Week 3 | Day 1 | Mark 3:1-6
Check out all the previous readings here.
Pray
As you begin today’s reading, you could use this worship video as a prayer.
Bible Reading (read these verses three times slowly)
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 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.
Reflection & Questions
Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. We read today that the response of the religious to a healing is a plot to kill the healer. Unbelievable! Jesus was rightly angered by this.
How did people following the God of love become so hard-hearted? The answer of course is they were no longer following God. They were rather following their own traditions and rules.
God never said you couldn’t heal on the Sabbath. In fact,the love and helping of others was exactly the kind of thing he wanted his people doing (for example see Isaiah 58:6-14).
As we read last week, religion values rules over a relationship with God. We see today, that religion also values rules over the needs of others. Religion blocks us from truly loving those around us.
- Are there places where your values get in the way of loving people in need?
- Who around you needs to be shown love today? How could you do that?
Pray
Pray for an opportunity to show love to a stranger today.
Bible Reading
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 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.
Reflection and Questions
Today, we read about a time where Jesus healed a man. Amazing, right? I mean, who wouldn’t be SO happy about this miracle that Jesus did to heal a man who had a shriveled hand for his entire life? Well turns out, there were some who weren’t just unhappy, they actually wanted to kill Jesus! What in the world is going on here?? Jesus did something amazing, how could those people be so angry? Well, these people who said they were following God, actually weren’t doing that anymore. They were following their own traditions and rules instead of following what God actually wanted. The sabbath wasn’t about not healing people, it was about connecting with God. I’d say that Jesus connected the man that He healed with God on that day, don’t you think?
- Have you ever been so focused on something, that you forgot to be nice to someone, or to show them love? Maybe too focused on your sport so you weren’t kind to someone, or were playing a game and ignored people around you? What happened?
- Who is one person that you can show love to today?
Prayer
Pray for an opportunity to show love to someone new today.
Bible Reading
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 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.
Devo Focus
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save a life or to kill?” But they remained silent. (Vs 4)
Devo
Did Jesus seriously have to even ask that question?! I mean, if you were faced with saving a life or just standing by because it was a day in which you weren’t supposed to do any work, which would you choose? Sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction. We read today that the response of the religious leaders to a healing is a plot to kill the healer. Unbelievable! Jesus was rightly angered by this. How did people following the God of love become so hard-hearted? The answer of course is they were no longer following God. They were rather following their own traditions and rules. God never said you couldn’t heal on the Sabbath. In fact, the love and helping of others was exactly the kind of thing he wanted his people doing (for example see Isaiah 58:6-14). As we read last week, religion values rules over a relationship with God. We see today that religion also values rules over the needs of others. Religion blocks us from truly loving those around us.
- Are there places where your values get in the way of loving people in need?
- Who around you needs to be shown love today? How could you do that?
