Have you ever come across someone who was so set in their ideas that basic logic could not persuade them? Jesus seemed to face this with the Pharisees time and again. He wanted to show them a better way a way into a relationship with God instead of simply blindly following rules. They were unwilling to embrace this even when it seemed the obvious way. I great example of this can be found in Mark 3. Let’s look at it together today. 

Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.” 4 Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Jesus is not trying to sneak around and break the rules in fact he asks the man to stand up in front of everyone. There were strict rules on what you could or could not do on the Sabbath. These rules seemed to miss the point of a day of rest and worship. Jesus asks them if they should do good or evil on the Sabbath. The Pharisees are unwilling to even answer the question they are so caught up in wanting to condemn Jesus. Jesus has a better way for them but they are unwilling to see it. Perhaps there are areas in our lives as well where we are “stubborn” and unwilling to see what Jesus has for us. I pray that we might all have eyes to see and ears to hear the truth that Jesus has for us!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave