Three Controversies 3: Healing on the Sabbath? (Luke 6:6-11)
On another Sabbath, Jesus was being watched by the religious leaders, to see if He would violate the law (in their view) by healing on it. Jesus knew what they were up to, as Luke often mentions how Jesus knew what people were thinking. They were engaged in politics, seeking to catch Him out in a violation of the law so they could discredit Him. Jesus knew what their intentions were but did not back away from doing the right thing. He even made a point of drawing attention to what He was doing. “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save a life or destroy it?”
The tradition and interpretation in Jesus’s day was clear. Saving a life was allowed. (Apparently, taking a life—such as that of a burglar—to save another life, was permissible on the Sabbath!) However, medical work that was not required to save a life had to wait a day. So, the argument could be made that the man with the withered hand could wait a day to be healed. Jesus shows how that is not the intent of the Sabbath law. We are supposed to live in a good rhythm and take regular rest, trusting in God to take care of our needs, but that does not mean we stop doing good!
Jesus heals the man with a mere command (hardly work!), and the reaction is immediate. The religious leaders are out of their minds with rage. They can’t even respond to Him directly. However, it is here in the sequence of events where the powers that be begin to plan how they can destroy Jesus. Not over evil. Not over harm that Jesus could do to people. Not out of piety. They are losing the crowds. This is the politics of power, not ideals.
The tradition and interpretation in Jesus’s day was clear. Saving a life was allowed. (Apparently, taking a life—such as that of a burglar—to save another life, was permissible on the Sabbath!) However, medical work that was not required to save a life had to wait a day. So, the argument could be made that the man with the withered hand could wait a day to be healed. Jesus shows how that is not the intent of the Sabbath law. We are supposed to live in a good rhythm and take regular rest, trusting in God to take care of our needs, but that does not mean we stop doing good!
Jesus heals the man with a mere command (hardly work!), and the reaction is immediate. The religious leaders are out of their minds with rage. They can’t even respond to Him directly. However, it is here in the sequence of events where the powers that be begin to plan how they can destroy Jesus. Not over evil. Not over harm that Jesus could do to people. Not out of piety. They are losing the crowds. This is the politics of power, not ideals.
Comments
Post a Comment