Mark - Healing on the Sabbath

 

Healing on the Sabbath

Good morning class!  A huge thank you to Pat for teaching today!  Chris and I are on the road seeing family. 

Question of the day:  What are some of your favorite Sabbath traditions, or what are some of the best things about Sabbath. 

Today we start Mark chapter 3.  We will just be looking at the first 6 verses.  

READ: Mark 3:1-6

Jesus Heals on the Sabbath

3 Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 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. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4 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.

5 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. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus goes into the synagogue. Or we would say Jesus went to church.  

There are somethings we know.

1. 1. Jesus was going to church 
• Is it important for us to go to church?  Why?  Right now this is a very important question.  Many believe it is vitally important, even a mandate by God therefore we MUST go.  
• What are the benefits of going?  
• What have you missed the most not being able to go?
2. Trying to accuse him. 
• Right now in our country the candidates are always trying to accuse one another of wrong doing.  They literally have teams of people who work round the clock doing nothing other than looking for dirt on the opponent. What was wrong with it then and what is wrong with it now?  We KNOW it was wrong by Jesus' reaction.  Right?
3. Some/ not all/ were watching him to see if he would break the Sabbath
• In an attempt to catch him doing something wrong they kept a close eye on him.  I will say this, if we are keeping our eyes closely watching we need to stop!  The more time looking and trying fault we miss the opportunity to see the beauty all around us and what God is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us.  

• How do we keep from seeking out the wrong doing of others?

1. Why do you think Jesus ask the man to stand up in front of everyone?  Doesn't it feel like he was making him a spectacle?  This is one of those times when I have to simply understand that we see over and over again how Jesus always treated people with kindness so it must not be a terrible thing.  
2. What are some of the benefits of putting the man up in font of everyone?  
3. What question did Jesus ask? 
4. Why was he upset at them? It wasn't their actions, but their ______. 
5. What does this tell us about Jesus and about how we should be?

What does this passage tell us about Jesus?

What does this passage tell us about how Jesus felt about the Sabbath?

In chapter 2 of Mark we see Jesus eating with sinners and other crazy things and here he is again ministering in a way that once again made the establishment mad at him.  So mad in fact they started plotting to kill him. 

I often find myself worried about appearances, do you ever do that? 

Should we be worrying about appearances?

Should we worry about what church leadership thinks? 

What was most important to Jesus here in this passage?  The man who needed healing, and the hearts of those watching.

If you have enough time, spend some time talking about somethings that could be done now even during Covid, that would be reaching out to the community and the church family. How do we make healing and heart changing a priority NOW?

Jesus was not worried about the establishment, he was focused on doing His Fathers business.  Working for God! How he was perceived and even his safety, and certainly his reputation all were not important compared to doing His Fathers work.

What is the work our Father has called us to?

What is the work your heavenly Father has called you to?

This week, today, will you spend sometime really trying to find, seeking what you can be doing, especially on Sabbath for those who need right now!  I know with Covid everything seems impossible, but His work doesn't end, we just have to be creative and our heavenly father will guide and he is the most creative of all! 

Happy Sabbath!