The Sighted Blind

SCRIPTURE: Mark 3:1-6
1 Another time he 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.

OBSERVATION/APPLICATION: Some in the synagogue came to hear Jesus but not to understand what he was saying. They had already determined their purpose before he opened his mouth to speak. It was to catch Jesus breaking the Sabbath Law by doing the "work" of healing a man. They were self-righteous, very religious people who thought they were doing the right thing by trying to discredit this heretic, Jesus, who didn't value the Law like they did. They were completely blind to the fact that the miracles Jesus did testified to his connection to the Lord who they were all supposed to be worshiping! I heard a quote once from a pastor Steve Brown that was brilliant in its insight: "The degree of spiritual blindness in a person is directly proportional to an inordinate concern over trivial matters". The opponents of Jesus totally missed the significance of the miracle because their focus was on following the minutia of the law. We need to be careful we don't fall in the same trap. Churches have suffered splits because they couldn't agree on the color of paint to go into a new sanctuary or because the new pastor doesn't want a formal choir anymore! Such focuses miss the point of gathering together as a Body completely. Let us be about the business of seeking to understand our Lord better and better instead of focusing on forms of worship, style or traditions. May we not be the sighted who are really blind to spiritual truth.

PRAYER: Father, help all your people who name you as their Lord to walk in love and unity as you prayed they would. And help us all to seek you and your ways above all else. May we engage with you to accomplish your will on earth and to be about the business of bringing sight to those who are in darkness. Help me to see when I am getting off track and focusing on the wrong things. I want to see life through your eyes. I love you Lord. May all I do and say be pleasing in your sight, O Lord. In Jesus' Name I pray, Amen.