabbath and Lord of everyday.

• The theme, Sabbath traditions were not recognized by God.

• Sabbath was designed for the man’s good, not mankind to obey restrictive laws of an uncaring God.

• Third time, Mark talks about Sabbath.

• Once, in Peter’s house that Jesus healed on the Sabbath.

• once in the open field when disciples violated the Talmud

• Now Jesus goes in synagogue in Galilee,

• TEXT…..

Mar 3:1-6 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. 2 And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3 And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." 4 And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5 And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.

• Greek language tells us the hidden things in this story.

• ‘withered’ = a progressively declining or withering hand.

• born that way? No, more likely the onset of a disease (like arthritis) or accident.

• the hand was getting worse.

• Pharisees were watching Jesus, knowing what He would do.

• they could accuse Him of violating their laws.

• physician or care giver could take measures to save a life,

• but no other medical care could be given on the Sabbath

• Jesus said, “Come to the front of everyone.”

• The man obeyed; his first act of obedience.

• Jesus asked, “Is it OK to do something good on the Sabbath or only something evil? Can you save a life or can you only kill?”

• Silence. The Pharisees were silent because Jesus had them.

• If they said, “do good,” Jesus could heal without opposition.

• “to do evil,” would violate their belief in a loving God.

• Jesus looked intently and personally into the eyes of the Pharisees with anger and sadness. (interesting)

• Dr. Graham Scroggie - the word for anger is in the Aorist tense, meaning it was a flash of short-lived anger.

• Not the doorstep of bitterness or the gateway of retribution.

• The word grieved is in the present progressive tense, demonstrating a continuous action.

• Jesus was saddened that these people had allowed Satan to harden their hearts, by what they chose to accept as truth.

• He hurt for them more than He was angry with them.

• This is fitting to our view of Jesus, His passion and love.

• Then his eyes fall on this man with the withered hand.

• Jesus tells the man, “stretch out your hand.”

• The man does his second obedience, and finds his hand healed.

• Jesus didn’t use clay, oil, a touch, or magic words.

• He just said, “Show them.”

• They couldn’t accuse Jesus of working, the man was healed.

• left the Pharisees speechless, madder than a fired preacher.

• The Pharisees left Church planning to kill someone.

• They conspired with enemies, the Herodians,

• The Herodians were Sadducees who were loyal to Herod, despite his indulgent lifestyle and excesses.

• Let’s focus on three things that impressed me with this.

I. Seething That Hinders

• When people go to Church, somebody gets angry.

• Jesus got angry and the Pharisees left angry.

• However, we see a big difference in the two angers.

• One anger did not change the behavior, did not take over the action.

• other anger changed the behavior, took over the action.

• Is anger a sin?

Psa 37:8 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

• Remember the last time you were really angry.

• Did it motivate you to be compassionate? Righteousness?

Jas 1:20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

• Jesus became angry. Anger in itself is not a sin.

Heb 4:15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.

• Paul, quoting from Psalms, you would probably get angry,

Eph 4:26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

• Anger is, as a matter of fact, like wine, or beer.