Another confrontation concerning the Sabbath! This time the Pharisees are trying to test Jesus to heal the man with a deformed hand. Even though Jesus knew that they were watching Him, He healed the man anyway. Notice that Jesus didn’t ‘do’ anything. He didn’t even touch the man. He simply told Him to do something that a normal person might do. Yet the Pharisees realized that Jesus was confronting their understanding of the Sabbath and was showing them up. They IMMEDIATELY left and began to plan how to kill Him.
The purpose of the Sabbath is two-fold. First, it is designed for mankind to set aside for worship of their God. It’s a reminder for us of our need to reconnect with our Savior in a way where we can slow down, put the cares of the world behind us, and focus on what God is doing for us. Second, it is designed as a day for rest. Humans were not designed to work non-stop 7 days a week. We need a time to recover from the past week and recharge for the coming one. Maybe you have to work on Sunday. I understand. Just make sure you are worshiping God every week if possible. And make sure you are resting your body. After all, God made us so that both would be necessary, and He knows what’s best!
Getting back to the text: Who is this Jesus? A Man whose speech can restore a crippled arm, and who sees and grieves over the hardness of someone’s heart. This Man sounds a lot like God to me!