Stretch Out Your Hand (Meditation on Mark 3:1-5)

It was the Sabbath. Jesus was in the synagogue and a man needed healing. What would he do?

The religious leaders were looking for a reason to accuse and discredit Jesus. If he healed the man, Jesus would break the letter of the law.

But what about the intent of the law? And what about the heart of God, who created the law?

So Jesus asks, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?”

The religious leaders were silent.

They had no answer.

They became trapped by their pride and misunderstanding.

But Jesus acts in love. He heals.

As you meditate on Mark 3, allow the Spirit to help you notice something from these words that applies to your own life.

Once you’ve listened to this Scripture Experience podcast, head over to the next episode and listen to the interview with pastors and authors Matt Tebbe and Ben Sternke. We discuss what love means and how love helps us have the mind of Christ.

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The exact verses read in this podcast are printed here for your use:

Mark 3:1-5

Another time Jesus 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.

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