What Will You do With Jesus?

N.T.#152  "What Will You do With Jesus?"

March 21, 2025 

Luke 6-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

Have you seen anyone with a withered hand? My brother had one after his stroke. It was difficult for him to use it, so he wore a glove to hide it. I can imagine how difficult it must be for one in that condition. Today, we meet one that was suffering with a withered hand. Let's find out what Jesus did.

It happened on another Sabbath. Luke doesn't say if it was the next week or later on. Jesus was teaching in the synagogue and saw a man with a withered right hand. The scribes and Pharisees were there watching Jesus to see if He would heal on the sabbath day.

Watched means note insidiously or scrupulously.

 Why? That they might find an accusation against Him. (verse 6)

An accusation, in the Greek language, means a criminal charge; a complaint.

What did Jesus do then?

• Jesus knew their thoughts. He is God, after all.
• If Jesus healed the man with the deformed hand, they planned to accuse him of working on the  
•   Sabbath. 
• He told the man with the deformed hand to rise up, and come stand in front of everyone. The guy     obeyed Jesus.
• Jesus asked His critics if the law permitted good deeds on the Sabbath, or is it a day for doing evil; is this a day to save a life or to destroy it?
• He looked around at them all, then told the man to hold out his hand. Again the man obeyed Jesus.
• The religious ones were filled with rage and discussed what to do with Jesus. (verses 6-11)

What will you do with Jesus? Is He your Savior and Lord? Or is Jesus just another good teacher to you? Is He Lord of heaven and earth to you? One day everyone will stand before Holy Jesus. Will you be told to depart from Him into hell or to enter into your rest in heaven?

LET IT GROW

Jesus deliberately challenged the religious leaders with their authority on what they considered their home turf. And His challenge came in the form of kindness. He deliberately brought the man to the front of the synagogue. He could have healed the man privately, made a gesture or with a mere thought. 

For Jesus, withholding a cure was just as cruel as deliberately causing harm. How should the religious ones reply to Jesus questions? 

Jesus didn't move a muscle, yet it was clear that He was responsible for the healing. 

Jesus accusers were in a dilemma. If they went to the Jewish ruling council to press charges, they would look like fools. Jesus had demonstrated to them beyond any shadow of doubt that He is Lord of the Sabbath. Jesus is Lord of heaven and earth. 

Maybe those guys hoped to recruit Jesus to join their ranks. That wasn't going to happen. The Lord firmly established His authority over everything they held dear. 

What can we do when we get into a situation or confrontation that challenges our faith? Pray for wisdom, for those involved, for God to give you a loving spirit, and submit to Jesus.