The Compassion of Jesus

He left that place and entered their synagogue; ¹⁰a man was there with a withered hand, and they asked him, “Is it lawful to cure on the sabbath?” so that they might accuse him. ¹¹He said to them, “Suppose one of you has only one sheep and it falls into a pit on the sabbath; will you not lay hold of it and lift it out? ¹²How much more valuable is a human being than a sheep! So it is lawful to do good on the sabbath.” ¹³Then he said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and it was restored, as sound as the other. But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him. Matthew 12:9-14

The ongoing tension between Jesus and the Pharisees centered around his authority. Jesus taught in a way that did not conform to the religious customs of the Jewish people, he made statements about himself the Pharisees considered blasphemous, and he healed on the Sabbath. At each turn, Jesus did something to anger the Jewish leaders to the extent that they are ready to "destroy" him. In this story, it is not so much that he healed on the Sabbath as it was his rationale. By demonstrating the lawfulness of healing on the Sabbath, Jesus undermined the strict interpretation of the law the Pharisees enforced. For the Pharisees this could not be allowed and Jesus needed to be stopped.


Jesus' healing ministry was not concerned with convention, custom, or following rules. His primary concern was people. The man with the withered hand is healed by Jesus and is restored to full health. This would allow him new opportunities to work and enjoy life. He may have been forced to live as a beggar prior to the healing, but after he could make his own way in the world. Jesus' first concern was to care about the man and not how healing him may violate Sabbath regulations. In doing so, Jesus reveals his heart. He had deep compassion and love for people, especially for those who suffered.


It is comforting to know that when we struggle or suffer we are not alone. Jesus' ministry demonstrates God's heart for the hurting and the promise of salvation. Through Christ's death and resurrection we have the promise of life eternal and through Christ's presence we can be healed and whole. Praise be to God!


Prayer: Lord, give me compassion to care for all who are hurting. Provide healing, peace, and comfort for those who suffer in mind, body, and spirit. In Jesus' name, AMEN.