Christian Living
It is no news that Jesus often appeared to neglect the law during His time and ministry. The story of Him deciding to heal the man with the withered hand in Mark chapter 3:1-6, communicates once again Jesus’s leaning towards grace more than the law, His natural response of compassion over rules, norms, traditions (whether religious or man-made). It communicates the love and compassion of Jesus put over the law.
The Pharisees thought it was the Sabbath day and so it was Prohibited by the law to do any work. In the preceding chapter, Jesus tried to clarify the meaning of the Sabbath as a day of rest/refreshing for man rather than another religious act as was practiced at the time. Obviously the people didn’t get it or Jesus walked into a new group of ignorant and self-righteous Pharisees.
What interests me the most, is Jesus’s fury at the lack of compassion portrayed by the Pharisees following His decision to heal on the Sabbath
“Then He said to them, “Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other.” Mark 3:4-5, NKJV
The Pharisees were indignant, don’t do it, that’s not the Standard, that’s not How it’s done.
Truth is, going by the law, the Pharisees were right, however the law wasn’t serving its purpose because no one could follow it fully, not even the self-righteous Pharisees who were trying to stop Jesus from doing good on the Sabbath. Jesus was introducing something new; grace over law, mercy over law, compassion over religion, love over norms. The love and compassion of Jesus was shining so brightly over the law.
The moment Jesus took a stand to heal the sick man on the Sabbath against obvious “lawful” opposition, He risked His life. He knew the implications of His choice and how far the teachers of the law would go in order to eliminate Him. Yet He did it.
The compassion of Jesus overruled the law. The grace of God superceded religion. His life didn’t mean anything to Him if people could not appreciate and embrace the grace of God.
Sometimes people talk as though they know everything there is to know about God, they posit laws, principles, maintain rigidity with norms, insist that they know how God would move, act, respond. But God cannot be put in a box. GRACE will Always Triumph over the law/religion/norms.
In Christ Jesus, there is no limit to God’s goodness, no limits to His mercy, no shadow ban over His love, no fluttering to His faithfulness. The possibilities of the New Covenant wrought in the blood of Jesus is beyond human reasoning and understanding. Beyond any experience of the old covenant.
We will never fully predict when or how the Holy Spirit would move. But one thing is sure, Grace would always supercede the law, traditions and processes.
God’s Compassion will Always Triumph Over Laws in Your life.
You can count on it…
Oh Halleluyah!!!
Praise the Name of Jesus!
