• 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.
• It can cause you to do things that you would never dream of doing when you are not angry.
• “That was the beer talking” or “the wine talking”
Pro 25:28 A man without self-control is like a city broken into and left without walls.
• look at the difference in Jesus anger.
• Jesus was angry, but He allowed God to stay in control.
A. The explanation for the anger.
o Jesus anger was far from selfish.
o Anger is not always a sin,
o but anger needs to be examined by fallen creatures.
• Anger can be an indicator of a selfish or sinful attitude.
o It can indicate underlying roots of sin or lack of faith.
• Ask, honestly, reflectively, why did that make me mad?
o Pharisees were mad because what they depended upon to make them acceptable to God and respectable in society was under attack by this rogue rabbi.
o under threat of losing their respect and authority.
o that initially doesn’t look so bad,
o in righteous examination, it is as black as adultery.
o Their traditions had taken them away from God.
o They depended on something other than God’s plan.
o Now they were defending it. Protecting it.
o When angry, ask if anger is exposing a sin, false belief.
o We have to reflect on the reason for our anger.
o Jesus was angry due to righteousness and the harm to others.
o Jesus was never angered by self-serving or self-dependent reason.
o Listen, if I see you harming a child, I will get angry.
o If you embarrass me in front others and I get angry, I must ask myself if pride in me hindering my love.
B. The extent of the anger.
• “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.”
• Jesus had a flash of anger, but He let it go.
• He certainly didn’t let it grow into bitterness.
• Sometimes people offend you or someone you love and you pick up the offense.
• Jesus modeled that anger should be short lived.
• He modeled the Father in Heaven.
Psa 30:5 For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime.
• The Pharisees, carried their anger with them.
• They let it grow.
• Anger is like wine. It is also like a tumor.
• It is best to cut it off when it is new and small,
• anger grows and will take over your life.
• It blinded these men.
• they were entertaining thought of murder at Church?
• They never thought of it as wrong.
• Their regulations forbid them from thinking murder.
• anger will grow on you, slowly, deceiptfully.
C. The egress of the anger.
• That is the way of anger. If it lingers, it leads.
• If it tarries, it trips.
• If it is doted, it darkens.
• If you have anger in your life, you are blind to your offensiveness, your bad attitude, you lack of love, your evil heart and the action it produces.
II. Sinning That Hardens.
• anger should have illuminated dark shadows in Pharisees hearts.
• should light up for us the dark motives of the mind.
• but it is not natural for anger to make us reflective.
• When angry, our minds go to the offenders, not inward.
• That must be re-trained.
• But we train ourselves to protect our sins.
• Everything in life is screaming to justify selfishness.
• “Well, you gotta take care of ole number one.”
• Every step we take along that road, the less we can see.
• We become blind, saying, well that’s just the way I am.
• That’s what’s refreshing about Jesus Christ.
• He didn’t embrace selfishness, self-defense, self-dependency and self-preservation, placing His entire trust in God and His entire focus on God’s kingdom.
• In my heart, I hear that call.
• How far have I gone down the road of conformity that prevents me from living with that courage and trust?
Jeremiah 23:10-12 (message) - "Can you believe it? A country teeming with adulterers! faithless, promiscuous idolater-adulterers! They're a curse on the land. The land's a wasteland. Their unfaithfulness is turning the country into a cesspool, Prophets and priests devoted to desecration. They have nothing to do with me as their God. My very own Temple, mind you— mud-spattered with their crimes." "But they won't get by with it. They'll find themselves on a slippery slope, careening into the darkness, somersaulting into the pitch-black dark.
• Sin hardens your heart, and you never realize you are slipping blindly down the slope of no return.
• encouragement. How do we deal with anger, bitterness.
• Some anger will be righteous and Most will be selfish.
• First, examine your anger and your heart. Why did this make you angry?
• If is it righteous, make sure the rage does not take over.
• If it is unrighteous, what a great opportunity to take a step towards God and not away from Him.
• After reflection, repent.
• Adjust.
Eph 5:18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. (look at this)
• Anger is like wine, and you must not let it take control.
• Be controlled by the Spirit of God in all situations and you will not fulfill the demands of anger (Gal. 5:16)
• have a song ready in your head to calm yourself down.
• Thank God for caring for you and His ability to guide you, even when you are angry.
• Think of the other people and their needs, moving away from the selfishness that anger quickens.
III. Submitting That Heals.
• But then we come to the man with the withered hand.
• Jesus said, “come up here.” He obeyed.
• Jesus said, “Stretch out your hand.” He obeyed.
• He didn’t leave the Church angry, but healed.
• Prior to that, he could no longer provide for himself.
• Society cared little for one who could not work.
• but he came to meet God.
• Some of you really wanted a touch from God.
• “I really want a touch from God. I need healing.”
• when Christ called, he obeyed.
• When Christ said to reach out, he did.
• Bro. Tim, I do not have enough faith.
• There is nothing about the amount of this man’s faith.
• Simply, he could not help himself,
• but he was willing to, in front of anyone watching, simply obey Jesus simple commands.
• Jesus is asking you something simple, it may be public.
• If you let go of the hate and anger, you hear His voice.
• If you let go of self-centeredness, you sense His call.
• If you let go, you can go away from Church today with a new way to live; free, brave, full.
• some here today need to be saved. You are not sure if you died you would be in heaven.
• Come up here, and we will show you the way to assurance and abundant life.
• some here need to simply come to the alter and let go of their anger, bitterness and hate.
• Jesus can send you into this world whole.
• “I have held this thing against you and it is blinding me to God’s call in my life. Will you pray with me?”
• May need to go to someone you trust, ask for prayer.
• It may require you to do something others will see.
• If God is calling, the only way to freedom and healing.
• Is this where God wants you to serve and wants you to join us in our efforts for God’s kingdom here.
• If God is calling you to join us, we accept members in a couple of ways we will love to discuss with you.
