"The scribes and Pharisees were on the watch to see if He would perform a cure on the sabbath so that they could find a charge against Him" (Lk 6:7). They assumed Jesus would have to work to heal the man with the withered hand and thereby violate the sabbath. Jesus healed the man, but without working. All He did was speak, and all the man did was stand and stretch out his hand (Lk 6:10). Thus although a great healing was performed, there was no violation of the sabbath.
Jesus healed the man effortlessly, but that seemed impossible. The whole Jewish law presumed it required a great effort to obey the 612 commandments of the Old Testament. Worshiping God was also laborious with hundreds, even thousands, of animals sacrificed. The Jewish religion was rightly called a yoke and a burden. Jesus, however, said: "Come to Me, all you who are weary and find life burdensome" (Mt 11:28). "Your souls will find rest, for My yoke is easy and My burden light" (Mt 11:29-30).
Jesus offered good news of simple healings and light burdens. He would later do all the work necessary for the salvation of every human being when He died on the cross. Jesus has done the job. His work is finished (Jn 19:30). We can live saved, freed, and healed. Have faith in Jesus' works (Jn 5:36; 14:11).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, thank You for making my life worth living. |
| PROMISE: | "This is the Christ we proclaim while we admonish all men and teach them in the full measure of wisdom, hoping to make every man complete in Christ." –Col 1:28 |
| PRAISE: | Thomas has learned that it is actually harder to fight God's will than to accept it (see Acts 26:14). |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College