The ministry of Yeshua was exercised in the face of constant opposition. The opposition is at once clearly revealed in four words of criticism which were uttered (in Mark 2-3). Let us observe the fifth and final opposition.
Mark 3:1-6: “Yeshua went again into a synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. Looking for a reason to accuse him of something, people watched him carefully to see if he would heal him on Shabbat. He said to the man with the shriveled hand: ‘Come up where we can see you!’ Then to them he said: ‘What is permitted on Shabbat? Doing good or doing evil? Saving life or killing?’ But they said nothing. Then, looking them over and feeling both anger with them and sympathy for them at the stoniness of their hearts, he said to the man: ‘Hold out your hand.’ As he held it out, it became restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately began plotting with some members of Herod’s party how to do away with him.”
Let us watch Yeshua and observe his attitude toward this fifth opposition. The opposition brought against Yeshua was similar to the previous teaching with respect to the desecration of Shabbat and the offence brought against Yeshua regarding his alleged failure to differentiate between the sacred and the secular. In this case, it was for healing a man on this sacred day of the week. Yet, even more than this, through their silence and evil intentions, these men were declaring their conviction of his actions as utter worthlessness meriting destruction.
In Mark 3:2, we read: “They watched him that they might accuse him.”
This was graphically illustrated: These men were silently and with evil intentions watching Yeshua to see whether he would heal so that they might accuse him. Can you see the barrenness and emptiness of these men? Not only were they insensitive to the purposes of God, but also to the sufferings of men.
Yeshua’s anger was his response to their rejection of his testimony that was openly manifested. Is there not a middle position one can occupy? We are asked to make a choice. There is no middle position in the face of human disability and need. We do good to the man when he is in need or we do him harm. We help to save him or we help to kill him.
In the parable of the good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37), we read of a man who was robbed, wounded and left for dead in the middle of the road. Before the compassionate Samaritan arrived and helped the man, we read of two other men that came upon the man, saw him and passed on the other side of the road. These two men perpetuated the wounded man’s pain and were guilty of the continuity of the wounded man’s suffering.
In the presence of human pain, in the presence of limitation like this, there is one alternative: Yeshua said: “What shall I do?” (His action did not depend upon their decision.) “Shall I do that man good, or shall I harm him by leaving him, when I have the power to help him?”
Yeshua did him good. He came for the cure of spiritual malady. He came to create the reason for abiding and abounding joyfulness. He came to enlarge the area of the sacred and to reveal to men that man is sacred and that the sanctions of all ordinances are to be found in their ministry to the well-being of humanity.
Are these criticisms ever made of us, that were made of our Master Yeshua? He looked into the souls of these men. As he looked, his eyes ignited with anger as his heart broke, because their attitudes and behaviour issued unto total rejection of his actions and ultimately of his mission.
A real fellowship with Yeshua must bring us into a partnership with him in expression and experience. This should be the continuance of our meditation as we pattern our service after Yeshua, the ultimate servant of God.
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