The Gospel of Mark retells Jesus’ entering the synagogue and seeing a man with a withered hand. Mark says, “They watched him so see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him.”
Why were they watching Jesus? Because the accusers of Jesus expected Jesus to heal the afflicted man. They knew that the mere sight of suffering called out Jesus’ sympathy, and that his sympathy always passed into action.
One has only to read the first three chapters of the Gospel of Mark to get a glimpse of Jesus’ habits and inclinations to heal. You can just imagine the conversation of those who were watching Jesus in the synagogue that day— you can almost hear them whispering:
“Do you remember when he healed the man with the unclean spirit?”
“Yeah, he always does that.”
“And do you remember when he healed Peter’s mother-in-law of her fever?”
“Yeah, he always does that.”
“And what about the time he cured many sick and cast out demons?”
“Uh-huh. He always does that.”
“And when he healed that leper?”
“Like I said, he always does that.”
“What about the time he cured the cripple whose friends let him down through roof?”
“Yeah, he always does that, too.”
God-in-Christ is always looking for the greatest need, the most desperate circumstance, the most lost sheep, the most accused daughter, the most brokenhearted son, the most repentant sinner, the most frightened child and the most impossible case. He always does that.
He said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Jesus’ accusers thought Jesus just might try to heal the man when no one was looking. Perhaps off to the side or over in a darker corner. When Jesus said, “Come forward,” he was intent on everyone hearing and seeing what would happen next.
Jesus said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” What could they answer? Certainly they could not say to do harm or to kill. Jesus was trying to say that failing to do good is to harm; and to avoid saving life could be the same as to kill.
The historian, Jerome, informs us the man was a stone mason. Without the use of his hand he couldn’t work, earn a living or support his family. In the Roman Empire, when one became broke, his family became slaves. It was no irrelevant question Jesus asked: “Is it lawful to save life or to kill?” Nor should we be surprised Jesus asked such questions: He always does that.
Jesus said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out and his hand was restored.” The man with the crippled hand was asked to do the impossible. He knew it was impossible. He had tried it before. But he obeyed Jesus.
God wants to heal those things about us that are crippled: our fears, weaknesses and addictions; our lethargy, embarrassments and hurts; our regrets or our un-love of others. God desires to restore us as his whole and complete creations. God longs to correct those things about us that keep us from enjoying life to its fullest.
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