Be at odds with Jesus’ purpose? Luke- Week 11- Day 5

(6) And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered. (7) And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him. (8) But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth. (9) Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it? (10) And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other. (11) And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.
Luke 6:6-11

Explanation:

In this text we see the third way to miss out on what God is doing- Be at Odds with His purpose.

Jesus had declared that the Old Testament had spoken about his mission. In Luke 4:18-21, Jesus quoted Isaiah and claimed to be > the fulfillment of what He said.

(16) And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read. (17) And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written, (18) The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, (19) To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(20) And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him. (21) And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Luke 4:16-21

Make no mistake about this: People mattered to Jesus. Jesus came on a mission to preach the good news, heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, to recover the sight of the blind, and set at liberty them that are bruised. He was there to preach the acceptable year of the Lord. The time for jubilee was at hand because Jesus had come to set at right what was wrong. This was his purpose.

With that understanding notice what happened next:

(6) And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught and there was a man whose right hand was withered. (7) And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.

Here is another sabbath day. Here the pharisees are looking to what Jesus is doing. Jesus saw a man with a “withered hand”.

This would have been someone that the pharisees would have seen as a sinner first and foremost. In their mind He was handicapped because He had sinned. In their mind they were blessed because they were righteous. The scribes and pharisees see themselves here as ones that want to uphold the law and catch Jesus in an act.

But what is so wrong about their theology and their religious system is that it was denying this man compassion and denying Jesus’s identity and authority. They were literally looking to see if Jesus would heal and would then see that healing as a sin, and proof that He was not sent from God.

(8) But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.

Here we see Jesus miraculously seeing their thoughts and knowing their hearts. Jesus uses this opportunity to make a point and help someone.

(9) Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?

They were more interested in the ceremonial than the moral. They were more interested in their own interpretation of the law than what the law actually said. They were more interested in their own power and piety than in what God was actually doing. Jesus asks them “Is it lawful to do good?” That was the whole point of the law!

In denying Jesus’ authority and identity, they were also missing his purpose. He was coming to set right what was wrong. Sin brings forth death. The curse of sin is overwhelming, and Jesus was come to restore what had been cursed. They were using the law to be at odds with that purpose.

So, look what Jesus did!

(10) And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.

Jesus restored what was broken. Jesus healed what was disabled. Jesus helped this man, and the pharisees were enraged.

(11) And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Application:

When we fail to recognize Jesus’ authority and identity, we will fail to recognize His mission. His mission is to bring eternal and abundant life to everyone. He wants salvation for “whosoever will”. To be at odds with Him is to be at odds with that mission. This same Jesus said at the end of his ministry to His disciples, and therefore to us, these words:

(18) And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power (authority) is given unto me in heaven and in earth. (19) Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: (20) Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
Matthew 28:18-20

As you live your life, does it reflect that you know the mission of God? Does it seem as though you own this mission yourself? To miss out on Jesus’ authority, identity and mission is to miss out on what God wants to do in you and through you.