Since it was the Sabbath, Jesus' enemies watched him closely. If he healed the man's hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the Sabbath.
—Mark 3:2 NLT
The opposites of Jesus' compassionate eyes (see Mark 3:1 and yesterday's devotional) were the condemning and critical eyes of Jesus' opponents. They were looking to use the occasion of this man's healing on the Sabbath to be the basis of their arrest and condemnation of Jesus. In other words, the man's humanity was forgotten; he was no more than a prop for the opponents of Jesus to use in their drama of anti-Jesus hatred. If we are honest with ourselves, we'll recognize that we can get so caught up in justifying, defending, and protecting our religiosity that we become blind to the needs of those around us for God's grace. Truth is then abandoned in the name of preservation. God forbid that it should ever be so in us!
Father, please don't let me ever become so focused on my religious self-preservation that I forget my search for your truth and abandon the character of your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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—Mark 3:2 NLT
Key Thought
The opposites of Jesus' compassionate eyes (see Mark 3:1 and yesterday's devotional) were the condemning and critical eyes of Jesus' opponents. They were looking to use the occasion of this man's healing on the Sabbath to be the basis of their arrest and condemnation of Jesus. In other words, the man's humanity was forgotten; he was no more than a prop for the opponents of Jesus to use in their drama of anti-Jesus hatred. If we are honest with ourselves, we'll recognize that we can get so caught up in justifying, defending, and protecting our religiosity that we become blind to the needs of those around us for God's grace. Truth is then abandoned in the name of preservation. God forbid that it should ever be so in us!
Today's Prayer
Father, please don't let me ever become so focused on my religious self-preservation that I forget my search for your truth and abandon the character of your Son. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.
Related Scripture Readings
Ⓒ 1996-2024 Heartlight, Inc. This material may not be reproduced in part or whole for commercial use without written consent. What Jesus Did! is written by Phil Ware and is available in book form. Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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